Farmers

Farmers don’t always get the credit they deserve, a lot goes on behind the scenes prior to the consumer picking up their produce, meats, dairy, plants, and flowers and even clothing at the box store. They typically earn a small fraction of what you pay but have the biggest stake financially in the final outcome. Farmers are givers by nature, it’s surely not for the paycheck, often working outside the farm to support the farm and family. Farmers are passionate about what they do and often give back to their community in their “free time”. Free time being used loosely, there never really is any but they make it work because they are just as passionate about their community as they are their family and homestead.

Case in point, our own John Peters Jr pictured here was up at dawn moving equipment around prior to his off Farm employment so it would be ready for an afternoon baling session, he arrived a few minutes late to Town of Pomfret, Vermont where he has served the last 8 years as one of five Selectboard members. He was captured here after the meeting on his way home to wrap hay.

The days are long, the pay is meager, but the rewards of accomplishment are real. In terms of financial stability farmers are some of the poorest millionaires, all of their “wealth” is tied up in land, equipment, animals, and crops. In terms of non-material wealth they are some of the richest.

Help support agriculture, buy small, buy direct and buy local. The closer you buy to the source, the more money the farmer gets and the less corporate gets. You will be supporting your neighbor, their family and your community.