Q: One of my children has an interest in farming. Where do we even start?
A: If you’re not a farming family, consider different ways you can educate yourself and your child about food, fiber and fuel production. Reading books about agriculture, planting a garden and taking STEM (science, technology, education and math) classes are great ways to familiarize oneself with the skills and science farmers use every day. You could also reach out to your county Farm Bureau to see if a local farmer would allow your child the opportunity to ride along in a combine, help sort cattle or otherwise job shadow for a day. This memorable experience will surely get them excited about the industry they’re interested in.
If you already farm, the answer seems simple: Make space for them in your current operation to help them learn and grow. This looks different depending on the age of the child and farm type. A 4-year-old’s chores could be gathering eggs and feeding chickens. A grade-school-age kid could be tasked with mowing grass and tending to livestock. Once they get to their teens, your child could be heavily involved in crop production: tillage work, scouting fields, advising and marketing decisions. Renting acreage is the natural next step for your child to start managing a farm of their own.
Sadie Asher and her husband, Shane, grow Christmas trees on their farm near Geneseo.
See more: Illinois Educational Programs Connect Students to Food and Agriculture Careers
