I married the farmer’s daughter without any intention or knowledge of farming.

I was a veteran software engineer making bank living in St. Louis raising 3 girls.

About 10 years ago my father in law was injured so I showed up to help get the wheat out of the field.

I wasn’t the only one. The neighbors all put their own harvest on hold to help. It was something I had never experienced in the city. I had dozens of neighbors in the city whose only interaction was to call the cops on each other.

Occasionally they’d even shoot each other, but NEVER would they actually help each other.

Eventually the Wife and I bought into this 5 generation endeavor. We drained our life savings. We picked up some fields, I quit my city job and now I’m a giant redneck living the life of a grain farmer.

I have never been so happy in my life. I was not raised a farmer. It is not in my blood. It is not something I’m comfortable doing. It’s hard. It’s expensive. It’s exhausting and it’s been torture on my once supple, soft, keyboard ready hands.

And don’t even get me started about my reduced dining and entertainment options.
I do this every day simply because I love it. I am 100 percent committed to not screwing this up. I love my wife’s family. I love the farms history. I love working with my wife every day. I love working under the direction of my very wise father-in-law. Oh … and tractors… tractors are so cool.

Jeff Mowery