The American West and the Farmer

The lifestyle of the modern day farmer is much like it was hundreds of years ago. The farmers of today must still be up before the sun and experience long hours spent outdoors, no matter the weather conditions. Farmers are constantly fighting against the elements, either hoping for rain, so the crops will grow, or for the rain to stop, so they can plant or harvest. The farmer does not stop working at sunset either. There is bookwork to be done, fences to be fixed, animals to be cared for and machines to be repaired.

The one thing that has changed over the years is the actual size of the farm. Farmers used to only have to take care of tiny plots of land, yet the concept of a small farmer is a thing of the past. With the demand of produce getting lower and prices of equipment increasing every year, most small farms have gone under.

With demand getting lower, you go big or not at all. Today's farmer, whether it be a crop harvester or a rancher, you have to be big to get by, and even they need help from the government, most of the time due to the weather. If the government has cut backs, it is the farmer who feels this the hardest.

Farming is not for the weak of mind or heart. It is a gamble on the everyday market and the demand of the people. With the constant effort to keep the ranch up to adequate conditions, it is back breaking work. Throw in the random chances of an animal getting sick or your plants not producing, farmers are constantly taking chances throughout their day.