Spend enough time with farmers and you’ll soon learn that as different as they are, they all still seem to have some things in common. There are plenty of stereotypes about farmers (like all of them wearing overalls and a straw hat … really?) but it seems like some stereotypes just might be true. I wanted to take a look at some of those classic “you might be a farmer if …” moments.
The farmer’s wave is an absolute classic. Every farmer has perfected their version. It’s not a big, whole hand type of wave. Instead, it’s the subtle finger (or maybe two) that lifts off the steering wheel when you pass another pickup or tractor on the road. It’s a universal acknowledgement for each other on backroads. All farmer’s waves are a little different, yet all are the same. It can make your day the moment you decide to drive your sedan on that gravel road and you still get a wave.
On farms, the weather is breaking news at all times. Rain in the forecast or a surprise frost the next night can quickly change the entire course of the day for a farmer. It seems like farmers don’t just check the weather, they live by it. Walk into a farmers’ house, and if the news isn’t on, there’s a good chance the weather channel still will be. Even getting the minute-by-minute weather updates don’t stop farmers from complaining. Because after all, with all the time they spend checking the radar and watching the weather, they’d be the ones to know how often the forecasts are wrong.
You can buy distressed jeans with lots of character for $100. Or you can borrow a pair from a farmer! Oil stains, cuts and rips, worn spots, frayed edges, and other mystery marks often define the outfit for a farmer. While some people spend good money for jeans like these, sometimes it just seems to happen on its own after some hard work.
And then there are the hats. Every farmer has at least two: the “good” hat and the “work” hat. Both of these were probably “free” gifts from a seed dealer or trade show. The good hat gets put on for those trips off the farm while the work hat looks like it’s survived a war. No matter how old the work hat is and how many times it’s been worn it’ll probably never be thrown away (until it mysteriously disappears one day thanks to another member of the family).
Farmers could also teach a master class at improvisation. Broken gate latch? Better tie some baling twine around that. Fence is sagging? A little wire will help. Any type of problem can likely be fixed by some combination of twine, wire, WD-40, duct tape, a random 2×4 board, or maybe even some zip ties and bungee cords. These quick fixes might not always be pretty or fancy, but they sure are effective.
Coffee seems to be another uniting factor for farmers. Forget fancy lattes (although there’s nothing wrong with that), many farmers make a pot of coffee in the morning and drink it all day long. Try to keep up with a farmer’s day, especially during the craziness of harvest or planting, and you’ll learn quickly why coffee is so important. You also can’t forget the morning coffee gathering at the local gas station where farmers catch up and talk about the weather.
Farmers are also pretty famous for saying “I’ll be in soon,” or, “I’m almost ready to go,” but these sayings are almost always followed up with, “After I do one more thing.” The one more thing can turn into hours of feeding, fixing, checking, or more. Farm families know to take this with a grain of salt, keep supper warm, and roll with it.
Every good farmer has an equally good farm dog. Sometimes they are extremely helpful by guarding chickens or herding cattle, but most of the time they’re great at sleeping in the shade, chasing rabbits, keeping the kids company, and being a perfect companion for life on the farm. No matter what, these dogs are always part of the crew. It might be a little reluctant at times, but farmers are always glad to have them around.
Take a look at a farmer’s pickup truck and you’ll see that it’s more than a truck. It also doubles as a filing cabinet, supply store, and restaurant. Gloves, tools, coffee mugs, notebooks, receipts, it’s all there and more. Just about anything you could ever need is there somewhere. And even if you can’t find it, I’m sure that the farmer who put it there remembers exactly where everything was left.
These little quirks might seem odd, but they’re part of the culture of farm life. It goes to show the creativity, resilience, and sense of humor that define farm life. These are also reminders that while every farm is incredibly different, there are plenty of inside jokes and habits that farmers across the country all share.
Michelle Miller, the Farm Babe, is a farmer, public speaker, and writer who has worked for years with row crops, beef cattle, and sheep. She believes education is key in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers. Find more about Michelle on her website.
