![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/\/2009\/07\/100_8005.jpg\" "\\"farmer")
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Farming is not only a manly job, it is arguably the first stepping stone towards advanced society. When men put down spears and picked up plows, it allowed communities to stop wandering. At the turn of the century, 39% of Americans worked in agriculture; today, less than 2% do. But while farming is a vastly different industry today, the qualities that made men successful back then are still helping them now.<\/p>\n
For this week’s “So You Want My Job,” AoM reader Paul Leonard interviewed Brian Bradley, a life-long farmer and family man. Mr. Bradley farms 1,800 acres of corn and soybeans in Indiana. Thanks both to Paul for doing the interview and Mr. Bradley for taking part in our series.<\/p>\n
1. Tell us a little about yourself. (Where are you from? How old are you? Describe your job and how long you’ve been at it, etc.)<\/strong><\/p>\n I was born and raised on the farm in Montgomery County, Indiana. I live half a mile down the road from where I grew up in a farmhouse built in 1865 that’s been in the family for five generations. I’m 40 years old and have been farming for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n My job involves being part agronomist, economist, banker, mechanic, entrepreneur and common laborer. Planting and harvesting are only a fraction of what goes into farming every year. The role that makes a farmer succeed or fail is much more on the business side of things.<\/p>\n 2. Why did you want to be a farmer? When did you know it was what you wanted to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n I don’t ever remember thinking this isn’t what I wanted to do. My dad was a farmer, he still helps me everyday, and I grew up helping him from as young as I could be useful. There are a few other jobs I’ve had, mostly recently, working in a steel mill, but I never enjoyed any of them like farming.<\/p>\n 3. What is a typical day like for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n What time of year is it? That’s part of what I like about farming, the schedule is constantly changing, and so you never get bored doing the same thing too long. In the spring most days are spent getting equipment ready for planting. When the weather is right we’re in the field planting and drilling seed from sun-up to sundown. After that we go back and spray for weeds, fertilize and spray for weeds again. In between those periods we cut and bail hay to feed the cattle during winter. In late summer, we get equipment ready for harvest and usually take some vacation time. Then, when it’s time to harvest, we’re in the fields to sundown again. The winter tends to be the slowest time, but there’s still lots of work hauling the corn and beans to elevators, taking care of the business side of things, getting finances and seed in order for next spring and having a little fun on the snowmobile too.<\/p>\n 4. What’s the best part of the job?<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s great being your own boss, being able to take time for family events, and having a flexible schedule. But there’s something special about the tradition of it as well. Farming is such a time-honored tradition, and it gets in your blood. There’s something very fulfilling and profound about it.<\/p>\n 5. What’s the worst part of the job?<\/strong><\/p>\n (long pause…) There’s not much about it that I don’t like. That being said, it’s not much fun wading through the red-tape associated with government programs. And most farmers essentially get paid once a year, so it can be difficult to plan and budget a year in advance. It gets tougher every year to find ground to farm, but if you don’t grow you will eventually collapse.<\/p>\n Listen to our podcast with farmer Forrest Pritchard:<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n