55 Years And Counting From The Tractor Seat

By bill whitman 

For several years now, I have watched with interest the average age of farmers and ranchers in the United States. Depending on the source, the average age is 63-65. This is in a culture where folks start thinking about retirement in their late 40s if they work for the government or in their 50s working a factory or service type job. In a recent conversation with my neighbor, Frank, he brought up the subject of retirement.

To give some context to this discussion, you need to realize that Frank is 84 years young. I say young because at 84, he can outwork, day in and day out, men half his age. Not only can he, but he does. He still manages his own business with projects going on all over the country. As we were talking, and just about every conversation we have, he mentions how God has blessed him and Frank’s wanting to do more for Him. As I was listening, (I tend to listen to my elders despite being nearly 68 myself), Frank started talking about not having any interest in retiring. When I asked why, his answer was simple. “I can’t find anywhere in the Bible where it says we’re supposed to retire.”

Often when I talk to men like Frank or Dick or Ted or David, I have noticed that regardless of their age (each over the age of 80), they still look forward to getting up each day anticipating getting something done on the farm or their respective business. In our many years of marriage, I can’t remember my wife and I ever talking about retiring. Due to health concerns, my wife has given up her veterinary practice, but she remains active taking care of our livestock along with neighbors and friends. I look forward to every year, taking what we learned last year and applying it to the coming season.

After my conversation with Frank, the theme of retirement has resonated through what’s left of my brain for several weeks. First, I researched whether retirement does appear in the Bible. Only one place (Numbers 8:23-26) is it even remotely referenced. What is more accurately described in the passage is a transition from the more physically challenging work to assisting the younger generations. More interesting to me is the encouragement to service, without end, in other passages in the Word. Next, I thought through the senior farmers I know well, and what I have seen in their lives that might show any interest in retirement.

I focused on 10 men who have spent their lives on the farm, either raising crops and/or livestock. Only two of the men opted to leave farming before they passed and the two ended their lives following the emotional distress of family. So, I want to focus on the eight out of 10 who continue or continued to get up each day with a slate of work, even at a minimum that requires the men to do something related to their farms. If we think about this, we’ll see several characteristics that I believe we’ll see in all older farmers. First and possibly most important is that they want/need to feel that they have to be involved each and every day. Even when they find themselves away physically from the farm, their minds are on the farm. Each of these men have been through truly hard times and have a built-in alert system when they look into the future and see signs they recognize as “trouble on the horizon.” I’ve noticed, whether big farmers or small, their actions seem to preempt the news. I saw big farmers along the Wabash cut back on equipment size and expense (without harming their farmland) a year before the current downturn three years ago. I’ve seen farmers like Matt and Kelly Griggs start running the numbers to determine profit lines with less inputs and less yield equaling a lower breakeven. And recently, I’ve been watching the cattle guys preparing for lower prices for beef. In each case, thinking two-four years out.

Because of the long relationship with our industry, the mindset that in order for their farms and ranches to move forward, much like the Bible suggests, the place for experience and wisdom is irreplaceable. It’s why we don’t quit until we’re called home!

IndianaAg@bluemarble.net