The Long Road Back to the Farm: A Journey of Rediscovery

Growing up in Virginia, surrounded by the rolling landscapes of farming country, I was captivated not by the prospect of becoming a farmer but by the freedom and beauty the land represented. My immediate family was not entrenched in agriculture, yet the stories of my ancestors, who farmed the land since settling in Jamestown in 1622, impressed me with a deep appreciation for this way of life. It was a legacy whispered in tales of old chicken coops and hogs getting fat in the Appalachian Mountains, tales that, to a young boy's ears, sounded like the purest form of adventure.

My journey, however, took me far from these farming dreams. The Marine Corps, global travels, and stints in law and entrepreneurship filled the years, each step moving me further from the farming heritage that once intrigued me. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of a life lived across continents and careers, the land's call lingered, a quiet beckon back to roots I had never fully claimed.

It dawned on me not among the fields or the livestock, but in the urban pulse of Boston, where I was juggling two businesses. It was there, amidst the hustle and the grind, that the simplicity and sincerity of farming life called me home. It whispered of a life where success is measured not in deals closed or cases won, but in seasons turned and harvests gathered.

What draws one to farming? This often-asked inquiry resists a succinct response. The appeal extends beyond a simple return to familial origins or the attractions of pastoral life. It's about answering an age-old beckoning, a compelling urge to nurture the earth and, in return, be nourished by it. It's the deep-seated satisfaction that arises from the cadence of the seasons, the burgeoning of the fields, and the husbandry of animals—a sequence of unpretentious, diligently acquired contentments that have faded for many amid the haste of modern advancement.

My path to farming was neither direct nor obvious. It was a journey of rediscovery, a path that led me through disparate worlds and myriad experiences, only to find that the values and connections I sought were embedded in the very way of life my ancestors had lived. Farming, to me, is a reconnection with the land, a practice of sustainability and stewardship, and a way to feed not just the body but the soul.

For those who wonder at the lure of this lifestyle, I extend an invitation: follow me through a day's work on the farm. Witness the dawn break as we tend to the fields and livestock, feel the satisfaction of a day spent in honest labor, and perhaps, like me, you'll find that farming is not just about cultivating the land but about grounding ourselves in the values that matter most.

In embracing farming, I've not just embarked on a career but have woven myself back into the tapestry of my family's narrative, becoming part of a story that stretches back through generations. It's a story of resilience, connection, and the enduring call of the land—a call that, despite everything, remains as compelling today as it was to those first settlers in 1622.