Why Farming Stays Hard — And Why That’s the Best Part

Farming doesn’t get easier, but it does get more meaningful. This week, I’m reflecting on what it’s taught us and why doing hard things might just be the point. by Chad

If farming was easy, would we really be learning anything?

Each time I sit down to write these blog posts, I think hard about the topic and the value it might add for you – the reader. What good is it if you don’t find value, besides being a waste of both our time?

If you’re new to the blog or our weekly emails, buckle up. We try to keep things fun while focusing on farm life, the winery, and a few life metaphors along the way. One of our most popular posts was What Has Farming Taught Our Marriage? and this week’s topic is no slouch either.

Value-Added vs. Price-Taking

Consider this: most farmers are price takers. As JFK said, “Farmers are one of the only businesses who buy their inputs at a retail price, sell their outputs at a wholesale price, and pay the freight both ways.”

Most businesses buy ingredients wholesale, but for commodity crops – corn, wheat, soybeans, potatoes – the farmer gets paid whatever the market offers. They have no control.

By contrast, when we grow grapes, we’re able to turn them into wine and sell directly to you. That’s the value-added model. The hard parts of farming are a lot more bearable when what you’re producing brings a return. Some parts of farming these past few years have been extra tough because we’re still doing all the work, but the “market” price is below our cost.

The Work That Never Gets Easier

As I write this, I’m reminded of the quote, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.” There’s a hopeless tone to it, but also truth.

Some years, Mother Nature throws curveballs – like massive codling moth populations the year we went organic (laugh out loud). Other years, it’s hot weather keeping us busy moving water. (Did you know most irrigation systems aren’t designed to water an entire farm all at once because of flow and pressure constraints? We literally chart out water for 15+ parts of the farm daily when it’s over 100°F.)

But amid all this, the beauty comes through experience. We learn how to rotate water better, how to better tackle codling moths (see below – way better than last year so far), we discover better flower or pumpkin varieties, and Pinot Noir keeps teaching us lessons about water. Sometimes we just say, “Well, we’ll tuck that away for next year.”

Caption: you can see the number of coddling moth trapped throughout the season in our organic apples. This helps us time our organic sprays to keep them in check. Believe it or not, our numbers are better than 2024. It feels like progress.

Why is it OK that it never gets easier? Because if it was easy, would we really be learning anything? The growth we’ve experienced in just a few years has us hopeful for the future.

Why We Keep Going

We’re determined to win. We’re determined to get better. And we’re determined to focus on what we can control.

Our oldest son says, “Farming has been good medicine for perfectionism.” In other words, Mother Nature always keeps us on our toes. Since we’re small, our pivots are small but labor-intensive.

Two years ago, we got a warehouse bill for the Red Delicious apples we were still growing. We decided to cut them down and plant peaches. Now, we’re on the learning curve of growing 80+ peach trees. Is it easy? No. But wow, peaches taste good – fresh off the tree or from the freezer all winter long. And someday, how fun will it be if they’re productive enough for you to pick?

Owning a small business is humbling. Running a small farm and winery is humbling. I have a whole new respect for everyone who’s run a business for years. A good friend once said to me, “Chad, if it were easy, how good would the stories be someday when you’re celebrating success?”

Story Moment:

That warehouse bill for apples was a gut-check moment. It led to a decision that wasn’t easy – cut down trees we’d tended and replant something totally new. Now, every peach blossom feels like a small win in that learning curve.

Closing Reflection:

So come celebrate with us. Celebrate small farms. Celebrate what’s hard. Come enjoy these wines we literally handle ourselves. Order a bottle online and share our story – a story of people working hard to create something we can all share and connect through.

Come visit, taste, and experience small-farm life for yourself. Order a bottle. Share our story with a friend. Join us in celebrating what’s worth working for.

Cheers,