If you’ve gasped or swooned in the last month, chances are it had had something to do with season 19 of ABC’s The Bachelor. This season has been delivering the usual dose of romance, drama, and controversy. But the main reason for tuning in is the Bachelor himself. Aside from his looks and charms his physique, Bachelor Chris Soules has another major swoon-worthy credential: he’s a farmer. Whether from the city or the country, everyone has a soft spot for a farm boy (or girl). Luckily, you don’t have to watch reality TV to love a farmer and appreciate what he/she does to feed the world.
Farmers bring home the bacon: Farmers and ranchers produce food to feed the world. They are literally bringing home the bacon (and the bread, the veggies …). 7 billion is a lot of mouths to feed. About 4 billion tons of edible food is produced each year by farmers around the world each year. How’s that for providing for your family?
Farmers are not afraid of a long-term commitment: They raise crops from seed to harvest. They care for animals from birth to slaughter. Farmers know the value of a long-term commitment. A career as a farmer means you’re in for the long haul. Sometimes so much so that farming isn’t just a career, it’s a lifestyle passed from generation to generation. In fact, USDA data shows that about 6% of farms are multi-generational. This means that nearly 150,000 family farms in the U.S. have multiple operators spanning different generations.
Farmers are willing to put in the hard work: Even with modern agricultural practices, farming isn’t your typical 9-5 job. Farmers can’t take a day off when tending to their crops or animals. As Debbie Roos of North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension wrote last winter, farmers don’t get snow days. In fact, Debbie reported that during the worst weather of the year, farmers had to venture out every 2-3 hours to manually remove snow from the tunnels they use to cover and protect their crops.
Farmers are family-men (and women): According to the FAO, 96% of farms in the U.S. are family-run. That’s over two million families who are working to make sure we all have food on the table.
If you’re looking for someone who is hard-working, loyal, and family-oriented, then a farmer might be your perfect match. With that in mind, it’s no wonder dozens of city girls lined up for their chance to marry “Prince Farming.” We may not all love The Bachelor, but you have to admit that Chris looks pretty good in front of a field of corn.
For more info on modern farming, check out our Farm4Thought video and our biotechnology resource page.
Original image credits, from top: Glamour, the Kansas City Star, Laura Reedy Stewart