New to Farming & Agriculture?

Answer these 4 questions to find your purpose.

Author

Mitch Hinrichs
March 08, 2024

These questions are designed to help you broadly understand your attraction to farming, food systems, and agriculture to ultimately clarify your purpose.

There is a regenerative renaissance unfolding on farms and food systems worldwide. It’s an exciting space to work in with plenty of responsibility to be shared and accounted for, especially when it comes to farming.

So, if you find yourself wondering what is next for your career or feel pulled to learn more about agriculture but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place.

Answer these questions below to solidify your purpose and path.

1. What sparked your interest in farming & food?

If you were recently introduced to farming and agriculture, take some time to map out the key events and conversations that led you here.

Most people don’t grow up on farms or around agriculture in general, so something along the way sparked their curiosity, and seeds were sown that are now beginning to sprout.

Whether it is health-related, ecologically encouraged, or you feel burnt out from living in cities amid urban sprawl, all of these details will help you craft your own story and find your place and purpose in farming and food.

  1. Identify the key conversations and influences that led you here

  2. Reflect on your existing strengths and experiences from your life

  3. Write out the top 3 themes that light you up

    • Examples: human health, climate, ecological restoration, wildlife, rural communities, technology, land access, Indigenous sovereignty, mental health, food waste, education

Every detail is important, and they will be guiding lights for you in your search for clarity when assessing opportunities in the space.

2. What is regenerative agriculture?

There is a regenerative renaissance unfolding in farming and food, so it’s important to provide some definition around the subject.

Defining “regenerative” is a sensitive topic that naturally evolves as it matures, so you will find some overlap and contradictions in opinion.

Regenerative Agriculture is dynamic and has a hard time being defined.

However, it is important to provide a proper framework in order to create ecologically sound solutions to farming and food so that they can be forces for good.

Do your own research and take what fits into your personal context.

This is an ever-broadening topic that encapsulates many domains.

Browse below to start your regenerative learning journey.

This is a great start to educating yourself about what regenerative agriculture is all about and what role you can play in its transformation and adoption.

3. Do you want to actually work on a farm?

Now that you see the regenerative direction that farming and food are headed, I pose another question that requires true honesty and reflection.

If you answer yes, many farms and ranches need commitment and help.

The amount of responsibility being passed along to the next generation right now is bigger than the current workforce inheriting it. There are many opportunities to work on farms and ranches, but they come with sacrifices.

And I think it should be mandatory to work on a farm for part of your life, even if it is for a summer as a teenager, but that’s just my opinion.

But if you want to start or advance your career in farming or ranching, browse through the resources below to find aligned opportunities.

You’ll never know unless you try.

There is so much to learn from getting your hands in the soil.

4. How else can you contribute to the regenerative agriculture movement?

Donate to these Non-Profits

Shop Regeneratively

Get Involved in Policy

Invest Your Money into Regenerative Agriculture

Grow Your Own Food & Regenerate Where You Live

*more coming soon…

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