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**fifelee** · 01-02-2008, 06:56 PM

There have been a couple of threads about quitting ones job so I thought I would share my situation. I have one more month at a good paying engineering job then I will be quitting to take over the family farm. A huge pay cut and more work. I must be the dumbest man alive, but I have only had one job since university and feel I must try something different. Plus if I don't go back my father will have to sell and I will end 100 years of my family farming Montana's golden triangle. Wish me luck.

**DeathBrewer** · 01-02-2008, 06:58 PM

man...tough call and good luck. a few things though, will you be taking over the property as well? that's worth some money. also, will you grow hops or barley?

**bigjohnmilford** · 01-02-2008, 07:01 PM

Best of luck to you. At least you have a good education to fall back on. I suggest planting some hops.

McKBrew · 01-02-2008, 07:06 PM

The pay cut might be the hardest thing. I think the rest would be interesting. I keep telling the SWMBO that I want to be farmer when I retire, she laughs.

It's hard work, but there has to be some reward out of being outdoors all day and seeing the end product.

What exactly are you farming, and do you have a couple of acres to devote to hops to keep your fellow homebrewers supplied?

Note: Got disconnected from the internet while I was typing this up, looks like I wasn't the only one thinking about hops.

**BierMuncher** · 01-02-2008, 07:07 PM

Good luck.

As long as you wake up every morning and "love life" on the farm…you should count yourself among the luckiest people on earth.

Even if things don’t work out, you’ll live the rest of your life with no regrets.

FatDuc · 01-02-2008, 07:15 PM

About now I would be thrilled with something like a farm job.

I'm pretty sick of IT, like a number of other recent commenters.

There's more to employment than pay, and if you love what you do you can be much more satisfied than doing something you hat just for money. I didn't see any mention of your own family, but farming is a family enterprise that many times instills a better sense of values in kids than anything they get in state-funded education.

Of course if it doesn't work out I'm sure you can contribute some more to the largest non-federal land owner in the US, Ted Turner, because I'm sure he needs more Montana grazing land

...

Maybe you can do some engineering consulting from home while doing the whole agriculture thing?

Personally, I'd kill to own a big ol' honkin' John Deere!

**cubbies** · 01-02-2008, 07:24 PM

For me it would have been a no brainer. That farm has been in your family for 100 years, you cant just let that go down the tubes. It may stink for a while, but something tells me that down the line you will look back on this situation and realize that you made the correct decision.

brauhaus · 01-02-2008, 07:34 PM

best of luck...

as my father's father told him, and as my father told me... there is no such thing as a rich farmer, you do it b/c you have to, not b/c you want to or you want to make millions...

My family's farm has been in the family for over 100 years as well, and just recently it was sold to the ever growing damand for more land... a developer recently came thru and bought the land, tore down the barn and now homes are being built in it's place...

I grew up farming that land with my dad, and my grandfather... it was the hardest most honest work a man can do and it makes you appreicate the comforts you have...

I suggest keeping your engineering job and consider leasing the land to a farmer willing to work it... running a farm as a business may be of more benefit to you, than to quit your job and try to make ends meet....

**fifelee** · 01-02-2008, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys. As for family, I agree that it is a great lifestyle in which to raise kids. I loved growing up on the farm. I was vital to the farms success and it gave me a great sense of self-worth. SWMBO is more of a city girl I fear the move will be tough on her. I am moving her closer to her family, but that isn't a positive for all people. Another thing is that I am taking her from the beautiful Montana mountains that we love and putting her in the prairie. Hope we are doing the right thing. Only time will tell.

The deciding factor is that we do raise barley and I want to do what I can to lower the malt price for you guys.

Ryan_PA · 01-02-2008, 07:46 PM

Man, that is a noble thing. Best of luck to you.