My grandfather grew up on a farm, but left the rural life…however, his nieces and nephews and their children (and grandchildren) are still farmers, mostly in California’s Central Valley.
My…um…mom’s-cousin’s-son, same generation as I am but about 12 years older, is the owner of the second largest dairy cattle operation in California.
My father’s parents both grew up on farms in Ireland- my grandfather in Westmeath, and my grandmother in Limerick.
My other two grandparents were also born and raised in Ireland, but came from the town of Tralee.
Have to agree that “outside employment” is necessary to farming. Can’t pay the bills on what livestock prices bring. If money were no object, I’d stay busy every day cutting brush, fixing fence, maybe field improvements.
My Dad’s a retired pipefitter, but still-active farmer. I work off-farm, but use the money to fund farm projects. Eight days without electricity after the “derecho”, and had to buy a solar fence charger. Spent 1/2 hr tonight patching a hole in fence.
I know that there are no farmers within 4 generations of me, and can go back farther than that on some lines. I can give you lumberjacks and murders within that distance, though.
Both sets of grandparents were farmers, but only my mother’s dad was still in the business when I was born. My Dad’s dad had become an electrician when my dad was a teen.
Great-grandparents were farmers.