Sometimes I feel bad for our kids growing up on the farm. It’s not like they can opt out of the farm life. While their friends are spending the summer at the movies and the beach, they’re working in the barn or the fields or feeding the animals. Not exactly glamorous.

Plus, we live in Florida. Did I mention that? The sweltering sunshine state where humidity is high, temperatures are high, and attitudes are cranky. Yes, I’m sure most kids would love to grow up with this lifestyle. It certainly sounds appealing, right?

So when friends and family asked us to interview the kids to find out what they really think about farm life, I bit my lip, crossed my fingers, and prayed they wouldn’t be too ugly about it.

Their answers might surprise you.

But first, let me tell you our kids range from 12 years old to 5 year old twins and I’ll put their age next to their answer so you can imagine who said what.

Question: What is the best part of living on a farm?

12 year old: I love riding in the tractor with Daddy and Papa. People always think they’re cool. I remember when I was in VPK, there were days when Mama couldn’t pick me up from school. She would ask Daddy to leave the farm and pick me up. He was usually late but I didn’t mind because he always showed up in his big farm truck (F350). I loved watching the other kids faces when they realized the man in that big truck was my daddy. It’s always so fun working with Daddy because I’ve been able to learn about farming from such a young age. I love being a farm kid!

11 year old: Yeah, I love riding in the tractor with my dad too because it gives me time to talk to him alone and he can’t really go anywhere. He has to listen. I remember a few months ago when I was riding with him, I told him about all the animals I want to raise when I’m older like 2 cows, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats. You know. There were at least 50 animals I wanted altogether. When our heifer, Grace, calves, I want to keep her baby as my pet away from the herd.

I also love helping my mom in the office because she lets me practice my math with our customers when I total their purchases and give them change. It’s really fun to me.

Oh, and I also love making videos on my dads phone when I’m riding with him. Y’all think I should turn them into YouTube videos?

9 year old: The best part of farm life is getting to work with my dad almost every day of my life. It’s so cool all the jobs it can do when you just switch out the implements to plough, cultivate, plant, etc. My favorite part of the day is coming home to whatever food Mama made for us.

(Ok, I did not pay him to say that!)

7 year old: We all like to ride in the tractor or combine. I like fixing things on the farm with my dad. He sends me to fetch a wrench for the tractor or a bolt for the tire on his truck. He says we have to learn to fix things before we use them cuz if they break when we’re on them, we’re stuck. So we gotta know.

5 year old A: I love to drive the combine.

Me: Do you mean riding in the combine?

5 year old A: yeah, but also when I’m fake driving it.

5 year old B: I love working on the farm cuz for my party, I’ll get a 4-wheeler and a mower.

(Sadly, he’s disenchanted. 🤣 His brothers got small, rebuilt lawnmowers from their papa when they turned a certain age and he’s insisting this summer is that time for him. Spoiler alert: it’s not. And his own 4-wheeler? Not gonna happen.)

There you have, the apparently glamorous in appearance and reality, farm living as the kids see it. I think it’s kind of like child birth. You forget the hard, exhausting, painful parts and just remember holding that sweet baby. Same thing. They only remember the good stuff.

Well friends, we start our busy harvesting season in just a couple days but stay tuned to our stories on Instagram and Facebook so you can get a ride in the tractor too! 

If you love this interview with the farm kids, submit another question for next month!