First-Generation Farmers: Why America Needs Us More Than Ever

By Erin M. Stone — The Fox & Crow Farm, Barnstead NH

When you grow up without farmland in your bloodline, every acre feels like a victory. Every fence you build, every seed you plant, every sunrise that greets you in a place you built from nothing — that’s what it means to be a first-generation farmer. No inheritance. No family tractor waiting in a shed. Just a vision, a pair of calloused hands, and the stubborn belief that it’s still possible to feed a community and make a living doing it.

At The Fox & Crow Farm, we started with a rundown property and a dream bigger than our bank account. We rebuilt barns, cleared fields, and learned by doing — and by failing. We didn’t come from farmers. We became them. And that’s what defines a first-generation farmer.

What It Means to Be First-Generation

A first-generation farmer is someone who starts from zero. No generational land, no inherited knowledge, no established operation to step into. Just the courage to begin. Across New England, many of the old family farms have disappeared under new housing developments and asphalt driveways. In their place, newcomers are carving out modern homesteads — learning soil science on YouTube, buying used equipment, and planting heritage seeds in rocky ground.

Being first-generation means taking risks most people can’t imagine. It means second-guessing yourself at midnight when the barn roof leaks and the animals need feeding anyway. It means celebrating the small victories — a healthy litter of piglets, a thriving garden bed, a customer who becomes a friend. And through it all, it means holding tight to the belief that this work matters.

The Cost of Starting From Scratch

Farming isn’t cheap. Land prices in New Hampshire continue to climb, and the cost of lumber, fencing, feed, and fuel has nearly doubled in recent years. Many first-generation farmers take second jobs just to keep the farm lights on — and in our case, sometimes those lights come from solar panels and a wood stove instead of a power grid.

Starting a farm isn’t a weekend hobby; it’s a full-time, full-heart commitment. You invest every dime back into the land. You learn the difference between needs and wants very quickly. There are no shortcuts — only seasons. Each one teaches patience, humility, and persistence.

And yet, despite the hardship, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching a pasture fill with life, or serving a meal that came entirely from your own labor. It’s the kind of fulfillment that no paycheck can buy.

The Age of the American Farmer

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American farmer is now nearly sixty years old. That statistic should concern all of us. It means that within the next twenty years, millions of acres will change hands — and if new farmers don’t step in, much of that land will be lost to development forever.

Young and first-generation farmers bring innovation to an aging industry. They’re experimenting with regenerative agriculture, permaculture, agritourism, and direct-to-consumer sales. They’re proving that farming isn’t a relic of the past; it’s the future of local sustainability.

Why America Needs First-Generation Farmers

America needs first-generation farmers because they are proof that hope still grows in the soil. They represent independence, self-reliance, and the will to rebuild something our society desperately needs — local food, land stewardship, and a connection to nature.

When you buy from a first-generation farm, you’re supporting someone who poured their life savings into a dream. You’re helping preserve open space, protect pollinators, and sustain your local economy. You’re investing in the next generation of growers who will feed your family long after the big box stores go dark.

We may not come from generations of farmers, but we’re building the next one.

So next time you visit a farmers market, tour a small barn, or share a locally grown meal, remember: every seed we plant carries a story — and first-generation farmers are writing the next chapter of America’s agricultural legacy.