Motherhood on the farm: Easy? No. Worth it? Yes.

Guest Mother’s Day post by Paula Ellis

Being a mom is not an easy job. Being a farmer is not an easy job. Being a mom and farmer is definitely not an easy job. But we’re all the same; We just face different obstacles and challenges and have different ways of overcoming them.

As a “Farmer Mom,” I took my kids everywhere with me. They were riding in combines and tractors even before they were born. I had to be creative in putting a car seat in a tractor or even getting it to fit! Snacks, movies and playing with “combine toys” were the highlight for my two boys (who are now 15 and 21).

My highlight of these times was when they fell asleep. Not only did it mean a little quiet time from their questions, but I felt peace. Peace knowing I was doing the right thing. My kids were by my side, and we were creating memories. Another highlight, in total honesty, was seeing grandma or grandpa driving up the road to pick them up! We were very lucky to have family close by who was always ready to help out, whether it was bringing lunch or running the boys to a sports practice.

Being a farmer isn’t an easy job. Like a mom, we’re always wondering if we’re doing the right thing. Should we be planting? Is it going to rain? Should we have sold corn yesterday when the markets were up? Should we be no-tilling? These are just a few of the daily questions going through our mind, especially this time of the year. Are we planting – well, we’re trying. Is it going to rain – only Mother Nature can answer that one! Should we have sold corn yesterday – probabl,y but with the help of our marketing advisors we didn’t because a crop report was coming out that they felt was going to be in our favor. 

Those are the hard questions, but there are easier ones, too,

Should we be no-till? Absolutely. This is a question we ask ourselves every year. The positive reasons far outweigh the negative, at least for us. No-tilling is not working the ground before planting. We plant directly into the previous year’s debris.  It slows down soil and wind erosion as well as builds soil structure. It’s an important practice that protects our land – the land that my kids have spent countless hours on, sleeping in the tractor and creating memories.

Lastly, being a mom is not easy. We’re always questioning our decisions or looking at what other moms are doing. My philosophy is this: My kids were and are happy, healthy and have family that loves them unconditionally. In this world, that’s what matters.

Happy Mother’s day to all moms!

Published May 8, 2025