Understanding the lived experiences and motivations of first generation small acreage farmers in the Western United States

Many established farmers in the United States are aging out of agriculture, raising questions about who will farm in the future and what draws new people into the profession. While previous research has described the financial and structural barriers facing beginning farmers, less attention has been given to how first-generation farmers understand their own reasons for farming and how they make sense of the work once they are in it. This study used a Heideggerian phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of three first-generation small-acreage farmers in the Western United States. Through semi-structured interviews, the study examined how participants described their motivations, challenges, and sense of identity as farmers. The findings suggest that participants did not understand farming primarily as a financial decision. Instead, they described farming as meaningful work tied to land, community, responsibility, and personal identity. Two broad patterns were identified: farming as an existential commitment, and a life shaped by tension and tradeoffs. Participants described fulfillment through feeding others, caring for the land, and building a life that felt purposeful. They also described financial uncertainty, administrative demands, limited time away from the farm, and social isolation. These findings are based on a small, context-specific sample and are not intended to be generalized to all beginning farmers. However, they suggest that efforts to support new farmers should address more than production skills, financing, and business planning. Farmer support programs may also need to consider the social, emotional, and identity-based dimensions of agricultural work.