I spent a morning on a working Indiana Farm…and it changed how I view farmers.
If you've lived in Indiana for any amount of time, you've probably driven past hundreds of farm fields without giving them much thought.
I know I have.
They're just...there. Part of the Indiana landscape as we drive to school, run errands or head somewhere for the weekend.
But recently, my 6-year-old and I got the chance to actually step into one of those fields and see what happens behind the scenes on a working Indiana farm.
And honestly? I learned so much more than I expected to.
We spent the day with Tyler Everett, a sixth-generation farmer whose farm is just about 10 minutes north of Hendricks County. He showed us around the farm, walked us through what goes into growing a crop and gave us a glimpse into the work that happens long before anything ever makes it to a grocery store.
And my son got to ride in a tractor…so, naturally, that was the highlight of his day. 😂
But I think I might have been just as excited as he was.
Getting a Look at Work Behind the Fields
We walked around the farm, learned about the different parts of the operation and got a glimpse into what goes into growing a crop from the very beginning.
We even got to sign their grain bin, which was pretty dang cool. Can’t ever say I’ve been inside a grain bin before! There's something really neat about leaving your name on a piece of a working farm that has been part of a family's story for generations.
But the highlight for my son was definitely getting to ride along in the tractor while Doug, Tyler’s dad and a 5th generation farmer, sprayed for weeds.
For a 6-year-old who still calls out “mommy look, a tractor!” anytime we pass one on the road, getting to ride IN one was the highlight of his summer.
For me, though, it was the chance to see just how much goes into something that can look so simple from the road.
Farming is More Than Planting a Seed
I went into the visit knowing the basics. Farmers plant crops, they grow, they harvest.
What I didn't fully appreciate was just how many decisions, steps and factors are involved in getting from planting to harvest.
There's weather to watch. Soil to care for. Weeds and pests to manage. Equipment to maintain. Timing matters. And there are countless decisions being made throughout the growing season that can affect the crop and ultimately the farmer's livelihood.
Seeing that process firsthand gave me a completely different appreciation for the fields I see around Indiana.
It's easy to drive past a field and think, “Oh, there's another cornfield” or “There's a soybean field.”
But there's a whole lot happening there.
And there's a farmer behind it who has invested time, money, knowledge and an incredible amount of work into making that crop successful.
A Sixth Generation Farmer
Farming isn't just something he decided to do. It's something that's been passed down through his family, with knowledge and experience being carried from one generation to the next.
Tyler is a sixth-generation farmer, which I thought was pretty incredible. SIX generations.
Think about that for a second.
Farming isn't just something he decided to do. It's something that's been passed down through his family, with knowledge and experience being carried from one generation to the next.
And now he's part of making those decisions for the next generation.
That gave me a completely different perspective on the fields we drive past.
There's a family behind them.
There's a livelihood behind them.
There's a lot of pride behind them.
And, just as importantly, there's a lot of responsibility.
Experiencing This Through My 6 Year Old’s Eyes
We can tell our kids that food comes from farms, but there's something different about actually standing in a field and seeing the process.
I think having my 6-year-old with me was probably my favorite part of the whole experience.
He was fascinated by the tractor, the equipment and everything happening around him. Mr. Doug took him under his wing for the day and they went and “worked” around the farm. It was so precious.
But as a mom, I also loved that he got to see where some of the things we use and eat actually begin.
We can tell our kids that food comes from farms, but there's something different about actually standing in a field and seeing the process.
I Left With a Whole New Appreciation for Indiana Farmers
More than anything, I left feeling grateful. Grateful to Tyler and his family for letting us get a glimpse into their life, and grateful to live in a state where agriculture is such a huge part of our surroundings.
This experience gave me a little window into it.
It made me think about the farmers who are out there working through good weather, bad weather, unpredictable seasons and everything in between.
It made me appreciate the amount of thought that goes into caring for the land and growing a crop.
And it made me appreciate how much work happens long before we ever see the products that come from these crops.
Now, when we're driving past those fields, I know I'll look at them a little differently.
Because they're not just fields anymore.
I know there's a person behind them.
A family.
A whole lot of work.
And a story that most of us don't get to see.
I'm really grateful to Tyler for letting us get a little peek into that story — and especially for letting my son and me experience it together.
I went into this thinking we'd have a fun day on a farm.
I came home with a much greater appreciation for the people who help feed our families and communities…and a 6-year-old who is now convinced he needs his own tractor. 😂
