Farming: Where Tradition Meeets Innovation

Farming has deep historical roots (no pun intended). Humans have been trying to cultivate the land and tame animals for years in order to provide food for their families and communities. With each year, farming has made strides for improvement, efficiency, and sustainability. Today, farms may not look the same as they did 100 or even 50 years ago. Innovations have changed the scope of farming in many ways. Some are unhappy with these innovations, making claims that it isn’t natural or isn’t a farm anymore. Still others complain that farming is antiquated and should embrace further innovations. The paradox of tradition and innovation is clear on the farm.

So, should a farmer look to the innovations of the future or the traditions of the past? I would argue that this isn’t an either-or decision. Perhaps better than any other field, farming joins innovation and tradition so seamlessly that confusion arises over if farms are forgetting their roots or are too deeply rooted.

A state-of-the-art farm, with the latest and greatest innovations, can still hold and practice deep traditions. In fact, from what I’ve observed, farmers hold a great reverence for tradition. Now, this does not mean that farmers plant crops with a mule and a plow to honor tradition. For many, using innovations like tractors with better computers than the first space shuttle that went to the moon, is how they continue on the family farm and honor tradition.

You see, farming is the tradition. It is often passed down from generation to generation. Even if a farmer doesn’t come from a long line of farmers, they still become connected to a long lineage of American farmers.

Tradition meets innovation on the farm through a deep respect of the land, community, and animals. Innovation is driven by tradition. Farmers care about the well-being of the land they tend, the communities they live in, and the animals they care for. It is that care and concern that drive them to use innovations that help them be better stewards and farmers.

At the same time, tradition is driven by innovation. Without innovation, the tradition of the farmer would simply wither away. Innovation is what allows a farmer to continue on.

And so, farmers are neither antiquated nor have they forgotten their past. Rather, tradition and innovation are brought together through farming in such a way that is to be admired. Perhaps we can all take a lesson from a farmer—stay true to your roots, because that will enable growth in the future.