Of all the things kids are asked whether they’d like to be when they grow up—doctors, presidents, radio DJs—it’s rare to hear someone under 15 proclaim with loud abandon that he wants to be a farmer. Which is curious, considering the rich history of American agriculture and the fact that it’s a job that will always be in demand.

Which is not to say that farming is ever a sure thing. Farming is hard. It’s unpredictable and risky putting your livelihood at the behest of rain and fertilizer. As a result, farming has become increasingly top heavy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every farmer under 25, there are five farmers over 75. The disparity can partly be explained