$7 an Hour & Zero Sleep: The Reality of Young Farmers with Ruben & Matt EP 20

In today’s episode of Dawn’s Dirt, we’re talking about hard work, grit, and what it really takes to make it in farming. I’ve got two incredible young men, Ruben and Matt, who are just 20 years old and already breaking into the world of agriculture. These two aren’t just sitting around waiting for opportunities—they’re chasing them down with everything they’ve got. We dig into the brutal reality of land prices, the cutthroat world of renting farmland, and why so many young farmers are being priced out by big corporations. But these guys? They refuse to back down. They’re getting creative, working off-farm jobs to fund their dreams, and finding mentors in older farmers who believe in keeping agriculture alive.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it really takes to build a farm from scratch in today’s world—without rich parents or corporate backing—this episode is for you. Get ready for an honest, no-BS conversation about sacrifice, resilience, and chasing a dream most people wouldn’t dare to touch.

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Episode Highlights: farming struggles, land prices, young farmers vs. corporations, off-farm income, entrepreneurship, agriculture legacy, direct marketing vs. traditional sales, mentorship in farming, risk-taking in agriculture, working for $7/hour, generational wisdom, making it work against all odds

Takeaways:
- Farming today is nearly impossible without off-farm income
- Land prices are so high that young farmers rely on renting instead of buying
- Older farmers often prefer to rent to younger farmers rather than corporations
- Direct marketing beef is a challenge but can be more profitable than selling at auction
- Hard work and grit matter more than money in farming success
- Mentorship from older farmers is key to learning the business side of agriculture
- You can’t be afraid to take calculated risks if you want to survive in farming
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Links & Resources Mentioned

Visit Dawn’s Website: https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/

Dawn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/

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