FEDERALSBURG, Md. - Farming is a job that is usually passed down through generations, but a recent U.S. agriculture census study shows few are picking up where retired farmers have left off.
The average age of a farmer in the United States is 57-years-old, according to a recent agriculture census. While that number has been growing, the number of young farmers taking the reigns from their fathers is plummeting.
"Everyone is going more modern, everyone is going to college and you can't blame them," said Colonel Richardson High School Student Bradley Garner. He works part-time on a farm but he doesn't planning on making that his full time occupation after high school but says agriculture is important.
"If there is no farms, there is no food," said Garner.
Classmate James Brooks says, unlike his friends he wants to be a farmer some day. "All the young kids now, they don't want to do anything, they don't want to farm," said Brooks. "They just want to sit home and play video games which isn't good but personally I like working so I followed in my dad's footsteps".
Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance knows about the declining numbers among young farmers. Even so, he says farming is becoming more high-tech and see's a bright future ahead.
"Farmers are important and if our youth will take the time to investigate there are tremendous opportunities in agriculture and it's not just driving a tractor or working in the fields," said Hance.
For farmers like Brian Shufelt, the times are not on their side.
"The cost to get involved in farming is so large," said Shufelt. "Someone just can't really decide to be a farmer, it has to be handed down".
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