There’s been a noticeable shift in agriculture lately.
More people than ever are stepping into the idea of raising their own food—keeping a family cow, raising chickens, running a few goats, or growing their own garden.
Many of these people have little to no background in livestock.
And yet—they’re trying anyway.
So the question becomes:
Is this a good thing—or a problem?
Why the Surge Is Happening
There are a few reasons behind this shift.
First, COVID exposed something a lot of people hadn’t thought about before:
How fragile the supply chain really is.
When shelves went empty, people started asking a simple question:
“What happens if I can’t get what I need?”
For many, the answer was to start producing it themselves.
Second, some people saw opportunity.
Not everyone is drawn to large-scale commercial agriculture. For some direct-to-consumer operations—raw milk, eggs, grass-fed beef—opened a door that felt more accessible.
And third:
Urbanization.
More people are living on smaller pieces of land—but still want a connection to something real.
Even in tight neighborhoods, you’ll see backyard chickens or small-scale setups.
Some are curious.
Some want their kids to experience it.
Some just want to try something different.
Whatever the reason—the number of people entering small-scale agriculture is growing.
The Challenges
This growth isn’t without problems.
The biggest one:
A lack of preparation.
Too many people jump in without understanding what they’re taking on.
It looks simple—until it isn’t.
We’ve all seen it:
Chicks bought in the spring…
Raised in a makeshift setup…
Then suddenly they’re full-grown—and overwhelming.
That story usually doesn’t end well.
Livestock requires planning, education, and commitment.
Without that, it becomes stressful—for both the people and the animals.
There’s also a strain on resources.
• Increased demand on veterinarians
• Limited access to medications
• Growing regulations
All of this adds pressure to a system that’s already stretched thin.
If that trend continues, it could become a serious issue.
The Opportunities
But there’s another side to this.
And it’s worth paying attention to.
We have new people entering agriculture.
People with:
• Time
• Energy
• Resources
• Curiosity
And most importantly—interest.
That matters.
Because one of the biggest problems we face is this:
Fewer people are choosing to stay in agriculture long-term.
When experienced producers step away, someone has to fill that gap.
These new homesteaders might not look like traditional producers—but many of them won’t stay small forever.
The ones who stick with it learn, expand, improve, and move deeper into the industry
That’s where the long-term value is.
They’re not just participants.
They’re potential future stockmen.
Another upside:
Creativity.
New people bring new ideas.
Different approaches.
Different problem-solving.
And while not all of it is good—some of it pushes the industry forward.
If we only ever do things the way they’ve always been done, we stop improving.
Takeaway
This is a double-edged sword.
Yes—there are challenges.
Yes—there will be mistakes.
But there is also opportunity. We need new people in this industry.
Whether they start with five chickens or a backyard garden doesn’t matter.
What matters is that they start.
So instead of pushing them away for what they don’t know—help them learn.
Because agriculture doesn’t grow by staying closed.
And no one ever won a war with a one man army
