It might just be me, but it feels like fewer young people are interested in raising livestock anymore. I live in a farming community, and I hear the same thing over and over from successful farmers and ranchers:

“Yeah, I think I’m going to get out. The kids don’t want anything to do with it.”

One wants to design tractors. Another doesn't want anything to do with it.

So the question is—why?

Where Did the Interest Go?

Why does it feel like fewer people want to do this anymore? Even a lot of 4-H and FFA kids who grow up in it and say they love it graduate, go to college, and don’t come back.

Meanwhile, most of the “new” people entering livestock are small-scale homesteaders wanting to raise their own food, which is a completely different conversation.

So what’s causing the shift?

The Marketing Problem

Part of the answer is uncomfortable, but simple:

We’re not very good at selling our own industry.

Think about it.

The message people hear is:

• Long hours

• Missed family events

• Hard work with slim margins

• Stress, risk, and uncertainty

Even the music about this lifestyle paints that picture and to be fair, it isn’t entirely wrong.

But if that’s all a kid sees growing up… why would they choose it?

Culture Matters More Than We Think

There’s also something deeper going on. It’s not just the work, it’s the environment around it.

I’ve spent my life around livestock, and I genuinely love it. I’m willing to work for it, sacrifice for it, and build something in it.

But I’ve also been in situations where the culture made it hard to enjoy.

Not because of the animals, but because everything became about pressure, margins, and “turning it green.”

That kind of environment pushes people away faster than the workload ever will.

If We Want It to Last, It Has to Be Better

If we want the next generation to stay in this industry, we have to take a hard look at what we’re offering them. Not just in terms of opportunity, but in terms of experience.

• Are we teaching them why this matters?

• Are we giving them ownership and pride?

• Are we building something they actually “want” to be part of?

Or are we just expecting them to carry something forward without improving it?

Takeaway:

I give this industry a hard time but it’s because I care about it.

I love raising livestock. I love the process. I love what it teaches, and I want to see it thrive.

But if we want that to happen, we can’t just hope the next generation sticks around.

We have to make this something worth staying for.

Do you actively participate in this industry or do you keep it at arms length? I'd love to hear what made you stay or drove you out. Reply to this newsletter or leave a comment below.