You are a What? A PFO? What is That?

PFO, Primary Farm Operator. That is what I am, and is what I do. This title was given to me by my twin sister several years ago. Actually, she is a PFO as well. Are you?

We are the main care personal or Primary Farm Operator on our farms, or ranches as my twinster, who lives in Colorado says. It is a growing movement in the rural parts of our country. Where woman are the mainstay, while husbands have full-time, away-from-the-farm jobs. Indeed, we have a small farm because our husbands do work an outside job.

Making ‘livable’ money from farming alone is pretty much non-existent. Most especially for small farms. Father Harry (aka my husband, Bill) has worked away from home for all our married years. This PFO has considered the home and farm her business. It is true we have had our little farm for only thirteen years, and we have been married nearly forty years! Those years before our farm, I considered myself the PHO, or Primary Home Operator.

I have always looked at our home as my ‘business’. The way I saw and still do is; no one–NO ONE has the interest in the prosperity and success of this business as I do. The work has been lonely and long, as Father Harry travels far, wide, and often. It has been a choice, an agreed upon choice by the two of us, and it has worked well.

Thirty years ago, the house was full of five active children and pets. Now it is full both inside and outside of pets and animals. Some would say the animals are better than the children. Some would say children are better because “they grow up and go to college!”

I say they are similar in many ways. For instance: to leave the farm for any amount of time requires finding farm hands to do the work; having healthy kids or animals is the product of attentive care and attention; the work is never-ending; the rewards are far greater than the back-breaking labor; they all are more fun than television; they keep me young-at-heart; they all make me smile.

Different tools and skills are required, of course, between home and farm. There are excellent books on small-scale farming. A good place to find them is Tractor Supply stores. Tractor Supply also has great tools you will need.

Enjoy our blogs on something every PFO needs: A Tool Purse. A Chain Saw. A Tractor. Click on links to read blog posts on these important farm tools.

Happy farming gals!