Title: Are There Good Reasons for Being a Farmer? | AHA
Headings: Are There Good Reasons for Being a Farmer?
Are There Good Reasons for Being a Farmer?
Do farmers eat better?
Do farmers have better health?
Do farmers enjoy their work more?
Is family life better on the farm?
Do farmers earn less than city folk?

Content: Dr. Baker-who may be regarded as a spokesman for the school of farming enthusiasts -said, “I have a son now less than 5 years old, and I hope when he grows up that he will decide to be a farmer.” Dr. Baker’s reasons for wanting his son to be a farmer were: A farmer has more and better food to eat than have most people who live in cities. He is healthier and lives longer. He is likely to enjoy his work more than most city people do. He is more likely to rear a family and thereby promote the future welfare of the nation. Let us examine briefly each of these points. Do farmers eat better? As to the question of diet, Dr. Baker based his assertion on (1) a United States Department of Agriculture study, made in fairly prosperous times, of 2,400 farm families and (2) a study by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics of 12,000 workingmen’s families in cities. The farm families, it was found, were getting much more protein, calcium, phosphorous, and iron than was necessary for good nutrition.