People always ask what farming looks like behind the scenes. Early mornings? Muddy boots? Endless spreadsheets? The answer: all of the above — and a bit of Grandpa Story Time for good measure.
Here’s a real look at a day in my life as a potato farmer.
🌄 5:00 AM – Field Harvest
We start early. Like, before-the-sun early. At 5AM, the tractor lights flip on and we hit the fields.
First job? Check the harvester. Are potatoes falling through the cracks? If they are, I’m taking field trip back later that day for a good old-fashioned "farming lesson" (😂 just kidding).
Honestly, it’s one of my favourite times of day.
📦 Morning – Barn Orders and Ton Math
After harvest, I head to the barn where our board lives. Every single day, we need to know exactly how much we can harvest — no more, no less.
That’s because what we pull up in the morning? It has to hit the stores that same day. That means quick decisions and real-time math.
There’s no room for guessing. It’s farming meets logistics, with a bit of caffeine and a lot of dirt.
👴 Mid-Morning – Grandpa Yapping Break
Right around mid-morning, things slow down just enough for a 20-minute break — otherwise known as mandatory Grandpa Story Time.
Half the time, it’s a tale I’ve never heard before. The other half? Well, let’s just say it’s character-building. Especially when we hit Chapter 9 of How They Did It in ’73 (again).
Still, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Plus, there's a saying that every farm needs an old guy to keep it clean, and we got ours!
🥔 Midday – Ugly Potato Day Planning
After Grandpa’s wisdom, we switch gears to prep for one of the biggest things we do all year: Ugly Potato Day.
This event is our way of fighting food waste and giving back — by handing out thousands of pounds of ugly-but-perfectly-good produce to anyone who wants it.
Last year, we donated over $1.4 million worth of fresh produce, and this year we’re going even bigger. We’re planning to break a Guinness World Record by donating half a million pounds of produce in a single day. Yup, you read that right!
Today we walked through the next Ugly Potato Day location, stay tuned for more updates!
💧 Afternoon – Irrigation and Crop Check
The rest of the day is a mix of irrigation planning and my favourite job of all: driving through the crops with some country music.
There’s something deeply satisfying about cruising through a field of thriving potatoes. Everything’s green, growing, and… mostly behaving.
Of course, not every crop gets the memo.
🧑🌾 Real Farming, Real Stories
That’s a typical day on the farm — give or take a few curveballs (like getting our truck stolen... Yep, that happened this week). I love sharing these moments because I think there’s something powerful about understanding where your food comes from and the people who grow it.
If you’re curious to learn more, I post regular updates, stories, and behind-the-scenes content — from crop tips to community work and the daily grind in the dirt.
👉 Watch the full video and see what real farming looks like!
