Why Modern Young Americans Shun Labor-intensive Farm Work

Have you wondered why a young American might avoid picking fruits and vegetables, a task traditionally done by immigrant labor? This arduous agricultural work often takes place in hot conditions and offers comparably low pay. It's like asking your mechanic to work in an oversized oven for a shot of whiskey—grueling and thankless.

My Personal Experience with Orchard Work

When I was young, I had to engage in orchard work. It taught me about the importance of resilience and the value of hard work. Often, you would find myself doing a job you didn’t want to do just because it needed to be done. Every American who receives welfare should be required to experience this kind of laborious work.

The Shift in Southern Ohio

From the year 2000 onward, in southern Ohio, one of the most significant agricultural regions in America, there was a noticeable shift. I worked in the orchards for three summers. Despite the harsh conditions and the low pay, I endured. President Clinton’s focus on healthcare and education was seen as a beacon of hope back then, yet healthcare has become a mess, and education seems to have failed to instill discipline and hard work among today’s youth. Young people are perceived as lazy, a trait they attribute to the misguided idea that "everyone gets first place."

The Immigrant Labor Debate

Some might argue that immigrants should do the agricultural work while they take on white-collar jobs. Why should the latter expect others to feed them? However, to suggest that young Americans are unable or unwilling to work in agriculture is disingenuous. Any real American who refuses such work does a disservice to both themselves and their community.

A few decades ago, farm work was not the idyllic task it is sometimes portrayed to be. Harvesting fruit or vegetables isn’t always fun and is often demanding. When I was young, I remember picking various fruits in a humid environment, battling insects and mosquitoes, and spending only a few hours doing the work. Today, I still do such work but in better conditions. However, the work is still physically taxing and requires a lot of time and effort.

Consider the daily, hourly, yearly commitment required for such labor. It is often not about the work itself but about the seasonality and the low pay. Being a young American in a modern, desk-bound job offers a lot more comfort and less physical strain. Why would anyone choose to work in agriculture when an indoor desk job is available?

Undoubtedly, farm work is demanding and rewarding for some. Yet, the combination of low pay and high physical demand often makes it unattractive. The trend towards desk jobs provides a more comfortable alternative, and this trend is likely to continue.