Why We’re Crazy Enough to Farm at 66
posted on
August 9, 2025
The Coot Salute: "Saluting all the folks who still chase dreams, even if their knees complain about it."
Howdy folks,
It’s Phil here (Coot #1) from 2 Coots Ranch.
I’ll admit it — we’re nuts. Who in their right mind starts farming in their 60s? Apparently, two coots with more grit than sense.
My wife and I got married at 17. We were city kids with stars in our eyes and dirt in our dreams. We talked about farms and land and animals for years, but life had a habit of getting in the way. Kids, jobs, bills. You name it.
Every time we got close, something knocked us back. We didn’t have the money. Or the skills. Or the timing. But the dream never left. We’d go for long drives and point at old barns and pastures, saying, “One day.”
Well, “one day” finally came. I was 66 when we moved onto this land, and it felt like arriving at the starting line of a race we’d been prepping for our whole lives. Sure, these days I creak more than the barn door. And sometimes the animals outsmart me (don’t get me started on that one goat). But this? This is the life we were made for.
We started 2 Coots Ranch because we believe in doing something bigger than ourselves. This isn’t just a retirement project. It’s a legacy project. We’re first-generation farmers trying to build something that lasts. Something we can pass on to our kids and future generations.
You’re never too old to start over. Or to be a lifelong learner. Or even a first-time farmer.
You’re never too old to grow your own food, get your hands dirty, and feed your neighbors while you’re at it. We need more farmers — of all ages, sizes, and walks of life. This land doesn’t care how many birthdays you’ve had — it just needs hands and heart.
So if you’ve got the itch, follow it. It might just be the best crazy thing you ever did!
And if you believe in this wild dream of ours — well, the best way to keep it going is by filling your fridge with food from the farm. Every steak, every egg, every order helps us stay out here doing what we love: growing good food for good folks like you. Thanks for being part of the story.
-Farmer Phil
P.S. Age might slow us down, but stubborn keeps us going. Still out here. Every dang day!
