Five Iowa Farm Traditions That Are Fading Away Today

I grew up in rural Jones County between Monticello and Anamosa on a beautiful piece of God's country we all call Iowa. I remember back to early mornings and late evenings on that pig farm: vaccinating, cutting teeth, and Farrowing. And of course, all the other work that came with it: scooping gutters, grinding corn, and bedding hog lots. It seems, though, many of the old-school, single-farm family traditions I grew up with have started to fade away.

I may just be waxing nostalgic as my Ehlers family recently held its annual sweet corn harvest and freezing event, but some valuable things have been lost over the years. The days of work I did were good, and much of it helped shape me. Now I see my children growing up in a world where instant gratification is the standard. Google can answer any question. YouTube has any song you could ever want. And despite the early criticism of my teachers, everyone DOES have a calculator (and even a PC) in their pocket today.

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So, as technology grows and diminishes the need for some farm jobs, other activities simply disappear altogether: here are five farm traditions that are fading away.

1. Square Baling and Manual Haying

There was a time when every teenage boy in the county knew the pain of stacking square bales in 90-degree heat. We called it "idiot baling" because we knew other farmers had round balers. We’d load up hayracks, hoist bales into barns, and come home with shirts soaked through and arms covered in itchy scratches. It was hard work, but there was something about it that built character and community. It was a family and friend affair each and every year. And Granny Smith apples covered in salt and an ice-cold Mt. Dew were your reward, because allowance didn't exist for farm kids.

Today, most farms use round bales or big square ones that you move with a skid loader. You don’t need a crew, you don’t need to stack, and you sure don’t need the neighbor kids or cousins. Efficient, yes. But something’s lost when you don't work shoulder to shoulder.

2. Butchering Days

Back in the day, when the weather cooled off and flies weren’t a problem, families and neighbors would get together and butcher chicken, hogs, or beef. It was a full-day event. You learned the value of life and the know-how to feed yourself. There was plenty to learn and do between skinning and processing.

Today, some regulations and especially the convenience have turned this into a thing of the past. You call the local locker, drop off the animal, and pick up your meat in labeled white paper. Sure, it’s easier, but the kids don’t know what it takes to make that steak or pork chop on their plate like I do.

3. Sweet Corn Husking and Freezing Days

This one still lives on in our family, but not many others keep it up. The Ehlers family gathers every year for a big corn-freezing day — husking, boiling, cutting, bagging — all by hand. The kids all chip in, and we always have plenty to enjoy across much of the family and anyone who comes to help.

Even in Iowa, it’s a rarity now. People buy frozen corn in a bag or just a few ears from the store. There’s no reason to spend an entire day preparing food you can buy in five minutes, except maybe to remember who you are and where you came from.

4. Canning and Preserving the Garden

I still try to do this with my jerky making, but now it's more about art than survival. When I was a kid, the pantry shelves were lined with jars of tomatoes, beans, and anything we could grow in our garden. Canning was a hot, sweaty process that usually involved multiple generations in the kitchen and a lot of clanging pots and shouting over boiling kettles.

Now? Most people don’t even own a canner. Last time I tried to make my own pasta sauce, I had to borrow my mother's. When you can buy anything year-round, why would you own one? But again, something’s been lost. It's the sense of pride that comes with putting food on your shelves that you grew with your own two hands. Some are still adamant that they grow and can their own food; it's a great skill to know and have!

5. Raising a Mix of Livestock on One Farm

We had pigs. My uncle had cows. And when they were both growing up, they had all those plus chickens and ducks, and that was normal. It made the farm feel alive. You learned something from each animal: patience, timing, and toughness.

Now, most farms specialize. You’re either a combination of corn and beans, and hogs or cattle. Nobody has “a little bit of everything” anymore. It’s just not how the industry works anymore. The family farm used to be more than just a business; it was a way of life, and that variety was a big part of it. Speaking of which...

Bonus: Multi-Generational Family Farming

This one hits close to home. Back then, it was expected that the next generation would take over the farm. You’d learn to drive a tractor or skidloader before you could reach the pedals in a truck. Your summer job wasn’t at the pool; it was in the fields next to your parents and grandparents.

Now, younger generations are moving to cities (kind of like I did), working in tech (like I do), or chasing careers that don’t involve dirt under their nails (again, me). And I don’t blame them. I never really wanted to be a farmer, and farming certainly is NOT easy. It doesn’t come with a guaranteed paycheck, an office with AC, or a boss keeping you honest on a day of work. But something about passing on the land, the stories, and all that hard-earned knowledge: now that’s a tradition I hope sticks around, even if it becomes rarer by the year.

For many families, these traditions have begun to fade. While my family still partakes in most of these activities (though it's much more limited than when I grew up), I realize my children's kids are unlikely to have many of these same experiences as they grow, move away, and begin new lives further separated from how I was raised. Iowa. It sure is something special.