Farm Families in Career Transitions: Descriptive Characteristics and an Intervention

Abstract

Characteristics of farm family members involved in workshops that are designed to assist them in developing career plans and making transitions to other careers are described. Age, sex, educational level, and career change characteristics of workshop participants are presented. Vocational identity scores using My Vocational Situation, interest patterns based on the Self‐Directed Search, and 6‐month follow‐up data are also presented to describe the farm family members served through this intervention. My family went back four generations on this piece of land. Farming wasn't a job; it was a way of life. I couldn't go to the auction. I couldn't see it all being taken. I feel like such a failure.

An investigation of coping styles and gender differences with farmers in career transition.

“…Thus, there is considerable pressure on many farmers to undergo an often stressful career transition (M. J. Heppner, Johnston, & Brinkhoff, 1988; Hughey, M. J. Heppner, Johnston, & Rakes, 1989).…”