The influence of parental socialization factors on family farming plans of preadolescent children: An exploratory analysis

Previous scholarship on farm families emphasizes the importance of socializing children to become farmers. This study is the first to focus on the parental socialization factors that are associated with preadolescent children’s attachment to, and plans to take over, the family farm. Forty-seven 7- to 12-year-old children and their farming parents responded to a survey regarding the child’s involvement in farm work, the father’s wishes concerning the child’s future in farming, the children’s perceptions of their relationship with parents, and the children’s perceptions of parents’ worry about the farm. Three of these four factors were associated with the children’s plans to farm. Recommendations are provided to rural educators for supporting farm children and their families.