Hello, there! You’ve seen my byline for the last year or so in various pages of Grainews, ever since I started working here as an associate editor, but this is my first time writing in this space. I’m filling in for Grainews editor extraordinaire, Kari Belanger, who’s taking a well-deserved break after a hectic winter/spring production schedule.
OK, stay with me on this, but there’s an old saying in advertising that “sex sells.” I can’t say I know of any noteworthy examples in the realm of ag sales, but I’m probably not looking hard enough.
True Love is another hot commodity nowadays, it seems. If you need any proof, just look at the plethora of reality TV dating programs that populate the airwaves and the streaming services. Many of us know about The Bachelor (26 seasons and counting) or its spinoff, The Bachelorette, but here’s a pop quiz: how many of these current or recent dating shows are you aware of?
- The Celebrity Dating Game • Love Island
- Married at First Sight
- Love is Blind
- Sexy Beasts
I admit I know none of them. In my defence, though, watching sports on the tube is about how deep I’m prepared to dive into the reality pool. My apologies to Jim Lange and every one of his ilk, but dating shows have never really been my thing.
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At this point, you’re probably wondering what I’m nattering on about, or what any of this has to do with farming. Well, I’m glad you asked.
Farmers, I’m sure we all agree, deserve True Love as much as anyone. Perhaps even more so, considering all of the sacrifice that’s required and how demanding and vexing farming can be at times. Too often, there’s simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs doing, let alone find that special someone.
If this sounds like you, don’t lose heart — you could be a perfect candidate for Farming for Love.
The new reality show (or unscripted, as they’re otherwise called) starts production soon in British Columbia and will air on CTV. It’s based on another dating show that I didn’t know about, The Farmer Wants a Wife, and the premise is having urban singles work to win the hearts of assorted rural folks who are searching for soulmates.
“As they live and work together, the daters must adjust to a new lifestyle, and immerse themselves in a series of challenges, group activities and intimate one-on-one dates with the goal of finding their one true love,” is how CTV describes the show.
The country lonely hearts in the 10-episode first season of Farming for Love were selected from an open casting call that took place earlier this year. They include grain, dairy and agritourism farmers, ranchers, a horse trainer and a vintner — you can check out their profiles on the Farming for Love website.
Here’s a sampling from a press release on Farming for Love:
Farmer Dave: Dave is a 32-year-old grain and livestock producer originally from South Africa who runs two farms on Vancouver Island. “With his business up and running, he’s looking for a kind- hearted woman with a sense of humour to complete his life.”
Farmer Gurleen: Gurleen is a 34-year-old farmer who is “equal parts grit and glam” and is the creative force behind her family’s thriving berry and agritourism business. “She is a proud South Asian female working alongside her family, and any potential mate must love them as much as she does.”
Farmer Adam: Adam is a 49-year-old cowboy who often moves from ranch to ranch in B.C.’s cattle country. “Adam’s horse, Dave, and his dog, Annie, are his trusted companions — but now he’s ready to settle down for true love.”
Can Dave, Gurleen and Adam find the man/ woman of their dreams? I guess we’ll have to tune in to find out. I hope they do, and I’ll be one of those checking out Farming for Love to see what happens.
Of course, what happens over a 10-episode season arc is really only the prequel. A successful long-term relationship, like farming, takes a serious commitment and a lot of hard work. It’s one thing to plant the seeds of romance but it’s quite another to navigate and nurture a relationship through the droughts and storms of life and all the other ups and downs.
