My Farmer and I are coming up on our fifth wedding anniversary.

When we started dating, I got a lot of advice from other farm girlfriends/wives. Farming is all about the seasons: planting, growing, harvest, and the season of fixing things, otherwise known as winter.

Regardless of the government red tape your date might complain about, his work is invaluable to the nation. In celebration of Valentine’s Day tomorrow, I thought I would share three things I think are essential for dating a farmer. If you’ve dated for a month, you have an idea what happens in that month, but there are 11 more to go.My Farmer works from sunup to way past sundown for six, and sometimes seven, days a week during planting and harvest season. These are often last-minute decisions and sometimes have to be cancelled. You have to be willing to do things without your partner. Farming is not just a job, it’s a part of who our farmers are.Not only is this often the only way I get to spend any time with My Farmer, but I learn more about what he does so I can carry on a conversation with him about the farm. stars Chris Soules, a fourth-generation farmer from Iowa who, when he isn't shooting a reality show, works a 6,000-acre field of corn and other crops.