Certainly cant find fault in many of the comments here, I do take offence to the comments about marrying into a farm. None to amused with the jokes either. But If you absolutely want to farm and cannot live without the farm life It can be done. But like Fry said you will work for the bank forever no matter how you start. The days will be long and the pay will be too little, your family WILL be the ones who sacrifice for your choice.

If you cannot live without it, go out and find one of the 60 yr old farmers that want to retire in 10 years, bust your back, give him everything you have and more. If he thinks you worthy he may give you a chance, thats how I started with my FIL. I left a job that paid 18k in 1977 to farm for 12. But he gave me a chance and in 1980 I rented a farm and have not looked back. Never inherited a dime, my farmer stepdad died young and had nothing left after an illness. My FIL farmed for 12 years after I started with him, he drove a tractor for perhaps 5 of them. Many in the neighborhood said I was his slave, last laugh is best. I have quadrupled the size of the farm and now "own" more than FIL farmed when I started  with him. If you dont want to take the chance that someone may renige on a promise, go work for a BTO. if your good you will make more money and have no debt. Youll work just as hard for him but you will make more money

For all the loud people with all the answers i just got my MIL paid off last year and the machinery and buildings are mine. She still owns her land and I pay her a competative rent, I have purchased over a 1300 acres in my career but still owe more than ever. I know my plan would work in the right situation cause we are looking for a guy just like that. Damn sure wouldnt bring in someone who thinks anything is given on a farm! Sacrifice, damn straight Ive sacrificed, 5 busted fingers, broke my ankle and my pelvis. torn rotator cuff and both knees have been operated on, back is shot, inoperable. Never spent a day sick Only days I have not walked though the shop doors were the 10 days in the hospital for a broken pelvis. Never missed a FB or BB game made all the confirmations, graduations and proms but many times went back out to work after the company left. Oh and I never missed a payment to anyone! Some people have all the answers.