More Than a Lifestyle: How Growing Up on a Farm Shaped My Identity

When people think about culture, they often think about countries, languages, religions, or ethnic backgrounds. Before learning about cultural psychology, I thought about culture in a similar way. However, I have started to realize that culture also exists within smaller communities and environments. Growing up on a farm in a small rural Ontario town created its own unique culture that influenced my personality, values, and the way I view the world.

For most of my life, farm life just felt normal. I did not think twice about being surrounded by agriculture, having a large property, helping with responsibilities, or understanding where food comes from. It was not until I met people from different backgrounds, especially after leaving for university, that I realized many parts of my childhood were not universal experiences. Things I considered normal were actually cultural routines shaped by my environment.

This connects to the idea of cultural scripts, which are shared expectations about how people behave in certain situations. Growing up in a farming community came with certain cultural scripts about hard work, responsibility, and independence. Farming is not a typical job where you clock in and clock out. It becomes part of your everyday life, and there is an understanding that everyone contributes when things need to get done. These experiences shaped my belief that responsibility and commitment are important values.

My upbringing also influenced my ideas about community. In small towns, people often know each other, support local businesses, and have connections through family or shared experiences. This created a stronger sense of community than I realized at the time. Looking back, I can see examples of an interdependent view of the self, where relationships and responsibilities to others influence personal identity. Although Canadian culture is often described as more individualistic, rural communities can still have strong collective values.

At the same time, growing up on a farm also encouraged independence. I learned to solve problems, work hard, and be comfortable doing things on my own. These values connect with the more individualistic side of Canadian culture, where people are encouraged to be self-reliant and create their own path. I find it interesting that my upbringing included both independence and connection to others.

Moving away from my small town helped me notice these cultural influences more clearly. When I started university, I met people who grew up in cities or had completely different childhood experiences. Conversations about our backgrounds made me realize that culture is not just about nationality; it is also about the environments that shape our everyday lives.

Cultural psychology has changed how I look at my childhood because I now recognize that my values were not formed randomly. My work ethic, independence, appreciation for community, and connection to family were all influenced by the culture I grew up in. Farm life was more than just where I lived; it was a cultural environment that helped shape who I became.