The Importance of Staying Fit + healthy with Lindsey Sherman (SFFF80)
Long days in the field, unpredictable weather, and a workload that never really slows down can take a real toll on the body. Many flower farmers don’t realize how much strain they carry until the aches become constant or the exhaustion starts affecting decision making. When the busy season hits, it is easy to slip into survival mode and forget that your health is one of the most important tools you bring to the farm every day. This is something I’ve lived myself and something I hear from other growers all the time.
The conversation in this week’s Six Figure Flower Farming Podcast episode with fitness and nutrition coach for women in agriculture, Lindsey Sherman, brought all of those truths into sharp focus. Lindsey comes from the dairy world, so she understands the physical grind of hands in the dirt, early mornings, and long harvest days. She also understands how burnout shows up, not just in the body but in the mind.
The Hidden Physical Toll of Flower Farming
Farmers are constantly on the move. We bend, squat, lift, kneel, haul, reach, and walk thousands of steps every day. It feels like a workout and it is, but it is not the kind of movement that builds the strength or mobility we need for longevity. Many farmers stay active but still feel sore, stiff, and drained at the end of each day. That disconnect confused me for years.
Lindsey explained that farm work often breaks the body down instead of building it up. Repetitive motions, awkward positions, and constant lifting without proper strength training can leave us tired and achy. The movement is real, but it is not controlled or balanced enough to protect the muscles and joints long term. Adding purpose driven exercise, even in small amounts, can reduce pain, improve flexibility, and make farm tasks easier.
Small Habits That Protect Your Body
A full fitness routine might feel impossible during peak season, yet even simple daily choices create real change. Many farmers are chronic meal skippers, especially during spring and summer. I used to be the same way, convincing myself I was too busy to stop. The result was brain fog, irritability, and a total crash by late afternoon.
Lindsey encourages farmers to start with the basics. A real breakfast, a packed cooler with snacks that do not require clean hands to eat, enough water, and a short walk can transform energy levels. When you feel more stable and fueled, you make clearer decisions and stay steadier throughout the day. Strength training and mobility work during slower seasons can prepare your body for the months ahead and reduce those familiar late summer aches.
Making Fitness Fit Into a Farmer’s Schedule
About Lindsey Sherman
Lindsey Sherman is a fitness and nutrition coach who dedicates her work to supporting women in agriculture. Her roots run deep in the dairy world. After earning her degree in animal science, she spent years as a herds person on working dairy farms where long hours, unpredictable schedules, and nonstop physical labor were simply part of the job. Like so many in agriculture, she pushed herself past the point of burnout and realized her own health had taken a back seat. That turning point inspired her to become a certified fitness coach so she could help other women avoid the same path.
Today Lindsey stands out as one of the few trainers who truly understands the unique demands agricultural women face. Her approach blends strength training, mobility, simple nutrition habits, and mindset support to help women feel strong, energized, and capable both on and off the farm. Lindsey’s mission is to make sure the women who grow food, flowers, and communities have the tools they need to take care of themselves with the same dedication they bring to their farms.
Follow her on Instagram: @lindseysherman_fitness
Check out her Website: lindseyshermanfit.com
One of the biggest barriers is time. Most farmers think exercise requires a perfect routine and a dedicated workout schedule. Lindsey takes a different approach. She helps clients build both a “busy season routine” and a “slow season routine” so expectations shift with the farm’s rhythm.
Some of her most successful clients exercise at unexpected times. A quick workout before breakfast, a walk with a toddler in a stroller, ten minutes of stretching before bed, or strength training on weekends can still create momentum. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency that matches the real life of a farmer. Home workouts, short sessions, YouTube walks, and simple kettlebell exercises can all be enough to keep the body strong.
The Mental Benefits of Moving With Intention
There is a powerful emotional shift that happens when you take time for your own health. Fitness isn’t just about gaining strength or building endurance. It is about reclaiming a sense of control in a job full of unpredictable variables. When you choose intentional movement, even if it is small, you remind yourself that your body deserves care.
Farmers often carry their stress home. A sink full of dishes can feel like the final straw on an already overwhelming day. Lindsey explained that on the days she gets her workout in, her resilience is noticeably higher. Hard tasks feel manageable. Small frustrations do not spiral as fast. Movement gives your brain a reset that affects your entire farm and family life.
Protecting Your Longevity as a Flower Farmer
If you want to farm for many years, your health cannot be an afterthought. Longevity depends on strength, mobility, nutrition, and mental clarity. When you strengthen your body, you also strengthen your business. You work more efficiently, recover faster, and handle challenges with a steadier mindset.
That kind of care is not selfish. It is strategic. A thriving farm needs a thriving farmer.
