Looking for love? The new reality dating series Farming For Love has confirmed six farmers for its inaugural season, and is now accepting submissions from interested singles from all across Canada! Singles from all walks of life wanting this unique opportunity to find true love and happiness with one of these amazing farmers are encouraged to apply! To spark your interest, we chatted with two of the farmers on the show, Gurleen and Ashleigh, to see whether they think the experience will help them find that “needle in a haystack” they’ve been looking for! —Noa Nichol
Hi Gurleen! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I’m a third-generation farmer. I’m South Asian, and I live and work on my family farm, Maan Farms in Abbotsford, B.C. It’s difficult to say what I do at the farm because I do a little bit of everything from overall operations, marketing and business development. Some would say I’m the Director of Fun!
When and how did you connect with the makers of Farming for Love?
I received a call from a casting producer connected with the show during the farmer casting phase and it went from there!
Why was the show a good fit for you?
I think being on the show will be a really interesting and unique way to find love. Working and living on a farm can be quite isolating and I definitely work long hours. I also can’t stand online dating apps, and have too many horror stories to count. So when this opportunity came along I felt it would be a great way to find love.
Tell us more about the show, and your involvement.
The show is based off a successful format (The Farmer Wants A Wife) that has been produced in over 32 other countries and has led to a lot of successful love matches. This is the first English language Canadian version of the show and I am one of the farmers who will be looking for love! The producers are currently casting for daters who will come to live and work on the farm with me. The daters can come from anywhere in Canada and don’t have to have a farming background.
What’s it about, and what’s the process like?
It’s about farmers finding love! So far, the process has been fun! I’ve filmed a profile video that was released on the CTV website so potential daters can get to know me before they apply. The show is going to film this Fall and I’m excited to see what’s to come!
When it comes to love/dating and farming, what are some of the challenges that other people, with other jobs, may not face?
As a farmer, we work a lot. It’s definitely not a typical 9-5 job and when our season starts I can work long hours so it’s hard to make time to go on dates meet someone.
How about some of the benefits of dating a farmer?!
Well we make wine on the farm—so there’s that 🙂
In terms of a partner, what are you looking for?
I’m looking for someone who is patient, intelligent, and someone who challenges me to be the best version of myself.
What are you most excited for, being on the show?
I think I’m just most excited about the possibility of finding love! I think it’s about time, and I’m ready!
Final, farming question: what’s one thing about being a farmer that you think would surprise the rest of us to know?!
That I get to do fun things like offer Goat Yoga on my farm 🙂
Hi Ashleigh! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
Hey! I’m a small-town girl, raised on the Sunshine Coast, B.C. I was always that shy, awkward “horse girl” growing up at school, but that passion ended up taking me to cool new places, breeding/raising/showing quarter horses, and it was the very thing that gave me independence when I ended up making a career running an equestrian centre and providing lesson programs and kids camps!
When and how did you connect with the makers of Farming for Love?
One of my best friends sent me a screenshot of the casting call earlier this year, and encouraged me to do it. I sent in my application not knowing what to expect, but I was open to the idea of a fun adventure if anything were to come of it, and here we are!
Why was the show a good fit for you?
I love the idea that the show is about trying to find a genuine connection—it’s basically playing matchmaker with a team of real-life Cupids. The Farmer Wants A Wife franchise that Farming For Love is an adaptation of has a pretty high success rate at matching folks up, so far resulting in 191 marriages so my first thought was SIGN ME UP.
Tell us more about the show, and your involvement.
Production is set to begin this fall. I will be inviting daters to my hometown, to work alongside me at the farm, and get to know them through group activities and one-on-one dates.
What’s it about, and what’s the process like?
The premise is about finding real, lasting love. We have not recorded the show yet so I’m not sure what the process will be like, so you’ll have to tune in to see me figuring out the answer to that!
When it comes to love/dating and farming, what are some of the challenges that other people, with other jobs, may not face?
Long days and unpredictable events. While it does offer more flexibility than a 9-5 job; depending on the season and the work that needs to be done specific to the farm, the days can either be very long or short, but on top of the job itself—things can go sideways when you least expect it and you can’t just leave it for the next work day—broken fences, sick animals, frozen waters, emergency calls from other farms to help out, etc., might cause you to have to cancel plans.
How about some of the benefits of dating a farmer?!
We are resourceful, handy, good at staying calm, and coming up with solutions when things go sideways. Depending on what kind of farm it is, I would also say all of the animals!
In terms of a partner, what are you looking for?
I need a guy that is confident, strong, and genuine. Mature enough to have his life together but immature so he can be goofy and fun. Someone who I can let guard down with and be my best friend. I don’t need a man in my life, so if I let one in it’s because I want him there.
What are you most excited for, being on the show?
The whole experience. It’s entirely different from anything I’ve done. It would be amazing to find a life partner, but I’m just going to leave that up to the universe and enjoy the ride while this unfolds.
Final, farming question: what’s one thing about being a farmer that you think would surprise the rest of us to know?!
My favourite thing to do is ask the generations before me how they farmed/ranched/raised livestock/showed horses! The wealth of old school knowledge and awesome stories are the best sources of information you’ll ever find.
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