Oct 14, 2026 · 33 min
Listen from 19:05
Listen at 19:05
A dairy farmer uses ETFs to diversify beyond the family farm
Why this fourth-generation farmer started buying ETFs
Justin Walsh’s investing journey shows how someone with irregular agricultural income can use simple market exposure to build financial choices beyond one asset and occupation.
- 1Justin Walsh returned to investing through practical finance books, starting with an all-in-one ETF before adding thematic funds and individual stocks.
- 2Diversifying beyond farmland could create an income bridge, reduce dependence on agriculture, and give Justin more freedom over his future work.
- 3Justin and his wife treat money conversations with their teenage daughter as a way to model saving, investing, and resilience through market volatility.
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The brief
Justin Walsh grew up learning that money came from hard work and was usually reinvested in the farm; later, he began looking for a second path to wealth.
The fourth-generation dairy farmer returned to investing after reading The Barefoot Investor and Get Started Investing, beginning with a broad ETF before adding thematic funds and stocks.
His portfolio is designed to diversify beyond agriculture, potentially bridge income before traditional retirement, and create room for roles beyond running the family dairy farm.
Irregular farm income makes regular investing difficult, but Justin’s advice is straightforward: start with a broad-based ETF, avoid unnecessary selling, and learn as the portfolio grows.
The conversation extends beyond Justin’s portfolio: he and his wife openly discuss saving, spending, investing, and market volatility with their teenage daughter.
Books & mentions
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