Introduction: As the number of farms decreases, so too does the proportion of people employed in agriculture. These changes can have significant consequences for farmers, who face challenges such as economic uncertainty and physical and mental health problems. For many farmers, farming is not just an occupation, but also a way of life and a significant part of their identity. From the perspective of occupational therapy, farming can be viewed as an occupation because work is closely intertwined with farmers’ everyday lives, their roles and interpersonal relationships. Occupational science examines occupations in depth and views individuals as occupational beings. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma thesis was to explore how farmers experience farming as their occupation from the perspective of occupational science and to examine the significance of their everyday involvement in the agricultural environment. Methods: A qualitative research approach was used, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five farmers actively engaged in farming. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The research showed that, for the participants, farming represents not merely an occupation or a source of income but primarily a way of life and an important part of their identity. Participants attached considerable personal importance to farming, associating it with a sense of purpose, usefulness, responsibility, pride, intrinsic motivation, and satisfaction. At the same time, they described experiences of stress, uncertainty, and various burdens. An important finding was the central role of the family, which served as a strong source of support, motivation, cooperation, and knowledge transfer for the farmers. Among the factors facilitating engagement in farming, participants highlighted positive neighbourly relationships, support from their families and partners, faith, and a strong desire for progress. In contrast, barriers included extensive administrative work, bureaucracy, physical demands, financial uncertainty, weather conditions, animal diseases, limited leisure time, and a lack of understanding of farming among the wider public. Nevertheless, participants developed certain strategies and adaptations for coping with these challenges. Discussion and conclusion: From the perspective of occupational science, farming can be understood as a complex and multifaceted occupation characterised by the intertwining of work, leisure, and family life, which are difficult to consider separately. This diploma thesis contributes to a better understanding of farming as an occupation and provides opportunities for further research on farmers as a distinct population within the fields of occupational science and occupational therapy.
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