The Farming Game

Lore & Background

George Rohrbacher, a rancher in Washington state, designed The Farming Game in 1979 while his 1,500-acre farm near Goldendale faced bankruptcy. His wife was pregnant and had quit her job. A friend suggested he invent a game like Monopoly based on farming struggles near the Yakima River. While baling hay early one morning, he developed the idea. To produce the first edition, Rohrbacher borrowed $90,000 and had it produced by the handicapped at Portland's Goodwill Industries. The first copy was ready in four months, and after six weeks almost 8,000 copies had been sold. By 1985, more than 150,000 copies had been sold, and by 1995 the estimate was 350,000 copies. The profits saved Rohrbacher's farm.

Reader's Guide

The Farming Game is significant for its realistic portrayal of farming economics, including operating expenses, chance events, and the need to balance a town job with farm investment. The game was used in schools around the world, according to the publisher. In 1994, the World Bank arranged a Russian translation to help teach Russian farmers capitalistic farming. The game was adapted for Windows 3.1 in 1997, winning the 1997 Mahnke Multimedia Award for Best new education title from the AECT. A Mac version was released in November 2012 by Game Masterminds. The game's design reflects Rohrbacher's own experience, with names and places drawn from families that have farmed for generations in the Yakima Valley and Central Washington. Rohrbacher also served in the Washington State Senate and as a Commissioner for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Did You Know?

• The game sold more than 150,000 copies by 1985, saving Rohrbacher's farm.
• A Farmer's Fate card can force a player to skip harvest due to IRS garnishment.