In this episode, the women met their respective farmer’s friends and family, but the ladies didn’t know the meet-and-greet was happening beforehand.
At the end of the big family dinner, each farmer picked one final lucky lady for the last solo dates of Season 2.
Members of our Lancaster Farming news team watch the show each week to provide insights and commentary. However, two of our regular commentators are off this week.
Our very own Rebecca Schweitzer is off for two weeks because she is becoming a wife! Congratulations to Rebecca and her soon-to-be husband, Ryan, on their wedding!
Editor Steve Seeber is also off this week enjoying a nice vacation.
Special thank-you to Phil Gruber for stepping in for the next two weeks while Rebecca enjoys her wedding, and to TikTok star Justin Bucks for filling in for Steve. Justin, our company president, also provides his comments on the show each week on our Lancaster Farming TikTok page.
Cringiest Moment
Candice Wierzbowski, digital content manager: Joy’s strange excuse for why she struggles with empathy. Having a medical condition should not preclude you from having compassion for others. Pain is not a competition.
Karen Lefever, paginator: Nathan’s sisters came in hot with the questions about how soon the ladies want kids. The women and Nathan all seemed shocked, and it was very awkward. And then his mom asked him the same question and he said “as soon as I can.”
Stephanie Speicher, social media editor: Emerson was all kinds of cringe this week. She was being a full-on pick-me girl with her declaration that she doesn’t care at all about hair and makeup. That’s ironic seeing as her hair was done and she was wearing a full face of makeup.
Phil Gruber, print content manager: The first conversation of the episode, between Brandon and Joy. I had never watched a full episode of a reality show before (I didn’t even really make it through this one), but Brandon’s opening question showed me what I was in for: “I would like to start with first week connection, first week energy. Tell me a little bit more about that.” That’s the kind of phrasing I might use when questioning a public official; it sounded out of place in a dating context, but that’s the nature of this kind of show.
Kelly Thomas, food and families section editor: Where to begin? While I’d have to take off my shoes to count them all, I would say it was when Mitchell’s mom pulled Kait and Sydney aside and asked them when they wanted to start a family. Um, how about none of your business? A close second was watching poor Nathan sit at the table with all those women and have his sisters/mom pummel them with questions. He looked like a caged puppy yearning to be rescued.
Justin Bucks, president: Maybe not cringey, but certainly surprising to learn that Ashley went on the show seemingly knowing that at some point she would have to make a decision mid-production about whether she would continue to pursue love or lose her job. In the moment for me it was cringey to hear that if she didn’t leave that day to be back at work the next, she would lose her job.
Funniest Moment
Candice: Nothing stood out to me as particularly funny, but I did laugh bitterly at Emerson’s “Pick-Me Girl” moment at dinner. I’m not a huge fan of Joy, but putting her and her interest in hair and nails down is not the way to build yourself up, Emerson. It’s OK to like “girly” things.
Karen: Brandon’s family dinner table was funny. First, Brandon and his dad are like identical. His dad making sure everyone got potatoes was funny. And Grace says, “You know he hasn’t even fed us a potato?” What? He is a potato farmer! How have they not had a potato in all these weeks? Grace just seemed to really enjoy herself and was laughing. She really fit in. And of course, Joy, there are no makeup stores and hair salons around and it’s two hours away from a shopping mall. How will she be able to survive?
Stephanie: Steve may not be here this week, but I’m continuing on with the “what are they drinking” saga. The producers’ way of hiding the wine bottle labels was literally wrapping them up in scarves. It was so silly watching people pour wine out of scarf-wrapped bottles.
Phil: Joy and Emerson’s exchange. Joy declared she would miss stores and nail salons if she moved to the farm, which risked her looking shallow and poorly suited to the rural lifestyle. Emerson shot right back: “Shopping malls, I don’t care. Nails, I don’t care. Makeup, I don’t really care.” I appreciated what she said.
Kelly: I thought it was funny when Mitchell pulled Natalie aside after dinner to let her go. While I was sad for Natalie, I couldn’t keep my eyes off that yummy plate of brownies between them. If I were Natalie, I would have asked for a doggy bag. Also, when Joy said she’s working toward becoming a “mammo tech” and then asked Brandon’s mother if she knew what that was. Seriously? You’re asked a grown woman who has probably had dozens of mammograms what a “mammo tech” is. Come on, Joy, she’s not a toddler.
Justin: It was funny that each of Mitchell’s family members had a different lady as their favorite. “Thanks for the help, guys.”
Any Shockers?
Candice: I’m shocked that Brandon bought into Joy’s excuse and that he’s still clearly enamored with her. I think his friend Carlos was struggling to hold back his true opinion: I think he could sense something was off.
Karen: Two things: I thought that Emerson did not seem to fit in and looked kind of put off the entire night. And I guess I was just shocked with who the guys picked for their final dates.
Stephanie: I was a bit surprised that Myka asked Melody and Megan which one was better suited for farm life. It felt like she was trying to pit the women against each other. But Melody and Megan both handled the question like champs, showing that they’re truly girl’s girls, which I love to see.
Phil: How did this show find so many women with huge eyes and lips? Also, why did Ashley join a reality show without arranging a leave of absence with her employer? If she couldn’t be away from her job, her appearance on the show was going to be a dead end.
Kelly: I guess there were two. Learning Joy has epilepsy makes me a bit more sympathetic to her overall state of mind. Her blasé attitude may be a side effect of the medication, although I do still feel she should be capable of empathy. Also, I was a bit shocked to hear Ashley was going to lose her job if she didn’t leave the farm that day. Why sign up for something knowing you must make a tough decision before the show even ends? I felt bad for Ty; I think she broke his heart a bit.
Justin: Melody wearing a gorgeous white coat around the horse stalls. I loved the look and she is one of my favorite women on the show, but how do you get horse poop out of that?
Favorite Couple
Candice: I’ve spent a lot of time crowing about how perfect Megan is for Ty, but this week I’m going to give Sydney her flowers. The production crew at Mitchell’s homestead can pack up and go home. She’s the one for him.
Karen: Nothing really happened with couples, so for this episode it is none for me.
Stephanie: Even though he didn’t pick her for his final solo date, Brandon and Grace are my favorite couple. I think their personalities mesh really well and they seem to have a really sweet, pure connection.
Phil: None.
Kelly: I’m back on team Nathan and Taylor. I guess I understand why he asked Allye on the last solo date, but I am rooting hard for those two crazy kids. Even Nathan’s mom said she sees how he lights up when Taylor talks to him.
Justin: It’s tough to say, since each of the guys seem to have a solid connection with two women on their respective farms. Long term, I’m going to say Mitchell and Sydney.
Favorite Farmer
Candice: I guess it’s still Ty, but I’m pretty lukewarm on all of them. Carlos caught my eye, though. Is he a farmer? Can we have him for Season 3?
Karen: Ty really handled Ashley going home well. I think his maturity really came out when he was talking to her about life and jobs and responsibilities and about not being able to just drop those things at this time of their lives. I think it was very genuine.
Stephanie: It’s still Nathan. Is anyone shocked? He’s just an all-around lovely man.
Phil: Keith, Brandon’s dad. I formed no strong impressions of the contestant farmers, but Keith seemed down to earth and easygoing. Much easier being the parent than the son in this situation.
Kelly: Still Nathan. Now I understand why he’s so sweet. His three older sisters probably treated him like their personal baby doll when he was born. That couldn’t have been easy. No wonder he’s so reserved around women.
Justin: Nathan seems like such an incredibly genuine and caring person, and I think his close relationship with all of the ladies on his farm demonstrates that. And he has great hair to boot.
Predict the Final Two Ladies
Candice: Ty’s already down to two, but I think he’s going to struggle with the final decision. For Mitchell, I predict Sydney and Kiana. Nathan will have to choose between Makenzie and Allye. Brandon is clearly caught between Emerson and Joy (heaven help him).
Karen: Ty is easy, he only has two, Melody and Megan. Brandon, I have no idea. One minute I think this way and then another, but I think I will go with Grace and Emerson. Mitchell I think will be Sydney and Kiana. Nathan I think will be Taylor and Makenzie.
Stephanie: We’ll start off with the obvious one: Ty’s final two are Megan and Melody. Now onto the real predictions. For Nathan, it’s Taylor and Makenzie. I think Brandon will come down to Grace and Joy. As for Mitchell, I’m going with Sydney and Kiana.
Phil: No idea. This is the first episode I watched, so I had about 30 seconds of material to go on for any one woman. Also, I must confess that I didn’t pay much attention to the relationships between the women and the farmers.
Kelly: Mitchell: I really want Kait to leave next week. I feel she told Mitchell’s mother exactly what she wanted to hear. Did you also notice she never really smiles? Mitchell’s mom picked Kait as her favorite, but I don’t see that relationship working out. I hope I’m right.
Ty: Same thing here. I hope Ty ends up with Megan even though he asked Melody on the final date. There were definitely some red flags with Melody, including the fact that she travels for weeks at a time with her job. Ty has a young daughter, and it would be nice to have a mother figure around as she enters her teen years. Megan is both a teacher and a horse lover. What more could Ty ask for?
Nathan: I think it’s going to come down to Taylor and Makenzie. When you have two people who are introverts (like Nathan and Allye) it takes a lot of work to get things moving. I think Taylor brings out the best in him, which is what a spouse should do.
Brandon: This farmer has me perplexed. Yes, Joy is beautiful. But even after opening up to Brandon she is back to being the same ditzy, heartless Joy. Emerson’s cattiness calling out Joy’s need for a nearby salon was also a bit ugly. Not sure how I feel about Grace either. She’s got spunk, but not sure she’s right for Brandon. Bottom line? It will probably come down to Joy and Emerson.
Justin: Nathan: Mackenzie and Taylor. Mitchell: Sydney and Kiana. Brandon: Joy and Grace. Ty: Duh, Megan and Melody (yes, I was watching).
Final Thoughts
Candice: Kudos to the family members and friends who were willing to go on reality TV to weigh in on their loved ones’ personal lives. Sorry to all my single pals, I would never. In this day and age, all it takes is one weird look or turn of phrase and you’re instantly a meme. So thank you, folks, for being brave enough to come out and awkwardly ask strangers about when they plan on having babies with your sons/brothers/friends.
Karen: Sorry, but overall I thought the episode was very boring. I feel like they just stuck this episode in to add another week.
Stephanie: If I met a guy’s family for the very first time — mind you a guy I’ve only been dating for about a month — and they immediately asked me when I wanted kids I would for sure be a little put off. At the end of the day, that is not the family’s business. I understand the farmers having a kids conversation with the women, but I don’t think it’s the family’s place to be asking such a personal question.
Phil: This was weird to watch just after going through the hiring process for a new position at the newspaper. This episode felt a lot like a second or third job interview. On whether it resembled normal dating I will reserve judgment.
Kelly: Just that the farmers need to follow their own hearts and not be influenced by what friends and family think. I feel Brandon’s friend Carlos was the most insightful when he said (referencing his uneasiness about Joy) “if he’s happy, we’re happy.”
Justin: Two of them. First, how long does it take Joy to do her hair and makeup each morning? Second, I predict that Joy will open the first nail and hair salon in Center, Colorado.