We’re sure there are harder jobs in the world than farming, but…we can’t happen to think of any at the moment. Seriously, farming is one of the toughest ways to eke out a living in the 21st century, and yet it is one of the most essential careers one could ever embark on. After all, where do you think all of that food in your local grocery store comes from? Farming doesn’t just require long days of hard labor; it means being an astute businessman, a sharp seller, and an opportunist who keeps his eye on the trends that govern American food consumption. To put it simply: Farmers don’t have a lot of time to go shopping for themselves.

All of this means that it can be difficult to shop for the farmer in your life. And you don’t want to make things more difficult by asking your farmer friend to think up a gift list. If they’re as humble and down-to-earth as the farmers we know, they’ll probably just wave their hands and tell you that they don’t need anything. Well, that’s no fun! Instead of putting the burden on them, why not put some thought into the gift yourself? Even if you get it wrong, your effort will be appreciated.

To help you come up with some great gift ideas for the farmer, we’ve come up with a few of our favorites. Dig in and see if you can’t find some inspiration!

7 – Personalized Initials Knife

Every farmer needs a good knife; most of them will need more than one. Therefore, the gift of a folding knife will never go astray. Even if the farmer you know has a collection of knives that would put the Iron Chef to shame, he surely won’t mind adding another to the case. This one, of course, comes with an added benefit in that it is personalized with the recipient’s initials. That makes it a perfect present that matches functionality with sentimentality and identity. A great gift for any occasion!

6 – Farm-Opoly Game

Over the last decade or so, the creators of Monopoly have licensed dozens – if not hundreds – of games that use the same rules but indulge in different themes. Instead of being built around railroads and Atlantic City street names, these games reference everything from Star Wars to your local hometown. And, of course, there is one for farming! Perfect for the farmer who enjoys playing board games in his (limited) spare time.

5 – Home is Where Our Story Begins Cutting Board

This cutting board isn’t just personalized, and it isn’t just a great gift for a culinary artist – it’s also a wonderfully romantic gift for the farmer who knows that there’s no place like home. It may be our imagination playing tricks on us, but we even get a farmhouse vibe from the house depicted on the front of this board. Farmers are responsible for what goes into the kitchen, but many are also masters of making something delicious out of those ingredients. They’ll treasure this customized cutting board.

4 – An Insulated Jacket

We may have the impression that farmers mostly work in fair or even hot weather, but that’s not always the case. Particularly true for farmers who raise livestock, the work never stops, no matter what the weather conditions may be. At times like these, an outdoorsman must have the clothing necessary to keep himself warm and protected from the elements. A good coat is a thoughtful gift that is sure to be well-received. Companies like 3M and Caterpillar sell versions specifically manufactured for farm work.

3 – Personalized Wooden Sign

Personalized wooden signs add charm and identity to any room, and they are as fitting for the suburban family as they are for the metropolitan couple looking for rustic flavor. But we would be lying if we didn’t acknowledge how well this horse-themed sign would go in a farmhouse décor. Naturally, this sign would be especially well-placed on a horse ranch, but you don’t need to know a horse-raising farmer to hit the target with this gift. Any farmer with children is likely to see this sign as a hit. The personalization is just the cream on top!

2 – Waterproof Work Boots

Sometimes people are uncomfortable when it comes to buying clothing or sized products as presents. It’s not easy to subtly ask for a person’s boot size, after all, so even broaching the question can give away the surprise. So if you fall into this category, feel free to ignore this suggestion and move on to the next inspirational idea. But if you are perfectly comfortable performing some light investigation (or if you already know the size he wears), a good pair of waterproof work boots can make for an excellent gift. Farmers work incredibly long hours, so they need boots that match comfort with a utilitarian purpose. Timberland and Wolverine are among the top brands.

1 – Personalized Tumbler

When it comes to keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot, no cups do the job better than the mighty tumbler. Don’t be misled by the product description on this one. Though these are geared towards groomsmen, they certainly aren’t limited to weddings. Because of the custom text fields available on the website, you can have these say anything you want! Tumblers are excellent drink holders for the farmer on the go; he won’t want to drive back up to the house every time he wants a coffee refill. If you know a farmer who spends much of his day far away from the nearest microwave (or ice maker), this will be a gift that is both personal and functional.