DO WORK

COACHING. PROGRAMMING. EDUCATING.

Life can be heavy and uncomfortable, a reality we must accept. Without acceptance, we face a world of hurt filled with disappointments. At Farmer Gym, we view our workouts as a microcosm of life. Comfort is not in our vocabulary; we don't chase pleasure, and the word 'easy' should never be associated with our work. By wielding cold, heavy iron and continuously moving and lifting, we prepare both body and mind to withstand life's demands.

If you quit here or opt for the easy way out, how will you handle life's challenges? Speaking from personal experience, I've chosen to quit and walk away from life's demands. I've often taken the easy path and struggled against the allure of non-beneficial pleasures. Life is hard, but through the rigors of pressing and pulling and the intensity of fitness, we aim to better prepare you, both physically and mentally, for whatever life throws your way.

No, we're not for everyone; in fact, we cater to the few. But if you're ready for a challenge and can endure harsh conditions that test your resolve, then we might be the right kind of uncomfortable fit you’re looking for.

Our Beliefs:

1. Mindset is King: the mind will quit before the body.

2. Intensity is Queen: the pursuit of goals begins at the end of your comfort zone.

3. Whole-body training: compound movements with functional purposes trump isolated activity.

4. Whole-system training: strength, conditioning, and endurance prepare the body for any physical task.

5. Nutrition is an important variable: a bad diet cannot be outworked.

6. Rest and sleep: downtime is mandatory if you want to grow.

7. Varied structure: although the workouts vary, the routine has an objective.

8. Safety with every rep: fitness does not require injury; train hard and smart.

9. Movement integrity: an exercise performed right is always better than a poorly executed half-rep.

10. Consistency and dedication: unfortunately, not everybody is willing to put in the work.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY

HOMEGROWN

“I have been training with Jason Harle since June of this year. I knew that I had the motivation to achieve. I did not need anyone on top of me telling me to get the reps done. I needed some guidance as to where to focus my energy and time most efficiently.

Jason has been more than just a trainer to me. We have been able to bounce ideas off of each other. I have been able to release any frustrations and concerns that I have had with my progress. He has certainly pushed me to exceed many of my expectations that I have been able to dream bigger. My endurance and fitness are the best it has ever been in my life, and I am not looking to stop here.

If you have considered personal training at all and do not need a trainer to watch your every move, Home Grown from Farmer Gym may be something to consider. This program is a fraction of the price than most personal training. Best of all, he can work around your schedule, location, and whatever resources you have.

Thanks, Jason, for all you have done so far! Here are some of my best sweat angels from the work I have already done. There is much more work ahead!”
- Alan C.

The Farmer Gym Way

"Since I live in the middle of nowhere (or used to) I have had to work out by myself in my garage. I have a pretty good setup complete with a rower, power rack and pull up bar, amongst other things. The only thing missing was some good programming. I turned to some big sites such as Sealfit, Misfit Athletics (they are sending 4 athletes to the 2018 Crossfit Games), Crossfit Invictus and several other local boxes for my programming. I saw some results from all these sites, but something was always missing. Enter Farmer Gym and Coach Harle! I met Jason back when he was a coach for Crossfit Ankeny for a short time and let me tell you, the man definitely knows his stuff. I saw he created Farmer Gym, but could never quite pull the trigger on buying a book until this past April when I purchased the 14-week The Farmer Gym Way book off Amazon. I dove in with both feet, and let me tell you I wish I would have bought this book YEARS ago. During testing week my 1 rep maxes for Deadlift as 325 and for strict press was 125. By week 12 I hit those weights for a 6 set of 3 reps! During the course of the book I moved from a 53 lb kettlebell up to a 70 lb one, figured out my double unders, finally, after 6 years of struggling with them, and shaved time off of every single workout in the book as I made my way through it. Coach Harle is extremely responsive to questions, and willing to coach form and give advice the best he can if you send him videos. If you’re willing to #dowork, I promise, you WILL see results with his programming."
- Travis B.

Farmer Gym’s 2-month trainer

"I'm lovin' the 2-Month Trainer... And it's kickin' my butt!"
- Matt N., U.S. Army Green Beret

Farmer Gym’s Strength and Conditioning Manual

"I turned 30 last year and I was like most guys reaching that age, anxious. I entered into my 4th decade of life soft, stuck in my gym-ways and often lost. I have worked out for years but in the last several years, entering the gym was like entering the super market, full and not sure what I wanted to buy. Frankly, I needed something new. So I bit the bullet and bought this manual. From day one I have been hooked. Not only are the workouts challenging, they're also organized. This manual gave me the firm foundation I lacked as I turned 30. I recently turned 31 about 7 weeks into the manual and I can honestly say I entered 31 stronger, firmer, more confident and healthier. I still have a TERRIBLE diet, but somehow, when I stick to the manual, my body continues to get stronger and my muscles continue to grow. For example, my deadlift went from a struggling 175lbs. to, today, 9 weeks later, hitting a new PR of 315lbs. I'm back to benching what the 25-year-old self could bench, and I'm on schedule to exceed that. I can't stress to you enough, BUY THIS MANUAL. You're truthfully spending $15 for a personal trainer over the next 10 weeks. Well worth the money and time. I highly recommend this if you need a fresh new start, a better foundation for working out, or just want to achieve overall full body health."
- Robert S.

Program writing

"The Farmer Gym workouts have been amazing! They’re not only catered to fit my schedule each week, but are never the same (which makes boredom pretty much nonexistent) AND are easy to follow! Plus, I’m already seeing results in the short time I’ve been following this program! Jason is a great resource who is always available to address questions/concerns and he's just an all-around nice guy. I’d definitely recommend The Farmer Gym to anyone who has an ounce of desire to get back into shape!"
- Jenny G.

Farmer Gym’s 2-month trainer

"The book is perfectly straight to the point. The workouts are awesome and they explain every exercise in the book. Highly recomended."
- Scott F. S.

FARMER Gym’s Almanac

"This almanac gives you enough variety in the workout routine each day to ward off boredom, with a different daily routine for an entire year. I'll never have to pay gym dues again or buy that stuff that they sell on TV at 4 AM, just so I can sell it to someone else in a garage sale a couple of years later. I like the fact that the exercises are easy to understand and that I can adjust the intensity to match my fitness level. Since the book costs less than one month at the gym, it was a no-brainer for me."
- Robert M.

A few more highlights from over the years:

One-On-One Client

“Right off the bat, Jason wanted to know what my goals were in my training. I told him, “to be healthy enough to dance at my grandchildren’s wedding.” I realize that my stated goal may not be what is usually heard. Jason not only took it seriously, but also through discussion, he was able to take my goal and design a strength training routine that would meet it.

Jason just doesn’t care about my strength; through our discussion during training, I get general nutrition tips, mental tips (success or failure is often in the mind not the muscles — #dowork), and encouragement for a job well done. Jason’s personality and sincerity makes coming to my training a fun and enjoyable experience.

He is adept at reading my moods as well. I came in the other day and he looked at me and asked, “rough day?” I responded, “rough week.” He then took out the boxing gloves. and for the next 15 minutes I worked out some serious stress.

I have never in my 63 years been a "gym person, and I really thought I would quit; so it is a complete surprise to me that I have lasted 6 months. A large part of that is due to what Jason brings to the job every day (intelligence, knowledge, caring, humor, and dedication).“
- Toni L.

Farmer Gym’s Strength and Conditioning Manual

"Best workout program I've ever followed. GET THIS BOOK. This workout program has made me stronger and more athletic. Each day is something different and the workouts do not last more than an hour. I'm a busy person and making it to the gym can sometimes be hard, but knowing I'm only working out for an hour makes it ideal. This is the perfect workout for someone who is a student, or has a full-time job. There are no complicated movements involved in this book -- everything is straightforward. I had a friend do a workout with me and he had to buy the book immediately. These workouts are fun! No matter your body type I think this workout program will make you stronger and more athletic. I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs a great workout plan to follow."
- Anonymous

HOMEGROWN

“I'm not sure you realize what a bargain I consider this training to be. I'm fitter, more muscular, and more vascular than I've ever been in my life. As an adult, I've never worn anything smaller than a 38. When I started this endeavor a year and a half ago I needed at least a size 42 to be comfortable, and now 38s are falling off. ALL of my blood test metrics improved by 30%-50% over last year. I'm happier, mellower, and have more energy than I can ever remember.”

- Austin H.