Started on a fifth-generation farm
Emily Rourke grew up on her family's dairy farm in upstate New York — 200 acres, three generations before her, a rhythm set by seasons and animals and weather. After college, she moved to Boston for work, like so many do. And for five years, she dated people who didn't understand why she'd wake at five, or why a late harvest made her disappear, or why she talked about soil the way others talked about Netflix shows.
When she moved back to run the farm with her parents, she realized the real problem wasn't distance — it was that she'd been looking in all the wrong places. The people she wanted to meet weren't in dating apps. They were up before dawn. They were thinking about water tables and fence lines and next season's crops. They understood, without explaining, why you can't just leave during calving season.
In 2019, Emily started Homestead Hearts. Not as a side project or a clever startup pitch, but because she knew — and knows — what it takes to build a life on the land with someone who gets it.
Our mission
To help people who grew up on farms — or who are drawn to farming and rural life — find lasting partnerships with someone who shares those values.
Farm life isn't a lifestyle choice. It's a calling. It shapes how you think, what you prioritize, and who you can build a life with. We treat that as a strength, not an obstacle. We're not here to help you escape the farm or to "balance" rural life against dating. We're here to match you with someone who wants to be there because of the farm — the land, the work, the seasons, the deep roots.
Who we serve
Multi-generational families
Sons and daughters taking over the family operation, or coming back after trying somewhere else. You know the land, you know the work, and you want a partner who's ready for it too.
First-generation farmers
Starting from scratch — orchards, small livestock operations, regenerative agriculture, niche crops. You're building something from the ground up and need someone who believes in it as much as you do.
Ranchers & land stewards
Cattle, sheep, horses, or conservation work. Whether it's thousands of acres or a few hundred, you're tending something that demands partnership and understanding.
Agricultural professionals
Veterinarians, agronomists, equipment dealers, seed reps, extension agents. You live and breathe agriculture and want a partner who does too.
City-raised, land-bound
You grew up in town or suburbs but fell for farming or rural life. You're serious about marrying into it, and you want someone who'll help you learn and belong.
The partners they're looking for
Anyone with roots in the soil — literal or spiritual — who wants to build something real with someone who understands what that means.
A small, dedicated team
We're not an algorithm service. Every profile gets reviewed by a real person who understands rural life — or lives it.
Our team includes former matchmakers, agricultural professionals, farmers, and people who've built their own lives on the land. We read profiles personally. We look for genuine compatibility, not just keyword matches. We coordinate introductions thoughtfully, and we stay in touch to understand what works and what doesn't. When you join Homestead Hearts, you're not disappearing into a database. You're joining a service run by people who know the difference between swiping and seeing someone.