Reality TV: Why a North Palm woman self-eliminated herself from 'Farmer Wants a Wife'
North Palm Beach resident Amy Bryant seemingly has it all — the career, the looks and a close bond with her family.
But, there are two things missing — the man of her dreams and kids. Not finding her perfect match locally and not vibing with the dating apps, the licensed real estate agent decided to give reality TV a try on the second season of Fox’s "Farmer Wants a Wife," hosted by Grammy Award winner Jennifer Nettles.
“I really enjoyed the first season. The guys seemed down-to-earth and [were] manly country men, so I decided to randomly apply,” said Bryant, 39, who was single for two years before the start of production last September.
How did she do on this reality TV show: Woman from Wellington battles on 'The Voice', singing a Frankie Valli hit.
Bryant lasted five episodes on the Missouri farm with Ty Ferrell, a 42-year-old team roper from Sikeston, Mo., before she pulled herself out of the running, a rarity in the reality TV dating world. It ultimately meant less exposure and foregoing potentially more glamorous trips, but Bryant stayed true to her feelings.
The casting process involved submitting an online application with a short video. Once she caught the attention of the casting directors, they set up a series of Zoom meetings to learn more about her. The casting process was nothing new to Bryant, who years ago applied to be on Juan Pablo Galavis’ season of "The Bachelor." She made it far in the casting process for that show which aired in 2014 and was even flown out to Los Angeles for an interview.
“I am glad I wasn’t cast. We wouldn’t have been a match,” she said of "The Bachelor" and Juan Pablo. “I think it prepared me for 'Farmer Wants a Wife' casting.”
What is the concept of 'Farmer Wants a Wife'?
Bryant returned to conventional dating until "Farmer Wants a Wife" came along. The concept of the show is "The Bachelor" meets "The Simple Life" meets the classic TV sitcom "Green Acres." A group of women who reside in a city or suburb are matched with one of four farmers. Each farmer invites his group of suitors to live on his farm for up to two months. During that time, he dates the women and introduces them to farm life to determine if there is a love connection and lifestyle match.
Unlike most dating shows, the matching is not left entirely up to the casting team. The contestants don’t show up to filming blindly on the first day. Bryant and the other women were initially presented with profiles of eight farmers to review before filming began. She ranked the men in order of preference, placing Ferrell at the top of her list. The men were also shown profiles of prospective women. Four of the eight farmers were cast and matched with women who mutually selected them.
“Ty was my top choice because of our age," she explained. "The other farmers [are] much younger than I am and probably on different paths. I am glad I was paired up with Ty. I learned things from Ty that I’d like to see in qualities in the next person that I date.”
Bryant felt a connection with Ferrell, finding common ground in their quiet, reserved personalities. Ferrell is a divorced single dad to 12-year-old daughter, Lennon, who made an appearance on a group date on the show.
“I actually love that he has a daughter because I’ve always wanted children. I thought that was just an extra bonus,” she said. “It was the first time I dated somebody who had a child.”
What were the breaking points for Amy Bryant on the show?
It turns out the grind of farm life is not what stood between Bryant and Ferrell. During the fifth episode, they went on a one-on-one date. There, she expressed interest in having children of her own, and was surprised to learn that he was on the fence about having more children.
“The more that I got to know Ty, I realized that in his future he doesn’t see himself having more children, which was a disappointment for me because, even though I am older, I still have hope that I can somehow be a mom one day,” she shared. “Whoever I meet I hope that they are on the same page of wanting a family in the future.”
On the March 14 episode, Bryant and FerreIl had a heart-to-heart conversation and she decided to eliminate herself from the running so she can continue her search for a partner in Florida. Staying true to herself throughout the entire journey, she said she has no regrets about her decision to leave.
Amy Bryant is a fourth-generation Floridian from West Palm Beach
Born and raised in West Palm Beach, the fourth-generation Floridian is hesitant to move away from the beach and sunshine, but isn’t shying away from the possibility of farm life and assuming the role of "bonus mom." Country life is not a foreign concept to her family. Her sister is married to a farmer in North Carolina, and her brother is dating a woman who has horses. She grew up attending local rodeos.
The adventure seeker and avid traveler is looking for a best friend and someone who is comfortable being himself around her, gets along with her family and shares her values, life goals, and faith.
“I would definitely marry a farmer. I find it really attractive,” she said. “I could see myself with somebody who has children. I also don’t take it lightly. I know that comes with big responsibilities.”
Bryant might not have to go far to find what she’s looking for. Palm Beach County has several farming and equestrian communities including Wellington, The Acreage and Jupiter Farms. Had she had the opportunity to show off Palm Beach County to Ferrell on a hometown date, she was considering taking him to the National Polo Center in Wellington, hot spots in downtown West Palm, and introducing him to her family.
For some made-for-TV humor, she was also planning to invite him to a ballet barre class she teaches at Life Time, a members-only athletic country club.
“Maybe there’s a Florida farmer out there for me somewhere,” she said, expressing interest in growing oranges or watermelons.
How to watch "Farmer Wants a Wife'
"Farmer Wants a Wife" airs on Fox at 9 p.m. Thursdays.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'Farmer Wants a Wife': North Palm woman exits reality TV dating show
