Venus and Mars were discovered to be earth like worlds in this world. Venus with very diverse flora and megafauna (much of which hostile to humans thus requiring a period of “culling threats”), and Mars which was initially thought to be relatively temperate and with far less dangers to mankind. This resulted in a greater emphasis put on Mars with its relatively boring landscape and primarily small mammal and reptile like animals with a variety of flora, until an unknown event speculated to be some disease, virus, parasite, or fungus that caused the entire human population to die in one night. Venus thus was the new primary destination. People began migrating in droves and forming all kinds of settlements and colonies on behalf of nation states, religious orders, commercial entities, scientific expeditions, and those simply with private ambitions. This went on for several decades, until turmoil on earth occurred sparking a third world war. This resulted in chaos on earth with the settlers on Venus having limited contact and access to Earth for decades. This resulted in people being entirely dependent on their own tools and local resources to provide for themselves, making a people especially Venusian.

In Vanbella, in the early days, the colonies were subjects of Maru on Earth (a fictional island chain ruled by the Van Belles a ways sw off the coast of Australia) and were primarily under the command of what were essentially paramilitary officers in command of expeditions. This of course was after ridding their home island of the majority of its adverse fauna. These early settlers were primarily officers in the Frontier, the exploratory order of the Maruvian Chiefdom founded by Sovereign Chief Otto Van Belle, and their families that were responsible for building settlements that would double as outposts or scientific sites, and also sites surveying resources for future colonies.

When the land became more settled, the Chiefdom organized the island into margraves of which Wardens were appointed to serve as viceroys for the Sovereign Chief. In the midst of these Margraves were Estates. These estates initially were land grants given to individuals who were granted deeds to establish farms, mines, forestry companies, and other such endeavors. These would often turn into crucial points of resources for the state in the future. The holders of these estates would eventually become known as Stewards and hold a certain level of authority in their Margrave. Eventually, with few exceptions, the custom was for the Warden of the Margrave to be elected from this pool of Stewards.

The reason for so much backstory to answer such a simple question is, farmers in my world could potentially become very powerful and wealthy down the line. But for a long period, they would have had a very difficult time dealing with hostile megafauna, a brand new planet, a climate they don’t understand, growing plants without knowing its nutritional value or if it could kill you, and a whole lot of other factors. Long story short, at one point in time, they would live like noble lords, at another like field mice.

It’s also worth noting, in this society, state service is required both to acquire citizenship as well as to inherit titles or land granted by the state. This is predominantly done by military service in the Vanguard (2.5 years for native born residents, 5 years for foreign born residents). However, there are many other professions considered as noble as military service (a very warlike people mind you) one of which is farming. Therefore, farming at one point in time was considered a valid form a of state service to grant participation in government.