If it were me, I would talk to the farm owner about getting a good reference. That is a rental history. You were just bartering/working to pay rent rather than working in cash. I would set a cash price on my labor, and then put that in the application when asked. I'd talk to the farm owner about that as well, so he or she would know if called by a landlord.

I'd search by asking friends and family, asking people at church, and asking on Facebook groups.