A year ago today I took this photograph of my late father-in-law. When I took it we knew he was going into the hospital for a triple-bypass but we all thought he was going to come home – better than ever. He fought bravely but in the end, it wasn’t meant for him to come home – and he didn’t want to if he couldn’t work.
In the past year, we’ve been to no less than three funerals for farmers.
Keith and I were talking about our soon-to-be-born son last night and wondering if he’d farm like his father, grandfather and great-grandfathers before him. It’s a hard, unpredictable life and there aren’t that many young people following in their ancestor’s farming footsteps.
Family farms are quickly fading. I for one, think farmer’s stories need to be heard and their photographs taken more often. One day we’ll wish we had them. The above photograph of Marvin was taken completely spontaneously and without any thought whatsoever… I wouldn’t take anything for it.
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13 comments
I hear you and I agree!
I treasure all the pictures of my late parents and also of the grandparents taken back when pictures weren’t so common.
I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with my gpa. He will always have a huge place in my heart.
I completely agree. If Florida weren’t so darn hot I’d completely consider marrying a farmer
Great pics btw!
I agree, farmers need to be recognized. Without them civilization would cease to exist!
Lovely photo of your father-in-law. The spontaneous shots always turn out to be the best ones, don’t they? I’ll bet he even liked it, didn’t he? So sorry you lost him …
It’s been a quick year, hasn’t it? My farming friend was just telling me how her kids won’t be able to afford to work her farm. It will most likely be sold to a bigger group. It really is sad.
Wow – a year has gone by so fast. It is sad that family farms seem to be dying out. It’s a shame, really.
I agree with you about family farms. They are a dying breed, but vital to our country and way of life. Love the photos!
It’s true that family farms are a dying breed. I remember hearing my grandparents talk about it once like the 50s were the heyday and then? And then there were super farms and people wanted to make a life for themselves and cowboys started leaving the cattle and the country forgot that agriculture had gotten them where they were. I guess people forget alot of things.
Even if your child chooses to leave the family farm, I hope that you’re able to provide them with the memories and stories about family farm life that make a difference. I never had the chance to live on a working farm, but I still have my family stories and believe me, they make all the difference in the world.
As a farmers daughter and a farmers wife I totally agree with you. All of our childrens great grandparents and grandparents are/were farmers so we have a lot of farming in our blood! What a wonderful picture of your father-in-law…you captured a farmer doing what he loves! Hope you can stop by and visit my”farm”
Why is it “cowboys”, once the low men on ranches and farms are glamorized, while farmers who feed the world are considered “country bumpkins”? Maybe if we had the positive publicity that the cowboy image gets, more of our young people would want to return to the farm. Of course there is always the financial deterrent. Our kids would love to come home but haven’t yet figured out how they can afford to. Health insurance is the biggest issue. However, they are still trying to come up with a plan that will work.
Maybe it will be one of the girls that comes home to farm.
Great pix of your father-in-law. It reminds me of my dad on his Ford tractor…..tears falling.
There is nothing quite like a picture of a farmer on his tractor. Timeless. Man and machine, as one.
Great picture of Marvin Warthan! I immediately smiled when I saw it!