Why visit farms?

Drawing on my rich heritage as a descendent of Colorado Homesteaders, and farmers living on the prairie, my artistic journey re-conceptualizes the notion of "working the land." I am intimately bound to the geographical and emotional landscapes that have shaped my heritage. 

In 1922 my Great-great Grandparents moved onto a small piece of land outside of Springfield Co. It was a time of growth for the area. Between 1910 and 1930 the population grew by 8,000 people to over 10,000. They came because others bragged of green lush lands where you could grow wheat. My family were not wealthy people, they were simply trying to live. 

As I read more about this time in our history, I realize that my Great Grandparents made the best of what they knew. And we now know that the farming methods of planting mono-crops in straight lines and depending on consistent climate patterns led to the disastrous dust storms of the Dust Bowl.

Photo: My Grandfather Hill and his brother Ted.

Photo: My Grandma Hill with Jack her first born.