Farm Work

This is my little brother. He’ll be a senior in high school this fall, and I’ve decided to make his senior pictures my personal project. I want to document him. Who he is. What he stands for.Because in so many ways, he stands for everything that’s right in this world. He’s got it all - farm work ethic, strong values, a profound sense of purpose, and a hilarious personality to top it all off. My heart swells with pride as I watch him grow to be one of the greatest men I know.

This is my Great-Grandpa Ehnle's baler. We don't bale for our (non-existent) livestock, a point I brought up on a regular basis as a kid. We bale "because I like to watch you work". -Dad Translation: "Your father and I want to make sure you have farm work ethic." -Mom Years later, the youngest is left standing. He likes the extra cash. We (my sister and I) like that he pulls his own weight now. Actually, he pulls all the weight and usually runs the rack by himself. I've been promoted (or maybe demoted) to photographing it. They say I got the work ethic lesson they were trying to teach us, so that's good. I'm much better at this type of work, anyway. Because this. Is. Backbreaking.But it absolutely made is into the people we are today. And for that, I will always be grateful.