Progress and the Farm Progress Show

Sep 22

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." -Socrates

And this past year has been just that. Busy. The farm wedding. The big 800-mile move. The new marriage. The photography business. I almost forgot to stop and smell the roses. I almost forgot to stop and be grateful for the blessings in my life.On a whim, I decided to make it back to IL for the Farm Progress Show. The Climate Corporation, recently acquired by Monsanto, had licensed some of my photography to use throughout their display. I thought, "Oh, well that would be pretty cool to see." But when I got there, it hit me. Really hit me.There I was, surrounded by my life's work, my photography. And the world just stopped as I gazed around at the larger-than-life images, each photo taking me back to a different point in my life. This photo was taken during the summer that I interned for Wyffels Hybrids. I took a lot of pictures for them that summer. So many that I was barely taking any for myself. One weekend morning, my mom rolled me out of bed and said, "Let's go. The sunrise is going to be beautiful. You need to be taking more photos for you, or you won't have any when you need them." And honestly, I didn't like her very much in that moment. I was tired. I didn't feel like taking photos, even though we both knew she was right. Mom's really good at tough love like that, and I love her for it. The photo from that early morning was wrapped around a much-larger-than-life display. Wow. This photo was taken in the growing season that followed the launch of Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl. It was a very high-adrenaline time for me. That summer, I had opted not to take an internship, and work for myself, shooting portrait photo sessions and running my AGvocacy Facebook page. I was hungry to create, hungry to AGvocate. What a fun time in my life! And how fun it was to see that image make another appearance! This one was taken shortly after I graduated college, now working for myself full-time. It was make-it or break-it, sink or swim. And I was working really hard, determined to succeed. So there I was, another soggy, dew-filled, sunrise shoot, lying on my stomach, chin in the dirt, looking through my camera. This was taken along the 1-mile stretch of road leading from our farm house to the grain elevator. We road our bikes down this road as youngsters, went on family walks down this road, trained for travel basketball leagues down this road. And on this particular night, the sun was setting just perfectly in the beans down this road. So, I'm not going to lie. I have no recollection of the story behind this photo! Darn it! :) Still fun to see, though! This was taken on our first day of harvest last year! The day everyone made it a priority to be back on the farm from our varying locations and activities for supper on the tailgate. Oh, how I love life in a farm family. The evening almost brought tears to my momma's eyes, so in love with this life we live and our commitment to gather together on such an exciting day - the first day of harvest.Little did I know that my images, inspired by these tiny, personal moments of genuine connection to my family, to the farm, to life and to our Creator, would be viewed by thousands of people, put on display by a business as big as The Climate Corporation. Standing there, I didn't feel big and accomplished. I felt small, in awe of everything I've been blessed with. I am 23-year-old girl from an average farm in central Illinois. I have no formal training in photography. Any talent I have is God-given, blessed by Him.