American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country

Contents

American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country
Photographs by Paul Mobley
Text by Katrina Fried
Preface by Willard Scott
Introduction by Michael Martin Murphey
Afterward by Paul Mobley
Published November, 2008 by Welcome Books
272 pages, 10 1/4" x 13"
More than 150 full-color photographs
ISBN 978-1-59962-047-3

When photographer Paul Mobley set out to capture the soul of our country's farm communities, he encountered an enduring rural culture that remains rooted in the principles of tradition, family, integrity and hard work.

Traveling across the country from Tennessee to Montana, Mobley and his camera were welcomed time and again into the homes of over two hundred farm families, who graciously shared their personal histories and private thoughts, along with the fruits of their labor. Visit after visit, Mobley came to know the independent farmer's spirit from both behind the lens and across the dinner table.

Author Interview: Paul Mobley

The result is the first portrait collection of modern American farmers ever published to reach so deeply and gracefully into its subject. Images are accompanied by short and revealing first person narratives, told in the farmers' own words, that offer an intimate look inside the hardships and joys of a quickly disappearing way of life—one that once defined our national identity and now struggles to remain vital. From Walter Jackson, a 104-year-old Florida citrus farmer; to Patsy Fribley, a stockyard dealer from Montana; to Aaron Bell, a young 9th generation organic dairy farmer in Maine, Mobley's exquisite photographs reveal the true face of American farming and remind us what it means to live with simplicity, contentment, and decency in a world that so often forgets.

States included: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

About the Authors

Paul Mobley's early training as a photographer began at Detroit's Center for Creative Studies, and continued in the New York studios of such leading photographers as Annie Leibovitz and David Langley, where he apprenticed for many years before embarking on his own career. Mobley has successfully worked with a broad range of corporate, advertising, and editorial clients, including American Express, Sony, Citigroup, Ford, Compaq, Gourmet, Max Factor, Chevrolet, Microsoft, and many others. Mobley lives in New York City and Michigan with his wife Suzanne, and their two wonderful daughters, Camden and Paige.

Katrina Fried has edited, written, and produced numerous illustrated books, including most recently: On the Street: 1980-1990 and The Fourth Wall by Amy Arbus; Animal House by Catherine Ledner; Red Carpet by Frank Trapper; Los Angeles by Tim Street-Porter; and Wild Birds of the American Wetlands by Rosalie Winard. She lives and works in New York City.

Michael Martin Murphey, one of America's most respected songwriters and performers, was inducted to the Western Music Hall of Fame in 2004. An icon for the American cowboy, Murphey grew up working on ranches in Arkansas and Texas, and continues to breed livestock, such as Texas Longhorns and American Quarter horses, through his Rocking 3M Ranching Co. He is deeply involved in issues important to America's farmers, and is co-founder of American Prairie Partners, which helps restore land to prairie with native grasses.

Willard Scott, famous for his work on NBC's The Today Show, has won over Americans' hearts through his ebullient personality, good service and solid reporting. Be it fund-raisers, state fairs, parades, or civic events, Scott has shown Americans what it means to work hard and humbly. His ancestors settled in America in 1759 and every "Scott" in his family line has made his living by farming. He never forgets to wish centenarians a Happy Birthday when he reports on The Today Show. A number of these are photographed in American Farmer.

Press — Awards, Tour, Events, Multimedia, National Television and Radio, National Print and Online, Regional Print and Online, Blogs.

For more information, please visit American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country.