Tractors

I grew up learning how to drive a tractor on our Allis Chalmers WD. I spent many hours in the hay fields, driving the tractor and wagon as my older siblings threw the baled hay up on the wagon. It was how we spent our summers. We would also use the tractor and wagon to haul wood in to heat our farmhouse. I hope to teach my children how to drive a tractor on the same one I learned to drive.

Farming remains a major, vital industry throughout Michigan, including Scottville. I admire farmers like Tyler Martz who have the work ethic and expertise to till the land. Martz was preparing this field for planting asparagus. The grain storage and other structures of Acres Co-Op, Inc. tower behind Martz's tractor.

I would love to hear the stories from all the different farmers who have worked this old tractor between Honor and Empire, Michigan. The farming life really intrigues me. Someday!

Contending with Mother Nature is a way of life for farmers. When I saw this farmer trying to get this Riverton Township field harvested ahead of an approaching weather front, I knew I had to try to tell the story of man against the elements with my camera. I parked my truck and ran out into the field and hit the ground to frame the harvester and farmer against the storm clouds. I looked for that moment when the farmer looked back

 I had just arrived at my parent’s home east of Custer, Michigan, and the smell of homemade chicken soup was in the air, dinner was ready! My two kids and two nieces were already seated at the table when we started to see the glow of the sunset through the kitchen window. We ran outside to watch and what we found was an incredible rainbow to the east! I hurried to get the tripod and camera out. The rainbow started to get more intense, and the double appeared at the same time as we were seeing beautiful magic light from the sunset. The light was hitting the tops of the trees; it was one of the most incredible scenes that I’ve ever witnessed! I was able to get a few shots off before the intense glow started to fade. What an incredible sight to see and share with the family!

I am unhappy I have not found a Valentine's Day picture yet when it dawns on me that this Kubota tractor looks happy as can be. Sometimes pictures appear when and where you least expect them; the smiling plow tractor works throughout the winter at Crosswinds, where our home is. F8.0 at 1/160, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

I have now photographed this old McCormick Deering tractor in all four seasons. My dad and I got to meet the family that owns this tractor and the farm it sits on near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. This tractor is a great piece of Michigan history!

Frosty Countryside

A classic red tractor helps give that good old-fashioned, at home on the farm feeling to Country Dairy. The dependable old tractor and grazing cows are among many appealing sights at the New Era dairy, which welcomes visitors with open arms to see and learn about dairy farming. F4.5 at 1/800, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 135mm

They had an old-fashioned tractor ride today from Scottville to Ludington in honor of Duane Cooper. Duane loved restoring old tractors. One of the riders was our good friend Roger Thurow. Roger is who makes all the custom stretcher bar frames for our gallery wrapped canvases. I was glad I captured this image of Roger on one of his tractors as the parade of tractors passed me on Conrad Road.

Not far from Roselawn, Indiana on County Road 1000 there is a full-size John Deere tractor that sits atop a silo. Julia and I pulled into the farmer's yard for a closer look. The clouds and sky were perfect for a photograph. F7.1 at 1/400, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Warren Weaver finishes cutting another row of hay with his giant John Deere chopper on an August afternoon. The Stakenas farm is one of the biggest farming operations in West Michigan. The Stakenas family has been farming their land north of Scottville, Michigan for several generations. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

While taking back roads up to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore tonight, we drove by this old McCormick-Deering tractor. I had my dad turn the Suburban around so I could hop out and make this photograph. Both the tractor and the massive old maple tree are timeless beauties. I wonder which one is older? F10 at 1/125, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Growing up on the farm, we only had wood heat. Two wood stoves, and a wood kitchen range heated the entire home. In our home, we too use wood as our main source of heat. There are enough dead or downed trees on the farm that we do not need to buy any, it just takes time and sweat to cut, split, haul, and stack it. The warmth it gives us on freezing Michigan winter days makes it all worth it!

Big-time farming is a big and impressive business in Michigan. Today is a corn harvest day for Jorgensen Farms in Williamston, Michigan. Two giant John Deere combines load a Jorgensen Farms semi before harvesting more corn. F11 at 1/500, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 16mm

An Amish farmer carries on the Amish tradition of using horses instead of a tractor for pulling power on his Clare, Michigan farm. However, a modern farm implement makes his planting job easier. The machine plants 15 rows at a time without the need to till. F8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm