William C. – The Life of a Farmer

Ever since I was little, I would visit my uncle’s family farm in New Jersey. I loved going to pick pumpkins in the fall and getting to sit on top of the old tractors they had out in front of the farmstand. When I got a little older I would stay over at my aunt and uncle’s house and we would wake up super early in the morning to pick corn. I was so tired in the early morning and picking corn was hard work, but staring at the massive pile afterward as we sorted it into bags of 50 ears was worth the effort. It was then that I understood why I loved helping out on the farm: you could see the results of your effort. I decided to work on the farm for my senior project because it was something I had always enjoyed doing, and I had the unique opportunity to help at a time where there is usually no one there to help my uncle’s in-laws on the farm. I had picked vegetables in the summer and pumpkins and gourds in the fall, but now I would be able to see what had to be done in the spring to achieve a successful harvest. I was also influenced by my interest in studying sustainability and agricultural engineering at UC Davis when I matriculate there in the fall.

During my time at the farm, we went through the process of growing a huge variety of crops, starting with just seeds. Every crop required a different process to set up and grow, yet through my documentation, I was able to find the larger more cyclical nature that is the growing process of all crops. When I began this project I had little knowledge of what was done in the springtime on a farm. My biggest surprise was learning how much of a year-round effort farming is, and that there is no such thing as a rest-day on the farm. Through my photographs in the gallery, I have tried to encapsulate the complete growing and planting process of a variety of crops, as well giving one a glimpse into the daily routine of a farmer.

My guides, teachers, bosses, and mentors on the farm were my Uncle Bill and his brothers Jerry, Raymond, and Mike. As farmers who were born and raised working on their farms, they have endless knowledge and wisdom about every aspect of the farm. In their 50 or 60 years of farming, they have tried everything and experienced everything. They know exactly how everything is done and how to do it well. While they passed on the knowledge and techniques of so many individual tasks, the most important things they taught me were to have a good work ethic and to be responsible.

On the farm, I was given a lot of responsibilities, from making sure no one got hurt while cutting down trees to driving powerful and unforgiving tractors. Many tasks were lengthy and laborious, and many I did alone. Understanding my limits and finding solutions to unexpected problems had to be learned, but my motivation to work hard was always there. I always came back to the idea that you could just look around and see the results of your effort.