Hardcover: 276 pages
Publisher: Welcome Books (October 14, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1599620472
ISBN-13: 978-1599620473

Click on the Cover Image above to Purchase!

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.

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: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

“A masterpiece of a book…The pictures are uncannily good, as is the narrative of spoken words from the farmers photographed. This book will get you thinking about what’s left that’s good about America, and what is precious about human beings.” ~ Clyde Edgerton, author of The Bible Salesman

“The passion and devotion of these people are the true essence in what [Paul]Mobley’s pictures express, and what the personal stories, edited by [Katrina] Fried, reinforce. The combination is breathtaking. American Farmer is a richly layered mosaic of brilliant visuals and honest text that honors the farmers and ranchers across America. Mobley’s keen vision of the American farmer, and his ability to capture the spirit which each farmer embodies, will impress readers. ~ Foreword Magazine

Check out just a few of the many Photo’s featured in this Magnificent Book!

Growing up in the Heartland myself, “American Farmer” holds such a sense of pride,  as well as,  heartwarming rural lifestyle memories for me. The individual, personal memoirs reflecting their hard work and dedication is such an inspiration. You feel as if you’re sitting on an old wooden rocker, visiting with the farmer and/or rancher on his front porch with a glass of iced tea in hand. The photography depicts such a deep passion and integrity of the American Spirit!

I highly recommend this collection captured in “American Farmer”! It is one to show as an Awesome coffee table book now, and to share with your grandchildren later!

A Tribute to America’s Heartland by Singer/Songwriter, Michael Martin Murphey who created and sings the “America’s Heartland” theme song…

Katrina Fried Editor
KATRINA FRIED has edited, written, and produced numerous titles, including most recently, On the Street and The Fourth Wall by Amy Arbus (Welcome Books); Los Angeles by Tim Street-Porter (Rizzoli); The Hollywood Dictionary by Timothy Gray (Variety); Cinema by the Bay (Lucas Books); and Shoe Fleur: A Footwear Fantasy (Welcome Books). She lives and works in New York City.

Paul Mobley Photographer
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.

A Special Thanks goes out  to Carol over at Welcome Books for the opportunity to experience this Impressive Coffee Table Book!

Carol has also generously offered one Lucky Frugal Plus Reader the Chance to Win a copy of this Magnificent Book

To Enter:

Valid for Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older. Please no PO Boxes.

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This Giveaway will end Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

The Winner(s) will be chosen by Random.org. I will post the Winner(s) here on Frugal Plus, as well as, email directly. You will then have 48 hours to claim your Prize.

Logo/Images Courtesy of © 2010 Welcome Books, YouTube.com, Amazon.com, © Paul Mobley 2010