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"Our imagination is shaped by our cultural ideas of what a farmer is. When I read my children's storybooks that have to do with farmers—and there are a lot of them—

the farmer is always a man. And his wife—even though she may be working with him, she may be gathering the eggs or milking the cow—she is the farmer's wife."

                                    —Lisa French, Peabody, Kansas

Our views of farming in American life and culture have traditionally focused on the roles that men have played as farmers. Through 30 striking black-and-white photographs, Voices of American Farm Women presents a dynamic contemporary perspective on a diverse group of women and their relationship to the land. Photographer Cynthia Vagnetti has documented women from across the United States whose alternative farming techniques promote environmental responsibility, economic stability, and community well-being.

The power of image and word are woven together through oral history interviews conducted with the subjects of Vagnetti’s work. Their voices narrate a multifaceted view of work, family, and community. Strong opinions about farmwork, childcare, and housework, among other topics, dispel many misconceptions about women who work the land.

Voices of American Farm Women is curated by Janet Dykema, Director of Public Programs at the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The exhibition is part of a larger documentary project conducted by Vagnetti, who has a long-standing commitment to sustainable agriculture, rural communities, and related issues. She has produced numerous multimedia projects and photography exhibitions, and she is co-author of People Sustaining the Land.