“Rural America is dying.” These sobering words were spoken by one of the remarkable midwestern farmers featured in ‘Greener Pastures,’ and it is a sentiment shared by many who have weathered tumultuous changes in the agriculture industry. Factory farms are exploding across the country, running small family farms out of business and ending generations of tradition. But this film is not about the politics of agriculture in America–it is about ordinary farmers struggling to maintain their way of life, and the courageous fight to save these families and their farms.
This stunningly produced film takes us on a journey through the American midwest, from Juliette’s small dairy farm in Little Falls, Minnesota to Chris’s land in Clear Lake, Iowa (and many places in between)! The intimate connection these farmers have for their land and livestock is beautifully captured in the raw, everyday experiences we get to see. Juliette walks through her farm and pats her cows playfully. “There’s not an animal here that I don’t know by name and who they are,” she says proudly. “They aren’t just numbers to me, they aren’t just a way to make money–they are my girls.”
There is no shortage of heart-wrenching moments in this film: crying with Jay as he sells all of his beloved cows to pay the bills, hearing about Juliette’s alcohol addiction or Jeff’s suicide attempt. These are real stories about real people, and what it means to be a small family farm today, grieving as generations of dreams are steamrolled by corporate interests.
But this story does not end in grief; we get to see victories, too: Jeff expanding his nonprofit, Juliette’s battle against addiction, and Jay seeking financial freedom. We get to see these resilient farmers running for elections and participating in political activism. We get to see them sacrificing for their communities and going to great lengths to support one another.
This film truly captures the sheer level of grit and determination necessary to survive. As farmer Chris states: “We’re not going away without a fight. We’re hopeful.” There is no better statement to summarize the stories of these farmers. They fight their battles with dignity and pride, finding strength and solidarity in their hardships.
‘Greener Pastures’ is a must see! It sheds light on the shared experiences of America’s farmers and widens our perspective on farms and the exceptional people who steward them.
“Rural America is dying.” These sobering words were spoken by one of the remarkable midwestern farmers featured in ‘Greener Pastures,’ and it is a sentiment shared by many who have weathered tumultuous changes in the agriculture industry. Factory farms are exploding across the country, running small family farms out of business and ending generations of tradition. But this film is not about the politics of agriculture in America–it is about ordinary farmers struggling to maintain their way of life, and the courageous fight to save these families and their farms.
This stunningly produced film takes us on a journey through the American midwest, from Juliette’s small dairy farm in Little Falls, Minnesota to Chris’s land in Clear Lake, Iowa (and many places in between)! The intimate connection these farmers have for their land and livestock is beautifully captured in the raw, everyday experiences we get to see. Juliette walks through her farm and pats her cows playfully. “There’s not an animal here that I don’t know by name and who they are,” she says proudly. “They aren’t just numbers to me, they aren’t just a way to make money–they are my girls.”
There is no shortage of heart-wrenching moments in this film: crying with Jay as he sells all of his beloved cows to pay the bills, hearing about Juliette’s alcohol addiction or Jeff’s suicide attempt. These are real stories about real people, and what it means to be a small family farm today, grieving as generations of dreams are steamrolled by corporate interests.
But this story does not end in grief; we get to see victories, too: Jeff expanding his nonprofit, Juliette’s battle against addiction, and Jay seeking financial freedom. We get to see these resilient farmers running for elections and participating in political activism. We get to see them sacrificing for their communities and going to great lengths to support one another.
This film truly captures the sheer level of grit and determination necessary to survive. As farmer Chris states: “We’re not going away without a fight. We’re hopeful.” There is no better statement to summarize the stories of these farmers. They fight their battles with dignity and pride, finding strength and solidarity in their hardships.
‘Greener Pastures’ is a must see! It sheds light on the shared experiences of America’s farmers and widens our perspective on farms and the exceptional people who steward them.