American Farmer

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. Crisscrossing the country, from Alaska to Florida, Mobley and his camera were welcomed time and time again into the homes of hundreds of farm families. Visit after visit, Mobley came to know the independent farmer’s spirit from both behind the lens and across the dinner table. He sought the elusive spirit of agriculture, looking for subjects that mirrored the project’s sense of risk and independence. The resulting images show farmers with a strong sense of where they belong in the universe, a close connection to the land and their day-to-day work as it affects the rest of the world.

Out of a collection of more than 200 of these portraits, ExhibitsUSA has distilled a selection of forty-five iconic portraits showing the geographic and cultural diversity of the American Farmer. This vivid portfolio is accompanied by anecdotes and memories in the farmers’ own words that are both a testament to their enduring hospitality and a moving glimpse into 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 Jim Taber, a young single father raising cattle in Montana, to Shirley Schollenberg, the daughter of Alaskan homesteaders, Mobley’s heroic 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.

Paul Mobley is an American photographer who has traveled from remote Alaskan villages to the majestic palaces of Croatia to find the face of a thousand words. Mobley’s first book, American Farmer: Portraits from the Heartland, was first published in the fall of 2008 by Welcome Books and received the 2009 Western Heritage Award for Best Photography Book from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

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Tour Schedule

American Farmer is touring September 2017 through August 2025. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.

  • September 1–October 20, 2017 University of Tennessee at Martin, Paul Meek Library
    Martin, TN     booked
  • November 10, 2017–January 7, 2018 Fort Larned Historical Society
    Larned, KS     booked
  • June 16–August 11, 2018 McKinney Arts Commission
    McKinney, TX     booked
  • September 1–October 20, 2018 Chelsea District Library
    Chelsea, MI     booked
  • November 10, 2018–January 7, 2019 Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
    Duncan, OK     booked
  • January 28–March 16, 2019 Collier County Museums
    Naples, FL     booked
  • April 6–May 25, 2019 John E. Conner Museum
    Kingsville, TX     booked
  • June 16–August 11, 2019 County of San Luis Obispo Public Library
    San Luis Obispo, CA     booked
  • September 1–October 20, 2019 Bell County Museum
    Belton, TX     booked
  • November 10, 2019–January 7, 2020 Refurbishment
    Kansas City, MO     booked
  • January 28–March 16, 2020 Temecula Valley Museum
    Temecula, CA     booked
  • September 1–October 20, 2020 Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
    Enid, OK     booked
  • November 10, 2020–January 7, 2021 Charles H MacNider Art Museum
    Mason City, IA     booked
  • January 28–May 25, 2021 Utah State University
    Logan, UT     booked
  • June 16–August 11, 2021 Tullahoma Fine Arts Center
    Tullahoma, TN     booked
  • September 1–October 20, 2021 Elkhorn Valley Museum
    Norfolk, NE     booked
  • November 10, 2021–January 7, 2022 Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities
    Texarkana, TX     booked
  • January 28–March 16, 2022 Washburn University
    Topeka, KS     booked
  • April 6–May 25, 2022 Chandler Museum
    Chandler, AZ     booked
  • June 16–October 20, 2022 Living History Farms
    Urbandale, IA     booked
  • November 10, 2022–January 7, 2023 Fick Fossil & History Museum
    Oakley, KS     booked
  • January 28–March 16, 2023 Refurbishment
    Kansas City, MO     booked
  • April 6–May 25, 2023 Saginaw County Museum
    Saginaw, MI     booked
  • June 16, 2023–October 20, 2023 National Cowboy Museum
    Oklahoma City, OK     booked
  • November 10, 2023–January 7, 2024 Raupp Memorial Museum
    Buffalo Grove, IL     booked
  • April 6–May 25, 2024 Wassenberg Art Center
    Van Wert, OH     booked
  • June 16–October 20, 2024 Manitowoc Public Library
    Mantiowoc, WI     booked
  • November 10, 2024–January 7, 2025 Wentachee Valley Museum
    Wentachee, WA     booked
  • January 28–May 25, 2025 The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
    Bradenton, FL     booked
  • June 16–August 11, 2025
    available

Exhibition Details

Forty-five archival ink jet prints

  • Content

    Fee Includes
    Press Kit
    Registrar’s Packet
    Programming Guide
    Gallery Guide
    Text Panels
    Narrative Labels
    Full Insurance
    Installation Instructions
    Custom-Designed and Built Crates

  • Curated By

    ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO

  • Organized By

    ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO

  • Out-of-Region Rental Fee

    $5,600

  • In-Region Rental Fee

    $3,400

  • Duration

    7-week display

  • Shipping

    Van Line

  • Running Feet

    230

  • Square Feet

    -

  • Security

    Moderate B

  • Number of Crates/Total Weight

    4 crates/980 pounds

  • Insurance

    The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.

Downloads & Resources

Click HERE to view and download the Factsheet for American Farmer.