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.
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.
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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
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Minnetrista, MN booked
Exhibition Details
Forty-five archival ink jet prints
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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
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$5,600
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In-Region Rental Fee
$3,400
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Duration
7-week display
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
230
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Square Feet
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Security
Moderate B
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
4 crates/980 pounds
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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.