My Farming Roots

By: Meghan Cleverly

Farming in my family began with a very humble beginning across the pond in England. The story begins with my great-great-great grandfather, Charles Batt, who at age 15 was forced to support his family after the death of his father. He worked several small jobs until he found work in a flour mill. Unfortunately, two years later, the mill closed. His boss from the mill gave him a great recommendation to a gentleman farmer, and Charles began his apprenticeship gardening and landscaping. Charles enjoyed working in the hothouses where he raised plants for flower beds and gardens. Charles later took a job as a gardener on the estate of the poet, Sir Percy Shelley. Charles and his wife, Eliza, lived at a lodge on the beautiful estate near the ocean. Soon after giving birth to a baby girl, Charles and Eliza joined the LDS Church, were baptized, then decided to leave England to join the saints in Utah.

Charles and his family settled in Cache Valley with little to no money. Times were tough trying to find sustainable work and lodging. Charles worked hard to farm but never had success with any of his crops. He was awful at farming, and the more he farmed they poorer they got. Farming in Utah was very difficult with its sandy soil, not what he had previously experienced been back in England. Charles once again looked for work after his failed farming attempt. Luckily, at that time there was an Agricultural College being built in Logan, and Charles was initially hired as a handyman.

Charles also became a gardener for the Agricultural College (now known as Utah State University). Charles brought with him from England a love of smooth lawns and gorgeous landscaping which he instilled in his newfound home of Logan, Utah. It is said that through his many years of service as a gardener he watched tiny plants that he picked from the mountains and replanted on the college grounds grow into large trees. He watched small buildings grow with their lawns, walkways, and shaded terraces. It has been said that, “Many a successful graduate, looking back to his student years from the vantage grounds of maturity, has testified that some of his most valued lessons were learned, not in the classrooms and laboratories, but in halls and greenhouses at the hands of a man who held no degrees and knew no academic titles” (Cleverly, 2010, p. 24). Charles labored until he no longer had the strength to garden and landscape, as it had become a true labor of love for him.

Even though traditional farming didn’t pan out the way he might have wished, Charles was able to find joy and satisfaction in his agricultural endeavors. He was a gardener for 53 years, and under his watchful care the campus of Utah State University has grown and blossomed into one of beauty. Despite challenges in immigrating to America, losing a son to the influenza epidemic in 1919, and hardships during The Great Depression, Charles was successful in bringing anything he touched to life. I am so grateful for his courage to not give up when his farming endeavors failed and to continue to have faith that God would help him use his talents for good. As a current student at Utah State University, I can say assuredly that thanks to my great-great-great grandfather Charles Batt we have the most beautiful campus in the world.

Works Cited:

Cleverly, Dean Batt. Batt & Lee Ancestors (2010): 15-24. 19 Jan. 2017.

Poor Richard's Almanack

What is an almanac? 
 A calendar with astrological or meteorological information.
The almanac contained weather forecasts, helpful tips, poems, puzzles, news stories, etc.

Who was Richard?

Poor Richard's Almanack was written by Benjamin Franklin & published from 1733-1758. Franklin used a pseudonym, Richard Saunders or 'Poor Richard', to publish his yearly almanacs. Richard Saunders was an English publisher and editor of almanacs. Poor Richard's was inspired by Poor Robin's, which was an English almanac that was first published in 1663.

What does the almanac have to do with farming?
The almanac was great for those farming because they could look at weather forecasts as well as getting valuable information on a variety subjects such as gardening or cooking.

What does the almanac have to do with literature and where does it fit into the different literary eras? 
The almanac was published as a pamphlet and could easily relate to a newspaper. In it it contained information on a variety of subjects as well as having news stories. People loved to purchase the almanac because there was a new installation of the story in each almanac. The almanac was very popular and sold over 10,000 copies its first year. The almanac was a great way to not only learn about the upcoming weather, but people were able to purchase a new form of literature each time without breaking the bank due to its cost.

http://www.oxfordreference.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/search?siteToSearch=aup&q=Poor+Richard%E2%80%99s+Almanack&searchBtn=Search&isQuickSearch=true

http://www.oed.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/search?searchType=dictionary&q=almanack&_searchBtn=Search

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral Essay

Carolus von Linnaeus, the Father of Taxonomy, is credited with classifying everything as an animal, vegetable or mineral. Although his classifications were introduced over two centuries ago, they still hold true today. When I heard about this I began thinking through the products I use in the hopes that I could find something to prove this classification wrong; I didn’t think that everything in the world could be classified so simply. As I went through product after product, I finally admitted defeat and realized that Linnaeus was right. In an effort to become more informed, I decided to trace my favorite clothing item back to its roots.

  I am crazy about socks! I am of the belief that life is too short to wear boring socks and the more unique they are the better. I love socks with vibrant colors, trendy designs, and good support. My favorite brand is called Woven Pear.

 Woven Pear was founded in February 2015 in South Jordan, Utah in an effort to “create a brand that will empower women to stand up and put their best foot forward" (2016). Their socks are made with the highest quality fibers and each pair is hand-dyed and dipped. The socks are given extra padding for comfort and support in the heel and toe area. Two designers create patterns in-house and often feature words on the bottom corresponding to the main design of the pair, such as: “shine bright”, “foxy lady”, “ahoy matey” etc. Whenever I wear a pair, I often catch myself glancing down at my feet and smiling; I truly feel empowered each time I put a pair on.

To connect back to Linnaeus’s classification, Woven Pear socks would fit into the vegetable category, as the materials are grown and woven together. Each pair is made up of 58% high-quality cotton, 22% nylon, 16% polyester, and 4% spandex. The cotton, which is gathered from the seeds of the cotton plant, makes the socks breathable and durable. Nylon, a synthetic fiber, is used to add stretch and extra durability. Polyester, another synthetic fiber, is water-repelling and helps keep socks from getting wet due to perspiration. The last fiber component, which happens to be synthetic, is spandex which is used for its elasticity and its ability to provide extra support in the arch and ankle.

The cotton is planted in the spring and is ready to be harvested in three months. Cotton can be grown on a small farm, but most of the cotton today comes from large plantations in the southern states. Today cotton is harvested using stripping machines. The cotton is then ginned by removing waste from the cotton seed and later it picks out the fibers from the seeds. Cotton is then prepared to be spun or woven and upon completion is now ready to be dyed.

I am so grateful for farmers who work hard to ensure quality in their crops, such as cotton. Without them I wouldn’t have fallen in love with socks and my life wouldn’t be complete. I am so happy to have found a local company that is empowering confidence in women from head to toe. I’m happy to report that Linnaeus was right after all; everything around us comes from humble beginnings. Thanks again Woven Pear for always rocking my socks off!  

Works Cited;

"The Story of Cotton- History of Cotton." The Story of Cotton- History of Cotton. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

"Carl Linnaeus." Carl Linnaeus. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

"Complete Sock Guide and Explanation of Fiber and Material Content." The Sock Drawer.  Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

"Woven Pear Women's Socks." Woven Pear.  Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

"Woven Pear, Invested in Making Happy Feet, Celebrates its First Birthday." Utah Business. 25 Feb. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Essay of Choice

Photo courtesy of blackislandfarms.com

In today’s ever increasing digital age, the magic of a farm and its activities has been tossed aside while the magic of computers, tablets, and video games are worshiped among America’s youth today. This has been a problem for years, as Henry David Thoreau faced a similar experience more than a century ago. In 1854 Thoreau conducted an experiment while squatting for two years at Walden Pond in Massachusetts.  His purpose behind was to find "the gross necessities of life, [and] reject society’s growing interest in technology and materialism (Kinkead, Funda, & McNeill 68).” Although most people aren’t able to perform an experiment like Thoreau’s, they too seek for a way to reconnect with what’s most important in life and nature, and to find an escape from the ever-constant technology. Luckily a farm in Davis County, Utah is helping the masses return to the country and escape the distractions of our noisy world, and allowing nature to teach what’s most important in life- faith, family, and hard work- in a hands-on way.

                In an effort to bolster additional financial support and bring a community together, Black Island Farms, a family farmed owned and operated in Syracuse, Utah since 1960, has created a fall festival that is bringing people of all ages and walks of life together.  Through their venture into “agri-tainment” and “agri-tourism”, Black Island Farms is helping thousands each year to get outside into nature, have some fun, and discovering the magic of farm life.

                Black Island Farms began as a vegetable farm whose main crops included: pumpkins, squash, gourds, onions, carrots, cabbage, and corn. While the farm continues to grow, and sell these crops each year, the business is also growing. Each Fall Festival boasts a variety of wonderful attractions for people of all ages. Some of them include: the animal alley, pig races, the grain shoot slide, bonfires, live music, the cow train, face painting, haunted houses, farm hayrides, and many more. Their biggest and most notable attraction is, hands down, their corn mazes. They have different mazes, each with its own level of difficulty, that combined sit on twenty-six acres, the largest in the state of Utah.

I have grown up going to this farm for years. I’ve gone as a child with my family, with our church as part of the young women’s program, with friends, and even on high school dates. This festival is a wholesome place where everyone can find something to enjoy. As I’ve gotten lost in the mazes over the years, I have come to appreciate nature and the work of farmers a lot. It’s a wonderful way for me to feel connected to agriculture, and that I’m part of something bigger. Most of the tourists that come to the farm aren’t involved in agriculture directly, but this festival helps people and myself realize just how important farming is in our community and show our gratitude to the farmers by purchasing their crops and activities. Thanks to Black Island Farms, I, along with thousands of others, are able to live and appreciate the American dream, every time we attend their Fall Festival.

Works Cited

Black Island Farms. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. <http://www.blackislandfarms.com/>.

Kinkead, Joyce, Evelyn Funda, and Lynne S. McNeill. Farm: a multi-modal reader. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2014. Print.

Visual Rhetoric

Visual Rhetoric is defined as, “a form of communication that uses images to create meaning or construct an argument.” Examples of visual rhetoric are predominately found in agriculture. One such example is found on the Dibble Family Farm, located in west Layton, Utah. Its barn serves a much greater purpose than that of storage; it shares a message with the community about patriotism, farming, faith, family, and the value of hard work.

This barn was originally built without the addition of its two murals (one of the front and rear of the barn). It boasted a bold and bright patriotic red with accents of white, much like other barns found across America. This barn was a reminder of the great freedoms that others fought for the generations of today and tomorrow. The addition of both painted murals only enhanced the deep patriotic reverence for the Dibble Farm.

The first mural, located on the front of the barn, is visible to neighbors and those driving down the road. At first glance it can take the breath of a passerby away, with its beautiful detail and color. Upon further examination, the painting only gets better.

Photo courtesy of  http://dibbleart.com

This painting depicts two people, a man, and a woman, in the field at sunset picking crops. It’s beautiful array of colors jumped out at me first, and reminded me of the beauty of fall. The painting’s colors remind me of the harvest season, when fields of green have turned gold. The fading sunset in the background, with its beautiful shades of orange, purple, and pink, allow others to connect with the land, even if there home is far away, because their colors of the sunset are similar. Through the artist’s shading we can see the rays of the golden sun across the face of the woman, allowing the painting another example of warmth.

Photo courtesy of  http://dibbleart.com

While many may wonder what the woman is gazing off into the distance at, I believe that she is looking forward to the bounteous blessings God has in store for her & her family on the farm. A feeling of peace rests across her face, showing that she is at peace, having full faith in God. It also shows a sense of gratitude for the past blessings of God by the artist’s use of crop rows that lead straight back into the sunset.

The man and the woman portray an essential part of farm life: hard work and the importance of family. The man is seen bending his knees, carrying a heavy load, while the woman holds a basket filled with picked produce. Each of these tasks alone might seem easy, but with the size of their fields it would be a mundane and laborious process. However, they work together to get the job done. As the man looks over his shoulder to the woman, I get a sense of cohesiveness. Together, dressed in soft shades of green and white, they complete each other, much like Adam and Eve in The Bible.

The rear mural is also filled with visual rhetoric. It is set during the day, when the sun has fully risen casting shadows from its noon time rays. To me this mural at first sight seemed rather simple compared to the other, but I think it is just as important and effective. 

Photo courtesy of  http://dibbleart.com

In the center of the painting rests three trees. These trees are steadfast, and anchor the heritage of the farm with the land. It demonstrates that although each season’s crop might vary, the trees are firm and unwavering. Their physical growth also symbolizes the growth of the farm and the family over the years. In this mural, the grain is much shorter than the other, symbolizing the changes throughout the weeks and months. The trees’ shadows and lighting also represent time on a smaller scale, such as the hours in the day. It shows that farming is an all-day ordeal, and that every time the sun rises it’s time for another day of hard work out in the fields.

Both murals are large in size, and are easily seen from the road. I know as I’ve been driving by, the barn and its murals have caught my attention, and I’ve had to remind myself to stay focused while driving down the road. I love that these murals attract attention amongst others passing by. It serves as a reminder to slow down, take a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of a tech driven world, and to stop and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the farm. I also love the shape of each mural; the half circle reminds me of the setting and rising sun across the horizon. It draws my eyes up to the sky, where the true sun resides, leaving me with gratitude for all the beautiful blessings that God has granted us.

The Dibble Farm’s barn is truly a sight to behold. It holds a special place in my heart, with its reminders of hard work while working in the fields, my gratitude for the freedoms we hold, the reminder to have faith in God and in his creations, and the unifying of families working together as whole on the farm. These murals offer each such reverence, as well as leaving them with a greater love and respect for agriculture.

Notes from Documentary on Justin Morrill and Land Grant

Notes from Josh Dallin's Presentation