The Last Generation:
Zoey’s Dream
Beneath the gently rolling Loretto Hills of Kentucky, 11-year-old Zoey Allen rides bareback through fields of corn and soybean, while her grandfather, shirtless and leather-skinned, walks methodically through rows of freshly cut hay. “I’m as good as any farmer,” he told me that day. And at 62, he looks the part. The 260 acres under his feet, established by his father before him, are indeed the only world he’s ever known.
The Allens represent the best that American farms have to offer. They are the summation of generational knowledge and skill, passed down through family lineage. And for centuries the world has benefitted from their tradition of generational intimacy with the land. But as industrialized agriculture continues to grow, the generational model of farming is evolving. Traditional midsize farms are disappearing fast, and those who remain find themselves on the precipice of an ever-widening chasm. For the thousands of children growing up on these midsize farms, the journey of self-discovery has become increasingly complicated.
Set in rural Kentucky, The Last Generation follows the story of Zoey Allen, and others like her, who find themselves at the crossroads of a generational farming legacy. It’s a coming of age story for America’s would-be farmers – chronicling their quest for identity, and the ways they choose to adapt or abandon a generational legacy around farming. With these images I hope to create a timeless visual record that elevates and dignifies those caught in the disappearing middle, and those charting new pathways out of it.
BARDSTOWN, KY – JUNE 1, 2022: Zoey Allen, 10, trains a horse on the family farm. As a champion barrel racer, young Zoey contributes to the family’s bottom line by assisting her grandfather in the breaking and training of horses. The money earned is then used to offset declining farm revenue. As a natural rider, Zoey takes pride in the relationship she builds with each animal, and one day hopes to train horses on her own. "I never dreamed she would turn out as good as she is," her grandfather said. "She's just got a natural gift – something you don't make but that you're born with. God had to give it to her."
Reportage
The Last Generation: Zoey’s Dream
Beneath the gently rolling Loretto Hills of Kentucky, 11-year-old Zoey Allen rides bareback through fields of corn and soybean, while her grandfather, shirtless and leather-skinned, walks methodically through rows of freshly cut hay. “I’m as good as any farmer,” he told me that day. And at 62, he looks the part. The 260 acres under his feet, established by his father before him, are indeed the only world he’s ever known.
The Allens represent the best that American farms have to offer. They are the summation of generational knowledge and skill, passed down through family lineage. And for centuries the world has benefitted from their tradition of generational intimacy with the land. But as industrialized agriculture continues to grow, the generational model of farming is evolving. Traditional midsize farms are disappearing fast, and those who remain find themselves on the precipice of an ever-widening chasm. For the thousands of children growing up on these midsize farms, the journey of self-discovery has become increasingly complicated.
Set in rural Kentucky, The Last Generation follows the story of Zoey Allen, and others like her, who find themselves at the crossroads of a generational farming legacy. It’s a coming of age story for America’s would-be farmers – chronicling their quest for identity, and the ways they choose to adapt or abandon a generational legacy around farming. With these images I hope to create a timeless visual record that elevates and dignifies those caught in the disappearing middle, and those charting new pathways out of it.
