Farm Story

I am continually amazed, surprised, and humbled by the reaction to the Farm Story documentary, which is now showing on some 60 plus PBS stations across the country.

Chicago’s WTTW will air the program Sunday evening (August 18) at 6:00 p.m. and I will be there in person to discuss the show.  Here is what the publicist for WTTW had to say about the documentary:

A Farm Story with Jerry Apps is a portrait of farm life seen through the eyes of a boy growing up in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Using archival photos and film, teacher, author and historian Jerry Apps tells the story of growing up in Wild Rose, Wisconsin - America's archetype rural farming community.

A Farm Story is the personal and family story of millions of Americans who grew up on farms. Like a family photo album for millions of Americans, the documentary takes the viewer through memories of 'things that aren't there anymore' and of experiences that created their values of hard work, determination and community -- values that drive a generation of Americans who grew up on the farm. The documentary carries the viewer from childhood on the farm in the '30s to the rural electrification that changed American farms and rural life forever.

 Jerry shares stories about the party line telephone, the one-room schoolhouse, the routine of work and chores and community of those family farms that built America into the agricultural center of the world. A Farm Story with Jerry Apps deeply resonates with viewers with rural roots, many who left the farm but who recognize that the experience made them who they are and can feel a kinship with Jerry when he says, 'Today I'm as proud as proud can be of having experienced what I experienced, and I wouldn't change it for anything. '

Jerry Apps Bio: Jerry Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Who would think that something old (like early farm life) would be of interest today?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 18, 6:00 p.m. WTTW, Chicago Public TV. A Farm Story.

August 24, Egg Harbor Book Festival, Alpine Resort, 10-11:30. All about writing.  Book signing 1-4.

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Story. Live in Milwaukee

September 9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Community Center, 7:00 p.m.

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14,  Mineral Point Book Festival. 8:30-9:30 Writing Workshop, Mineral Point Library.

September 15, 10:00-1:00 Book Signing, Machine Shed Restaurant, Waukesha.

September 16, Winchester Academy, Waupaca Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

September 18, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, WI 7:00 p.m.

September 23, 6:30-7:30 Mount Horeb Public Library.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.