Before moving to Bend, Oregon, I lived and worked in Bozeman, Montana. Like so many other parts of the country, the locals there take pride in knowing where their food comes from. Emphasizing the importance of having a connection with the families who produce that food and sell it at farmers’ markets or through community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.

Farm culture throughout the western United States has been a photographic interest of mine since I was a young photographer. I love the concept of eating local. I admire the commitment of these stewards of the land, their dedication to a hard work ethic through uncertainty, and their endless pursuit to encourage healthier lifestyles in others. They have a positive, crucial, educational impact on the communities they serve.

Many years ago, while out on assignment for the local Bozeman Daily Chronicle newspaper, I met Gallatin Valley Botanical Farm owners Matt & Jacy Rothschiller, along with their two children. This family operates a small Bozeman farm in Montana with a dedication to organic production of high-quality produce.

I wanted to document their lives working on the farm that helps sustain the community around them. What started as an assignment turned into a friendship. Over the course of four years, I returned to their colorful and peaceful Bozeman farm fields with my camera to document the growth of their family and their ever-growing organic enterprise.