The last place my family lived before we started our great migration south was Medina NY. Originally developed as a stop over for the Erie Canal, the area still supports a number of farm families. We moved their in the early 90's and bought an old farmhouse with a barn. The two story barn was large and included a three seater outhouse (Mama bear, Papa bear and Baby bear), a chicken coup and a rope swing. Of course we never used it for its original purpose. We were more likely to be working on an art project than raising animals or storing crops! Our idea of farming was growing a few veggies. One year, Ian grew a giant pumpkin that made it into the local newspaper! Our introduction into actual farming came when we met Todd and Deb Roberts. Todd's grandfather started farming in Medina in 1931 and today the family is still farming and farming is still a vital part of the town's economy. The Roberts have roots to the land that people like us can't fully understand. So why did a friendship between artists and farmers develop and last over decades? Well, a farmer that uses GPS and listens to classical music on NPR in his tractor, a wife that sold Discovery Toys (a company we developed a stamp making kit for) and now owns a Yoga studio and a family that sent their daughter and sons to ballet lessons, can be our friend! Todd, Deb and their kids, Adam, Lizbeth, Derek and Mason, have a wide range of interests that have kept our families enjoying each others' company long after we moved. In fact two of their children, Lizbeth and Derrick now live in Colorado. During our farm tour Todd said, “ By having deep roots, the kids can go along way with confidence” and “ I'll pass away in my house hopefully.” For sure we'll see more of the Roberts in our neck of the woods in the future but I know the whole family's heart will always be on the farm.
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