Caroline Gutman

Photographer

Farming an Uncertain Future

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Clients: The Guardian, The New York Times The Washington Post

The farm carries the name of Am...a’s mother Laura, 62.

The farm carries the name of Amanda’s step-father Robert Vollmer. After his death five years ago, Barry, Amanda, their twins Bridgette and Ben, 14, and son Landon, 12, moved in with Amanda’s mother Laura, 62.

Amanda and Barry talk about the...e kids,” Amanda says.

Amanda and Barry talk about the week’s schedule. Tomorrow is their 15^th anniversary but they’ll wait to celebrate together with Amanda’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. “We don’t go out much. We usually do something once a year and like to take the kids,” Amanda says.

Lutz in-laws are frequent visit...atter where we live.”

Lutz in-laws are frequent visitors. “We’re so much in love and have our family that it doesn’t matter where we live.”

Besides corn and soybeans, the ...en chickens and two dozen cows.

Besides corn and soybeans, the farm has up to 1,800 pigs, several dozen chickens and two dozen cows.

Barry and his brother-in-law Za...heir farm equipment themselves.

Barry and his brother-in-law Zach repair all their farm equipment themselves.

Barry and Zach jointly manage t...family’s main income.

Barry and Zach jointly manage the farm. They can't afford to hire anyone else. Amanda teaches in nearby Columbia, providing the family’s main income.

Amanda and Barry’s fa...t quit,” says Amanda.

Amanda and Barry’s family have lived in the house for four years. They worry about the farm. “It’s a gamble. We take it one day at a time and do a lot of prayer. We can’t quit,” says Amanda.

During planting and harvest, Am...he table." says Barry.

During planting and harvest, Amanda feels like a single mother. “Amanda knows that if I don’t work there won’t be food on the table." says Barry.

Amanda and Barry went to high s...him up,” says Amanda.

Amanda and Barry went to high school homecoming together. “I saw Barry at church with his parents and decided to look him up,” says Amanda.

Barry and Ben move pigs to a ne...r table,” says Barry.

Barry and Ben move pigs to a new pen. “The kids understand the pigs will be gone in a few months. They know that it puts food on our table,” says Barry.

Barry hopes his and his brother...ill take over the farm one day.

Barry hopes his and his brother-in-law Zach's kids will take over the farm one day.

A year after Barry and Amanda w... at all,” Barry says.

A year after Barry and Amanda were married, Robert asked Barry to work on the farm, which slowly became full time. “Do I regret doing it? Nope, not at all,” Barry says.

For Barry, farming is a calling... home happy," he says.

For Barry, farming is a calling. "I have my bad days but I still go home happy," he says.

The Lutz teenagers help on the farm when they can.

Barry starts and ends his day with a cigarette on the patio.

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Thumbnail of The farm carries the name of Ama_da’s mother Laura, 62.

Thumbnail of Amanda and Barry talk about the _he kids,” Amanda says.

Thumbnail of Lutz in-laws are frequent visito_matter where we live.”

Thumbnail of Besides corn and soybeans, the f_zen chickens and two dozen cows.

Thumbnail of Barry and his brother-in-law Zac_their farm equipment themselves.

Thumbnail of Barry and Zach jointly manage th_ family’s main income.

Thumbnail of Amanda and Barry’s fam_;t quit,” says Amanda.

Thumbnail of During planting and harvest, Ama_the table." says Barry.

Thumbnail of Amanda and Barry went to high sc_ him up,” says Amanda.

Thumbnail of Barry and Ben move pigs to a new_ur table,” says Barry.

Thumbnail of Barry hopes his and his brother-_will take over the farm one day.

Thumbnail of A year after Barry and Amanda we_t at all,” Barry says.

Thumbnail of For Barry, farming is a calling._o home happy," he says.

Thumbnail of The Lutz teenagers help on the farm when they can.

Thumbnail of Barry starts and ends his day with a cigarette on the patio.

Public Project

Farming an Uncertain Future

Copyright Caroline Gutman 2024

Date of Work Sep 2019 - Ongoing

Updated Aug 2020

Location Boonville, MO

Topics Agriculture, Documentary, Editorial, Essays, Faith, Family, Photography, Photojournalism, Religion

American family farms are closing or consolidating at an alarming rate. I saw firsthand that it’s an uphill battle. To add to that, changing weather patterns at the farm I visited – flooding destroyed 15% of their soybean crop this year – and dropping soybean prices because of the trade war with China, has made it an even greater struggle.

I spent time with the Lutz family who run the second-generation Vollmer family farm outside Boonville, MO. Their farm has just survived.

I could feel the family's perpetual exhaustion from running all aspects of the 500-acre farm without help. "I have big shoulders and carry a lot on them, but I don't really complain about it. I love what I do," says Barry Lutz, 44, who handles nearly everything with his brother-in-law Zach, 40.

Barry and his wife Amanda, 42, live in the four-bedroom farmhouse with their three kids, and Amanda’s mother, Laura. The house felt crowded but everyone managed to give each other space when they needed it.

Amanda is a high school math teacher in nearby Columbia. She is the family's main source of income and healthcare. "It's been hard, but we have our family and our faith. We just take it one day at a time," says Amanda. “It’s a gamble.”

"As long as we're all together, it doesn't matter where we live," says Amanda. They worry how long they can continue like this.

Family farming is at the intersection of so many crises in our country: climate change, trade, politics and access to healthcare. Family farms are part of the American identity. The question is, for how long?

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Caroline Gutman

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