We’ve all heard the term before, a barn raising. When the whole community would gather to build a barn and in the course of a day or a few short one’s entire barns would be erected into the massive structures they are, all with the help of those closest to us. Well I myself have never witnessed a barn raising I have spent most of my days in one and I think the barns have turned the tides on us.

In many ways I think the barn raising party has become a lifetime effort of the barns raising us, helping us grow into the people we are today. So many hard lessons and joyous occasions happen right there in those walls. They’ve shown us the joy of new life and sorrow of unexpected death and taught us the rewards of a hard day’s work.

They’ve brought us together from all walks of life. Brought children out of the house and into the fields forming bonds with parents and grandparents. They’ve brought friends from the cities out to enjoy the outdoors and become a farm kid even if just for a day, a day that changes their whole outlook. Brought communities and extended families together when others are in need or just to enjoy some much-needed company.

No matter what type of farm you may have grown up around, if it was your childhood farm, or just a friend’s farm the barns of our lives have shaped us in ways we can never repay. How does one thank a structure for guiding them? For being their place to run to when the going got tough? For showing them what they were made of? For bringing families and communities together?

We take care of them and ensure they are there to raise the next generation. We raise the next barn and continue the tradition that agriculture holds, and we honor them in whatever way we know how. I’m a photographer and documenting the love we have for our farms and the memories they hold is near and dear to my heart, so I created the Raising Barns Project.

Raising Barns will feature at least one new barn or farm every month as well as the story of the people it has helped raised. It’s important to remember the places and people that got us where we are and the things closest to us. As this is a special project of mine no farmer will be charged for there shoot but will have the chance to receive a discounted family session during the farm shoot if they so choose. If you know of a Raising Barn you’d like to nominate please contact me at eaglingam@gmail.com or on our Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/MayShinePhotography!