100 Words: The Farm Families Of Vermont

100 Words is a series in which photographers describe their work, in their own words. Skye Chalmers has been a professional photographer for 20 years. Born "in a drafty farmhouse" in Weston, Vt., he writes, he still lives in the state "with his superwoman and their redheaded twin toddlers."

Here, he talks about a project to document the local farming community in the Northeast, commissioned by Cabot Creamery Cooperative. (Full disclosure: This blog post came to NPR from an external curator. Cabot has been an NPR sponsor in the past, and the topic of coverage is coincidental.)

1 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

2 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

3 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

4 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

5 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

6 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

7 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

8 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

9 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

10 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

11 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

12 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

13 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

14 of 14  — From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

From the series Sending Milk, a project documenting Vermont family farms.

/ Skye Chalmers

Commissioned by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, I photographed between 2009 and 2012 to document their farm families throughout New York and New England and published a book titled Sending Milk.

These photographs are dedicated to the oldest tractor on the farm that once plowed the fields and still runs strong pumping slurry; to the cows with all their warmth and curiosity; to all the worn stanchions, concrete bunkers, shovel handles, boots and hands; to the seasons of promise, bounty and reflection; to the past stewards of the land; to the farmers that were not able to persevere through hard times but haven't dismantled their parlor in hopes of a future herd; to all dairy farmers of the northeast with their practical views, their ingenuity and tireless energy that binds our communities.

Curated by Graham Letorney. Curators Note: This project is a direct result of an art commission by Cabot Creamery Cooperative in efforts to document and celebrate the farm family members of Agrimark, McCadam and Cabot. Cabot did not influence the creative process.

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