Vermont

Vermont Dairy Farm | Photographs of Farm Life

Peter Miller turns his lens on dairy farmer Melvin Churchill as he struggles to keep his family farm in Cabot, Vermont afloat.

By Peter Miller|Oct 15 2012| Print icon

A black and white image of cows grazing in a grassy field with a cluster of farm buildings and a pond in the background.

Dairy cows graze on Churchill's farm. Melvin keeps a herd of 75 cows, mostly Holsteins; 42 of them currently provide milk for the organic market, a more stable hedge against frequent fluctuations in conventional milk prices

Credit: Peter Miller
Photographer Peter Miller has spent a lifetime capturing Vermont and her people. In this slide show, he turns his lens on dairy farmer Melvin Churchill as he struggles to keep his family farm in Cabot, Vermont afloat in these turbulent financial times. See more of Peter Miller’s work — including his books Vermont People and Vermont Farm Women — at www.petermillerphotography.com. Read the Story: Vermont Dairy Farmers Cling to Land
Dairy farmer Melvin Churchill seen here haying a section of his 110 acres in Cabot, Vermont. For many farmers facing economic uncertainty, the pressure to sell becomes insurmountable

Dairy farmer Melvin Churchill seen here haying a section of his 110 acres in Cabot, Vermont. For many farmers facing economic uncertainty, the pressure to sell becomes insurmountable

Credit: Peter Miller
Dairy farmer Melvin Churchill seen here haying a section of his 110 acres in Cabot, Vermont. For many farmers facing economic uncertainty, the pressure to sell becomes insurmountable
Credit: Peter Miller
Dairy cows graze on Churchill's farm. Melvin keeps a herd of 75 cows, mostly Holsteins; 42 of them currently provide milk for the organic market, a more stable hedge against frequent fluctuations in conventional milk prices

Dairy cows graze on Churchill’s farm. Melvin keeps a herd of 75 cows, mostly Holsteins; 42 of them currently provide milk for the organic market, a more stable hedge against frequent fluctuations in conventional milk prices

Credit: Peter Miller
Dairy cows graze on Churchill’s farm. Melvin keeps a herd of 75 cows, mostly Holsteins; 42 of them currently provide milk for the organic market, a more stable hedge against frequent fluctuations in conventional milk prices
Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin Churchill with his partner Janet Whitlock and his son Matt, who is working the farm with his father

Melvin Churchill with his partner Janet Whitlock and his son Matt, who is working the farm with his father

Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin Churchill with his partner Janet Whitlock and his son Matt, who is working the farm with his father
Credit: Peter Miller
Keeping the farm afloat is a constant struggle

Keeping the farm afloat is a constant struggle

Credit: Peter Miller
Keeping the farm afloat is a constant struggle
Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin's son Matt is working with his father to keep the family's farming tradition alive

Melvin’s son Matt is working with his father to keep the family’s farming tradition alive

Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin’s son Matt is working with his father to keep the family’s farming tradition alive
Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin working his land to put up hay for the winter. The work of a dairy farmer is constant

Melvin working his land to put up hay for the winter. The work of a dairy farmer is constant

Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin working his land to put up hay for the winter. The work of a dairy farmer is constant
Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin with his grandson, Zach, on the farm

Melvin with his grandson, Zach, on the farm

Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin with his grandson, Zach, on the farm
Credit: Peter Miller
Zach runs to keep up with his grandfather

Zach runs to keep up with his grandfather

Credit: Peter Miller
Zach runs to keep up with his grandfather
Credit: Peter Miller
Grandson Zach takes a break in the hayfield

Grandson Zach takes a break in the hayfield

Credit: Peter Miller
Grandson Zach takes a break in the hayfield
Credit: Peter Miller
A freshly rolled bale of hay ready to be wrapped and stored for the winter

A freshly rolled bale of hay ready to be wrapped and stored for the winter

Credit: Peter Miller
A freshly rolled bale of hay ready to be wrapped and stored for the winter
Credit: Peter Miller
Stacks of freshly wrapped hay

Stacks of freshly wrapped hay

Credit: Peter Miller
Stacks of freshly wrapped hay
Credit: Peter Miller
The workday often begins at 5:00 a.m. and doesn't end until late in the evening

The workday often begins at 5:00 a.m. and doesn’t end until late in the evening

Credit: Peter Miller
The workday often begins at 5:00 a.m. and doesn’t end until late in the evening
Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin is shown holding a cherished photo of his Uncle Willis plowing the land. There is a deep ancestral tie to the land through many generations in his family

Melvin is shown holding a cherished photo of his Uncle Willis plowing the land. There is a deep ancestral tie to the land through many generations in his family

Credit: Peter Miller
Melvin is shown holding a cherished photo of his Uncle Willis plowing the land. There is a deep ancestral tie to the land through many generations in his family
Credit: Peter Miller
The timeless-and often uncontrollable-pressures of weather and market weigh heavily on Melvin's shoulders. He acknowledges that he doesn't know what the future will bring

The timeless-and often uncontrollable-pressures of weather and market weigh heavily on Melvin’s shoulders. He acknowledges that he doesn’t know what the future will bring

Credit: Peter Miller
The timeless-and often uncontrollable-pressures of weather and market weigh heavily on Melvin’s shoulders. He acknowledges that he doesn’t know what the future will bring
Credit: Peter Miller

Peter Miller

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  2. Im looking for a family whose mother’s book I read 40 years ago. Her husband died, leaving her with children, one of whom was mentally challenged. She moved to a farm in Vermont and married a carpenter/farmer who helped her as she got settled. Her boy ended up needing custodial care. Can’t remember her name, the title or the town she moved to. Any help would be appreciated; I’d love to re-read this story!!

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