By Joel Reichenberger, ACN President
I was taking too much of their time.
That happens occasionally when I’m on photoshoots with farmers. Especially when I know we need a particular shot for the cover, say, I’m anxious and I overshoot and do a little too much “Hey, can you do that one more time?”
Walk through the soybeans one more time.
Chat with your crew for one more minute.
Pose in one more spot…
I’d asked Ray Gaesser and his family, of Corning, Iowa, to do almost all of it. And again. And, “Ugh, I’m sorry, I want to be sure the lighting was right, one more time?”
Our photoshoot was nudging past an hour in length. I was starting to feel bad, and it was evident the family hadn’t yet eaten dinner.
I was talking to a coworker a day later, lamenting my slowness.
“Don’t worry about it. Ray’s done those shoots 1,000 times,” he said.
I couldn’t help thinking about that six days later when I heard the news that Ray had been killed in a farm accident.
I felt even worse that I may have tried the family’s patience.
I felt glad — glad isn’t quite the right word, but maybe you follow me — that I’d gotten photos at all.
I felt lucky I’d even met Ray.
Ray was one of those farmers we in this industry lean upon, the kind that understands and appreciates our job, sometimes even better than we do.
He was a good, interesting and innovative farmer, but more importantly for us, was eager to use ag media to share his insights.
It was clear even before I visited that Ray had charmed many among us. Everyone I mentioned my plans to insisted I pass along a “hello.”
Ray and family recalled each well-wisher personally and warmly.
There was a tremendous outpouring after his accident. Farmers and politicians weighed in, but what stood out most was how many members of the ag media did, too, recalling good interviews and thoughtful conversations they’d had with Ray.
We need sources like Ray, who have the farming, the insight, the eloquence and the patience to be a great source on any number of topics for new reporters and old.
Every beat I’ve ever been on has a few sources you share with a new reporter, someone you know will help them flesh out a story. Those people are critical to our industry and to what we do. Ray was clearly one of the good ones.
That takes me back to that Sunday night on Ray’s farm, as the sun started to dip, and I could practically hear his family’s stomachs rumbling.
Still, Ray invited me inside to see the fully glassed turret that jutted up from his house, gleaming in the sunset. It was where he had his coffee every morning, and something that’d been specifically mentioned by our reporter.
With all that glare and wonky light flooding in, we weren’t sure it’d make for a good photo, but he wanted me to see and invited me to try.
And it was awesome, all of it, the panoramic view of the fields spread around his house, the sun slipping over the horizon, and, fortunately, the photos I snapped.
When we did finally head downstairs, and I pulled him aside for one last little pose, just him, no family, tight, no-flash portraits.
“I’m sorry… You never know when a shot like this comes in handy,” I said, obviously unaware those would be the photos I turned to six days later.
At last, I was done.
The family was free.
Except, Ray and I still talked for nearly 30 minutes, standing on his patio. We went on about my life and his, about the looming farm shows, about running for office and giving back to the community. We even talked politics, where I usually bring a very light touch, if I can’t avoid it entirely.
He nearly fell over sharing one joke about a prominent politician.
Finally, I insisted I get out of his hair.
He didn’t protest but did offer a firm handshake.
He would have been justified in turning around and saying, “I thought he’d never leave!”
I was thinking, “That guy’s special. I’m sure glad I got to meet him.”
We should all be so lucky, and we should all be thankful for the sources we rely upon who answer the phone, invite us in and never shy away from helping us, the sources, like Ray, who make telling the story of agriculture in America so rewarding.
-Reichenberger is senior editor at Progressive Farmer.