Farming life and the essential work of producing food for the world has long been celebrated in art, literature, and essays.

Richard Scheuerman, an educator, author, and 1972 history graduate from Washington State University, wrote three books that take a deep dive into art and books about farming. He covers a huge span of time and geography, from the Bible to modern literature.

In those three volumes—Hallowed Harvests, Harvest Hands, and Harvest Horizons—Scheuerman calls for all of us to keep farms and agrarian work top of mind. Our very existence depends on a part of our society, where our food comes from, that often gets forgotten or ignored.

He talked with Washington State Magazine editor Larry Clark about the themes of the books, how we need to appreciate food production, and more about art and literature that speaks to the nature of farming, harvesting, and the agrarian life.

Read more about the books in a Washington State Magazine review (Spring 2025).

Buy the books at Triticum Press or Palouse Heritage Farm.

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