Ending Lacewing Acres: Toward amplifying microperspectives on farm closure

Abstract

Farmers are invited to tell stories about their farms, especially about their farm’s origin and history. However, some farm stories go untold, are unin­vited, or become obscured, including stories of farm closures. With this case study, we invite jour­nalists and academics to provide further opportuni­ties for farmers to tell their own closure stories. Written by the farmer and her CSA member and friend, who researches farmer communication, this case study calls on farmers to tell their farm-closure stories in the complicated and robust ways such stories deserve. We draw on ­academic and public scholarship about farm closures and farmers’ dis­closures to feature how one farmer decided to end her farm and farming career. We chronicle her decision-making process and her strategies to com­municate the closure of her farm, as well as analyze themes from how audiences reacted to her news. We also offer a range of reasons for inviting such telling of complex closure stories.