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Farm Wives 2 author giving reading in Glaslyn

Jan 3, 2019 | 4:00 PM

Author and photographer Billi J. Miller will soon be visiting Glaslyn to speak on her new book.

The new book, entitled Farm Wives 2, is a part of The Farm Wives Book Project, which the author describes as a “labour of love.”

Miller, who grew up in Lloydminster, currently resides with her husband at their farm in northeast Alberta. She is also a farm wife herself, in addition to being an author, photographer and public speaker.

Many farm wives from across Canada, including many from Saskatchewan, participated in the book.

Miller stated she hopes to visit many more communities to talk about her new book.

“I want to get out to more of rural Saskatchewan,” Miller added.

Miller interviewed the farm wives by asking various questions, giving them an opportunity to tell their stories. Her first book on farm wives featured the stories of women from ages 55 plus, while the new book is focused on younger farm wives.

Miller said the farm wives she interviewed were all humble about their roles on the farm and dedicated.

She noted that she hopes with her books to shine a spotlight on these women as a tribute to them for all they have done in continuing the farming life. 

Miller added in today’s society there is no one way to be a farm wife. She saw a great deal of diversity in her research.

“The traditional standard doesn’t work for everyone, and that’s ok,” she said.

Miller describes the new book which was released in 2018 as “an inspiring look into the lives of the new Canadian farm wife.”  

The new book includes many “candid questions and honest answers from the next generations of women,” she said.

The book also includes many recipes for traditional farm meals.

Miller said some of the topics that farm families are concerned these days include farm management and succession planning.

She also stated the new book is a little different from her first book since she was able to contact more farm families for the project via social media.

“I thought it would be interesting to get a perspective from farms across the country,” Miller said.

“It’s an interesting look at how lives are moving forward, and how life on Canadian family farms is moving forward,” she added.

Miller will read from her book during a special wine and cheese gathering from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, at Lake and Country Realty in Glaslyn.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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