It’s not unusual to see Sharon Grose running up and down a field as she tries to catch all of the special moments that farm life has to offer.
A photographer from Alma, Grose captures farm and rural life in Wellington County and was recently awarded silver and bronze at The Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) awards banquet in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Grose received a bronze in Don Baron Award -People Category for her photo ‘Filling Planter for Another Round’ and silver in the John Philips Award- Landscape Photography Category for her ‘Canadian Winter Farm Scene’.
“This photo is a winter scene of a farmer feeding livestock. It almost looks like a painting on a stormy winter’s day. It really catches people’s eye,” Grose said.
That chilly day in February, Grose had driven to Erin and was on her way home.
“I saw the farmer and I turned around and went back to take the picture. I couldn’t talk to him because he was way out in the field. But I did track him down afterwards to get permission for the picture,” Grose said.
“He was quite excited about that.”
The Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) serves the common interests of agricultural journalists, including reporters, editors and broadcasters as well as those in business and government whose primary responsibility is agricultural communications.
CFWF announced the winners of its annual writing and photography awards presenting gold, silver, and bronze awards in three photography categories and in 12 writing categories.
Agriculture and life on the farm is something that is very special to Grose who says there’s no better way to share it than through photography.
“My husband and I have a farm here in Wellington County, in Alma. We have a cash crop farm and we’ve raised four children here,” Grose said.
“Over the years, photography has always been a passion for me. I love to tell stories through photos. And I’m always on the lookout.”
Grose began taking photos as a teen when she was in the 4-H club.
“I was a 4-H reporter. And it just took off from there. It's an interesting side gig. And now, it’s become my career,” Grose said.
Grose especially enjoys being 'boots on the ground', capturing the everyday farm going-ons that happen in real-time.
One particular photo that stands out for Grose is called, ‘The Girls at MIller’s Dairy’.
“It's a picture of a cow and a bunch of queens of the furrow on a dairy farm. I was invited to come along with them. I was a former Ontario queen of the furrow so they invited me to go on a tour,” Grose said.
“It was a Jersey cow farm and Jersey cows are very nosy. I was down on the ground, and this cow came right at me and its nose was almost on my lens. And there’s a bunch of girls, queens of the furrow, in the background. I won an award internationally in New Zealand for that photo. I’m very proud of it.”
Along with running the farm, Grose does photography part time.
“And I am also a grandma. I’m ‘go go’. That’s what my name is. I have a daughter who farms in South Africa. We like to spend a couple months there. So, my job has to have some flexibility,” Grose said.
For more information or to order photos taken by Grose, visit her Facebook page here.
“It’s very humbling to be able to capture a rural landscape and catch snippets of people and life on a farm. I like to be out with the farmer and taking pictures of their daily activities,” Grose said.
“It’s being in the moment, on the farm. That’s the challenge, but that’s what I love.”
