Old Aerial Photos Bring Back Memories Of Life On The Farm

I grew up on a farm just north of Anamosa. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. While other kids had cable TV and sidewalks, my brother and I had 320 acres to explore and play on. We lived outdoors. Whether it was sledding in the winter, or looking for squirrels and deer in the spring and summer, growing up on a farm gave us a unique childhood experience that only other farm kids can understand. The chore schedule. Seeing baby animals being born. Hearing your Dad talk about commodity prices. All unique to growing up on a farm.

Recently, a lot of my friends and co-workers have been sharing images of the farms they grew up on. A website called Vintage Aerial boasts over 25 million photos of farms from across the country. Simply type in the state and county your farm is in, and begin your search! They feature photos from different eras too, so you can see how much your farm changed throughout the years. I was able to find a photo of my families farm from 1990.

It's amazing to compare that photo with the one at the top of the page. The barn is gone. So are several other buildings. Both the silo and grain bin have been removed too. Life on the farm has certainly changed. But my memories of growing up there will always remain.