Dispatches From Farm Country
Review by journalist Carol Thompson
Dispatches From Farm Country by Jim Patrico is an insightful and beautifully crafted chronicle of rural America through the eyes of a seasoned journalist. Based on years of reporting, the author combines personal recollections, historical background, and firsthand interviews to create a close portrait of evolving farming communities. With lyrical prose and a deep respect for the people he writes about, Patrico invites readers into barns, back roads, small-town cafés, and state fairs, offering a window into the soul of farm country.
As a fellow journalist with extensive experience reporting on agriculture and the challenges faced by today’s farmers, I truly felt Jim Patrico’s passion in every line. He explores the economic and demographic changes that have transformed rural America over the past fifty years, capturing the bittersweet decline of small family farms, paralleling industrial agriculture's growth. Simultaneously, he showcases the humor, resilience, and quiet dignity of those who remain connected to these landscapes. There is deep respect for tradition and a clear insight into the complexities that shape rural identity. Patrico approaches his subjects with care. Dispatches From Farm Country will appeal to readers interested in the American heartland, social change, and the everyday heroism of those living beyond the city lights. It’s a heartfelt exploration of what it means to belong to a place and how those places shape us.
Review by Gregg Hillyer, Editor-in-Chief Progressive Farmer
Jim Patrico is a master storyteller who brings to life the people, places, events and issues of rural America. Over a 40 year career, the award-winning writer and photojournalist traveled from coast to coast and around the world reporting on agriculture for major ag media companies. Patrico’s natural curiosity and unlimited talents helped him to craft compelling stories, blending words and photos to create descriptive and unforgettable narratives. He is one of the finest ag journalists this profession has ever had and has left an enduring mark for generations to come.
Review by Bill Spiegel, The Furrow
What a great book. Patrico revisits some of his favorite stories from his stellar career, with updates on what has happened since they first appeared in the pages of The New Ulm Journal, Missouri Ruralist, Farm Journal or Progressive Farmer. Each chapter is filled with the award-winning writer’s vivid imagery, mixed with the emotion and personality that, as journalists, we aren’t often afforded the opportunity to convey in stories. From a professional standpoint, “Dispatches” will influence the way I write and tell stories. From a personal standpoint, I am leaving the last chapter unread because I don’t want the book to end.