Fields and Fencelines: Stories of Life on a Family Farm

by Mark E. Hillenbrand

The family farm was a place to learn values, work ethic, and develop character.

For Author Mark Hillenbrand, it was a place where happy childhood memories were created and discipline and routine were important. Deeply rooted in the hard work of planting and harvesting, raising cattle and chickens, and maintaining the property and machinery, is a sense of responsibility and belonging. His father instilled in him- with words but mostly by example-the importance of cultivating a deep respect and sense of stewardship of the land and its creatures. From Mark's first time driving a tractor at age ten, to tree planting as a young man, to assisting his father during his last harvest, the farm provided life lessons that bound the family together and extend to the next generation. At once nostalgic and realistic, Fields and Fencelines is a collection of stories that appeals to a simpler, holistic approach to life and reveals the insight and wisdom gained from growing up on a family farm.

216 pages, Paperback

Published March 6, 2019

Reviews

[Colleen Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Every chapter made me laugh, cry and remember my own experiences growing up on a farm. Everyone who has a connection, big or small, to life on a farm will love this book. The author describes his farm adventures from his childhood through to his adulthood with such detail that you feel you are there with him. I highly recommend this book.

[David Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid stories about growing up on the farm

[Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library book Alot of this was a trip down memory lane. I particularly enjoyed the growing up years and stories. Well written book👍

[Heather Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fields and Fencelines is a delightful depiction of life on the family farm in rural Saskatchewan where spending time outdoors, seeking adventure, and doing chores were part of day-to-day activities. The story is told with vivid details and descriptions that will have you smelling the grass, tasting the fresh produce from the garden, and feeling the sun and wind on your face as you bike down the country road or ride on the open air tractor.
The author's connection of family values, hard work, learning responsibility, and having the freedom to explore, build, and be entrepreneurial are inspiring and emotional. This book, the adventures, and the author's discussion of what the farm and land mean to him, will resonate with so many farm kids who left the family farm in pursuit of career and other opportunities.
I highly recommend this book for all ages, and in particular for those who grew up on a family farm. If you are city folk, curious about rural life, and in particular what it was like to be a 'farm kid', then get ready for a fun, inspiring, and adventurous read.