"We are Right on the Cusp of Some Bad Stuff Happening": Life and Death on a Missouri Farm
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32469/aj.v22.24Abstract
Mike Williams' farm in Higginsville, MO has nearly two centuries of history since the first white settlers began arriving in the area shortly after Missouri became a state. Amidst the ups and downs on the farm, "'We are Right on the Cusp of Some Bad Stuff Happening': Life and Death on a Missouri Farm," is an existential narrative uncovering previously unwritten stories and concerns through the lens of an age-old farmhouse. With the passing of the family's matriarch, Mike and his siblings are faced with troubling problems that threatens the survival of their livelihoods. Navigating the challenges of traditions versus change has provided an emotional and nostalgic yet concerning outlook on the future of the farm. Thankfully, the Williams family is no stranger to adversity. The narrative is a reminder of the durability of home, heritage, and the human spirit in the face of life and death.
Author Biography
Colbey Stosberg, University of Missouri
I am a fourth-semester Political Science major and Geography minor Mizzou student, with an anticipated graduation in the Fall of 2024. As a lifelong Missourian, whose family has ancestry in the state since the 1810s, I have an extreme passion for all things relating to this state. I am interested in Missouri Politics and am currently employed as a staffer on a major statewide campaign and was an intern in the office of Majority Floor Leader and Speaker-Elect Dr. Jonathan Patterson. Geography has always been an interest of mine, and I had a collection of maps as a kid. I enjoy learning, visiting, and writing about new places, so writing this paper was a real treat for me. I grew up on the western side of the state in the South KC suburbs as a huge Mizzou fan and was even Truman the Tiger for Halloween on several occasions.
