Billi-Jean Miller was a big city gal with a fancy government job. Then, quite unexpectedly, she fell in love with a farmer from a small rural community.
Next thing you know, Billi moved into a 100-year-old historic farmhouse surrounded by hundreds of acres of agricultural land. Goodbye, concrete jungle. Hello, wheat fields.
She never imagined she would become a farmer’s wife and raise her children in such a remote location.
At times, she missed
the conveniences of city life. But she embraced her new surroundings and decided, “I will bloom where I am planted.”
As Billi settled into her new home, she met dozens of fellow farm wives—most of whom had lived in the community their whole lives, and who ranged in ages from 55 to 90.
These farm wives were hardworking women. Humble, kind, and
generous. They woke before dawn, cooked meals from scratch, made exquisite quilts, cared for their families, and weren’t afraid to shovel manure or get their boots muddy.
They were the unsung heroes—the backbone of their households and community.
“These women are incredible,” thought Billi. "Their lives ought to be celebrated. Someone
needs to interview these women and collect their stories and wisdom."
Billi realized, “Well, I guess that ‘someone’ could be me.”
She set up interviews and brought along her camera to take portraits. Then she took an online course on how to self-publish a book. That’s how her first book—Farmwives—was born.
Her local community went wild over the book. The first shipment sold out instantly because everyone in town wanted an autographed copy. Billi had to order three more boxes right away!
