Faulkner Lifestyle May 2019 Issue

scene | heard
Documentary Screening of Nebraska Organic Farm with Local Ties
A
special screening of the new documentary
film, “Dreaming of a Vetter
World” was held at the Cinemark
Theaters on April 7th. The feature-length
film was followed by a conversation and
Q&A with sustainable farmer and main
film subject, David Vetter, filmmaker
Bonnie Hawthorne, and moderated by
David’s daughter, local Conway resident
Dr. Allison Vetter.
The compelling feature-length documentary
“Dreaming of a Vetter World” comes at
a time when interest in regenerating soil has
exploded worldwide. Others are realizing
what the Vetters have known for decades:
soil is key to our very survival.
The documentary focuses on the story
of the Vetter family, pioneering organic
farmers in Marquette, Nebraska. Shot,
directed and narrated by first-time filmmaker
Bonnie Hawthorne, the film tells the
story of the Vetter family’s decades-long
experiment with a self-renewing farm
management system. It is also a story about
place, hope and love; an inspiring example
of perseverance and doing what you know
is right, against all odds.
This event gave people a rare opportunity
to hear from pioneering organic farmer
David Vetter both in the film and in person.
“I’m always amazed at the new information
that comes up during the question and
answer sessions. Even I learn something
new,” Hawthorne said.
Beautifully shot on location in the Great
Plains, this engaging documentary shows
what farming with nature is all about. The
film includes interviews with other organic
leaders, local farmers, and scientists. At the
heart of this powerful story is David Vetter’s
journey from farmer’s son, to missionary, to
scientist, and back to farmer again, where he
practices what he calls a “ministry to the soil.”
Currently based in Joshua Tree, California,
filmmaker Hawthorne took a hiatus from her
work as a television editor, sold most of her
belongings, hitched a tiny travel trailer to her
Toyota 4Runner and took off for Nebraska.
She spent the next two years camped on
farms and in Walmart parking lots. Her
low overhead and credit cards made this
shoestring operation possible. “In retrospect,
I see the connection: David pursued a way of
farming that seemed crazy at the time, but it
mattered. I think his story dared me to take a
crazy chance – like making a film by myself –
learning the skills along the way.”
BIO: DAVID VETTER is an organic grower
and grain producer in Central Nebraska.
He lives on the farm where he was raised,
to which he returned after college in the
mid 1970s. He holds a BS in Soil Science/
Agronomy and a Master of Divinity. David
was instrumental in developing the infrastructure
for organic food delivery still used today.
For the last four decades, Vetter has used
organic farming techniques to improve soil,
grow food, and teach others to do the same.
ALLISON VETTER is the oldest of David
Vetter’s three children. Currently she is a Title
IX Investigator and Education Coordinator
at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
Allison is an alumna of Doane University
and received her master’s degree and Ph.D.
in sociology from the University of Nebraska
in Lincoln. Allison was raised on the farm
known as The Grain Place and continues
to have an active interest its operations.
She is a shareholder in The Grain Place and
serves as Board Secretary on The Grain Place
Foundation board. Allison is married to
William Cone, has three step-children.
A Foundation was formed by the Vetter
family as a way to continue the legacy of the
Grain Place, the original name of the Vetter
farm. www.grainplacefoundation.org
Website and Movie Trailer:
www.DreamingOfAVetterWorld.com
54 faulkner lifestyle | may 2O19