This is part of High Plains Journal’s year end activities where HPJ staff members were asked to write a piece about a memorable story they wrote in 2023.
When I was tasked with selecting a favorite story that I wrote this year, my mind immediately went to a personal profile I penned centered on the Evans family of Nashville, North Carolina. I met Keith, Ann and Jonathan Evans while attending the Deltapine New Product Evaluators Summit in December 2022. This cotton-growing father, mother and son trio have a story that would catch anyone’s attention and I immediately knew I wanted to feature their life experiences for the readers of High Plains Journal.
In 1998, at 18 years old, Jonathan suffered a horrific farm accident that left him blind. Challenge after challenge, he has persevered—with the help of his loving parents—to farm, even without his sight. After our brief conversation at the summit, I kept in touch with the Evanses and eventually worked out an in-person interview at their farm in North Carolina. After touring the shop, seeing the equipment, sitting down for an in-depth interview about the accident, the Evanses were kind enough to invite me to lunch. By that afternoon, I felt like I had known them for years.
I was moved by Jonathan’s story, not only for his tenacity, patience and positivity, but also for the testimony he shares with those who hear his account. What happened to the Evans tested their faith, but it also reinforced their beliefs that God is in control and they can put their trust in Him.
The article came out in our March 2023 cotton issue and although I’m exceedingly proud of the article, I’m also touched by my continued friendship with the family. I still communicate with them from time to time, sharing harvest, weather and family updates. Although I had already learned this from my years of interviewing farmers and ranchers, this experience with the Evans was a distinct reminder of just how wonderful the people of agriculture are. They are really in a class of their own and I so enjoy getting to meet new individuals in this industry and telling their worthwhile stories every week in HPJ. To read the article, visit https://hpj.com/2023/03/10/cotton-grower-loses-eyesight-but-not-his-vision-for-farming/.
