The Farmer’s Cooperative Exchange is seeking historic photos of the Washita County wheat harvest as part of a new project to document the co-op’s rich history in the area.
Jared Wanzer, who is spearheading the project, is building upon a project undertaken by board member Monte Nickel a few years ago, on the 100th anniversary of the organization. Nickel put together a chronological history of the co-op, noting important dates and events in the co-op’s history.
Wanzer, by trade a photographer living in Oklahoma City, comes home to Washita County every year to help with the wheat harvest. He basically grew up inside the coop, as his father, Randy Wanzer, has been the manager of the co-op since February 1996.
“I grew up here, so I think documenting the history is important, and I like documenting the history of people’s lives,” he said.
Wanzer is looking for family photos of Washita County’s farm families focused around wheat harvest time, but featuring the people who have worked this land and helped create this farming community.
“It’s why I love being a photographer,” he said. “I get to capture ‘this time’ in people’s lives. I’m doing this project to highlight ‘that time’ in the lives of the area’s farmers and families.”
Wanzer said the first phase of his project is to compile as many photos as possible and then have them printed on canvas to display in the co-op’s facilities in Rocky, Cordell, Bessie, and Burns Flat. From there he hopes to publish a photographical history book for the co-op.
Anyone willing to share photos for this project are encouraged to call Wanzer at 405-589-0397 or email jaredrw@yahoo.com.