Chad and his children take turns riding a bucking barrel outside his house.
Chad and his children take turns riding a bucking barrel outside his house.
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Mackenzie practices putting on a halter on her sheep Gunter and Rosita at her father's house. Mackenzie and her older brother Harkin Bartlett, 12, live with their mother and grandparents about 45 minutes south of their father Chad’s home in Twin Lake. Since April, the siblings have visited their father’s house every other weekend and worked together to raise market animals to show and sell at the county fair.
Mackenzie practices putting on a halter on her sheep Gunter and Rosita at her...READ ON
Mackenzie practices putting on a halter on her sheep Gunter and Rosita at her father's house. Mackenzie and her older brother Harkin Bartlett, 12, live with their mother and grandparents about 45 minutes south of their father Chad’s home in Twin Lake. Since April, the siblings have visited their father’s house every other weekend and worked together to raise market animals to show and sell at the county fair.
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Harkin leads his hog, Ace, to the show arena with his cane at Newaygo County Fair in Fremont, Michigan. Harkin, who is participating in 4-H for a second year, raised two hogs: Ace and Blizt.
Harkin leads his hog, Ace, to the show arena with his cane at Newaygo County Fair in...READ ON
Harkin leads his hog, Ace, to the show arena with his cane at Newaygo County Fair in Fremont, Michigan. Harkin, who is participating in 4-H for a second year, raised two hogs: Ace and Blizt.
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Chad Bartlett and his daughter Mackenzie Maka, 10, chat with their neighbors at their 100-year-old barn next to Chad's house in Twin Lake, Michigan. Chad left behind the city life for a farm, hoping to teach his children agricultural skills. “We lived in an apartment for a long time,” he said. “Back then, we had to go out to do things, because they really couldn’t go outside and play because there’s no area that was ours. Here, it gets our family active a lot more, because we’re outside doing stuff. We’re not in the house all the time.”
Chad Bartlett and his daughter Mackenzie Maka, 10, chat with their neighbors at their...READ ON
Chad Bartlett and his daughter Mackenzie Maka, 10, chat with their neighbors at their 100-year-old barn next to Chad's house in Twin Lake, Michigan. Chad left behind the city life for a farm, hoping to teach his children agricultural skills. “We lived in an apartment for a long time,” he said. “Back then, we had to go out to do things, because they really couldn’t go outside and play because there’s no area that was ours. Here, it gets our family active a lot more, because we’re outside doing stuff. We’re not in the house all the time.”
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Harkin crawls into the pigpen to clean.
Harkin crawls into the pigpen to clean.
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Harkin Bartlett, 12, squeals as his hog Ace bites his fingers while giving water in a crate at his father's house.
Harkin Bartlett, 12, squeals as his hog Ace bites his fingers while giving water in a...READ ON
Harkin Bartlett, 12, squeals as his hog Ace bites his fingers while giving water in a crate at his father's house.
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Mackenzie holds her sheep Gunter while her other sheep, Rosita, gets trimmed for the upcoming county fair. She named her sheep after characters in the movie Sing.
Mackenzie holds her sheep Gunter while her other sheep, Rosita, gets trimmed for the...READ ON
Mackenzie holds her sheep Gunter while her other sheep, Rosita, gets trimmed for the upcoming county fair. She named her sheep after characters in the movie Sing.
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Chad lectures Mackenzie and her older brother, Harkin, after hearing a dispute between them while working on their animals at Chad's house. Mackenzie said Harkin's effort to help her was too involved. "I know that I have to try to do it on my own,” Mackenzie said. “If he did it all for me, then I’ll just expect that I want him to do it.”
Chad lectures Mackenzie and her older brother, Harkin, after hearing a dispute between...READ ON
Chad lectures Mackenzie and her older brother, Harkin, after hearing a dispute between them while working on their animals at Chad's house. Mackenzie said Harkin's effort to help her was too involved. "I know that I have to try to do it on my own,” Mackenzie said. “If he did it all for me, then I’ll just expect that I want him to do it.”
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Harkin combs his hair in his pig's pen before the show at the county fair. Harkin said he was initially attracted to the idea of making money by raising the market animals. “But in the end, I just took all that out of the picture and decided I was going to do it, because I thought it would be fun,” Harkin said.
Harkin combs his hair in his pig's pen before the show at the county fair. Harkin...READ ON
Harkin combs his hair in his pig's pen before the show at the county fair. Harkin said he was initially attracted to the idea of making money by raising the market animals. “But in the end, I just took all that out of the picture and decided I was going to do it, because I thought it would be fun,” Harkin said.
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Mackenzie waits for her turn to show her sheep Gunter in the show arena.
Mackenzie waits for her turn to show her sheep Gunter in the show arena.
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One-year-old Cole James watches his sister Mackenzie spread out wood shavings in the trailer outside their house before loading the animals for a county fair.
One-year-old Cole James watches his sister Mackenzie spread out wood shavings in the...READ ON
One-year-old Cole James watches his sister Mackenzie spread out wood shavings in the trailer outside their house before loading the animals for a county fair.
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Harkin takes a fall after he was pushed by hogs in the show arena during the competition.
Harkin takes a fall after he was pushed by hogs in the show arena during the competition.
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Chad consoles Mackenzie before showing her sheep Gunter in the arena. The fair marked the end of the children's project, but it also meant it would soon be time for them to say goodbye to the animals. "When something dies, it doesn’t come back,” Chad said. "These kids understand that there’s value in life."
Chad consoles Mackenzie before showing her sheep Gunter in the arena. The fair marked the...READ ON
Chad consoles Mackenzie before showing her sheep Gunter in the arena. The fair marked the end of the children's project, but it also meant it would soon be time for them to say goodbye to the animals. "When something dies, it doesn’t come back,” Chad said. "These kids understand that there’s value in life."
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The Bartlett family gathers around the dinner table to share pork tenderloin, quinoa and potatoes at their house.
The Bartlett family gathers around the dinner table to share pork tenderloin, quinoa and...READ ON
The Bartlett family gathers around the dinner table to share pork tenderloin, quinoa and potatoes at their house.
