Land Rich, Cash Poor

Praise for Land Rich, Cash Poor ""An anthem to the family farm in America . . . The book follows a procession of efforts by other authors laboring to explain America’s farm troubles but few are as lyrically written or as deeply and personally detailed."" —The Associated Press (AP News) ""A beautifully written and very personal story of the multigenerational struggles of one family owning and operating a small family dairy farm in Wisconsin. The author, Brian Reisinger, uses his family’s experience to call attention to the alarming reduction in small to mid-sized farms in America, and the impact that loss has on America’s food security. With no easy answers available, he does offer suggestions as to what America can do to help farms survive and preserve the valuable tradition of family farms in America. This is a must read for anyone interested in one necessary component in helping Make America Healthy Again."" —U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)  “This deeply personal tale of a family farm—and family—teetering on the brink succeeds by showing us this is not a rural crisis, this is an American crisis bound to touch city mice and country mice alike. The dramatic elements strike to the bone, the history and context establish a complexity not addressable by simplistic politics, and by avoiding sentimentality and caricature, Reisinger leaves us with a green shoot of hope.” —Michael Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Population: 485 “A call from rural America, Brian Reisinger's love of family, farming and Wisconsin shines through as he unspools a four-generation saga of hard work on a hard land set against the backdrop of relentless economic change.” —Bill Glauber, National Headliner Award-winning journalist   ""Fills me with admiration for the resilence of Wisconsin farmers . . . Reminds us not only how physically demanding farming is, but also how dangerous it can be, with harrowing accounts of falls and accidents to adults and children. As Reisinger describes the lives of ancestors, farming also can be isolating and lonely, especially for taciturn men who feel the emotional weight of this perilous occupation. . . . If you've complained about the post-COVID increase in food prices, spending some time with Reisinger's book will help you understand what and why you're bemoaning."" —Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “In rich and lyrical prose, Brian Reisinger tells the engrossing story of his family’s 100-year quest to establish and preserve the Wisconsin dairy farm that has sustained four generations of Reisingers in body and soul. He shares the moments of joy, disappointment, and doubt that define modern farm life in America and he digs deep to discover his own place in that world. Land Rich, Cash Poor is a beautiful book. You won’t want to put it down.” —Peter Slevin, contributing writer for The New Yorker and author of Michelle Obama: A Life   ""A highly personal story of the disappearing American farmer. Well worth reading for those who care about what we eat and where it comes from.""  —Mike Gousha, Emmy-award-winning journalist and PBS documentarian “Only a farm boy could tell this story this well. Brian Reisinger’s Land Rich, Cash Poor is a remarkable portrait of how rural families live, work and struggle with issues that confront most families. A fascinating glimpse of American life.” —Lamar Alexander, author and former U.S. senator   “In a book that is both prodigiously researched and deeply personal, Brian Reisinger examines America's farming crisis through the lens of his own family's farm. The result is informative, highly readable, infuriating, and heartbreaking. His farming ancestors would be proud.” —Doug Moe, national award-winning journalist and author of Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime (with Tommy G. Thompson), and The Right Thing to Do   “Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer helps the reader, rural and urban alike, to appreciate what is going on in rural America as we see fewer and fewer family farms. Author Reisinger helps us understand the importance of this issue, in a compelling narrative.” —Jerry Apps, national award-winning historian and author of On Farms and Rural Communities   “As the number of family farms dwindles, author Brian Reisinger shares a poignant account of his family’s agricultural heritage in Wisconsin spanning four generations. He reflects on the joys and hardships that come with farming, and his deep attachment to land first chosen by his great-grandfather. Reisinger also sheds light on the challenges that threaten to erase this cherished legacy, and sincerely vows ‘I am here to share this with you because I will forever be a farmer’s son.’” —Sara Rath, author of About Cows, The Complete Cow, The Complete Pig ""[A] beautifully told, unflinching account . . . digestible data and spectacular prose."" —Madison Magazine