They may not be the typical subjects for an art exhibit, but one local artist has put the caretakers of Iowa’s landscape in the spotlight.

The exhibit, “Portraits of Northwest Iowa Farmers,” is on display Jan. 23 through March 2 in the Gallery of the Memorial Union. The photography was done by artist Tom Becker, who covered eight counties in his attempt to capture the essence of farmers across the Midwest. The exhibit was funded in part by the Iowa Arts Council.

“It’s more of a tribute to the American farmer,” Becker said. “They don’t promote themselves.”

The exhibit is composed of 40 photographs including rural landscape photos placed between some of the portraits to add balance to the display.

One aspect of the exhibit that is impossible to overlook is the staunch poses of the farmers photographed — hands tucked into pockets or arms quietly yet proudly folded across the chest. The leathery creases of each farmer’s face peering from the pictures evidence their love of the land and pride in their work.

“I didn’t pose them … that’s just sort of the natural thing for them to do,” Becker said. “I let them pick the place on the farm. I wanted it to be about them and not me doing something with them.”

Many of the farmers Becker initially approached refused to be photographed. Becker said it was perhaps partly because they did not realize what the gallery was about, and were concerned about maintaining their privacy.

Becker used agriculture agencies to contact the farmers, and once a third party explained the project, it was much easier to find willing people.

“If somebody was vouching for me, that made a lot of difference,” Becker said.

Kent Ankerstjerne of Peterson was one of the farmers photographed. He said Becker found him in September 2002 through a mutual acquaintance close to Peterson.

“A local person asked me about it, and [Becker] called me,” Ankerstjerne said. “I thought it was going to be an interview, not a photograph.”

Once he understood more about the project, Ankerstjerne said he was still very willing to help out.

“We looked around the farm for awhile … then we just settled for in front of barn,” Ankerstjerne said.

Although he does not like to see his own picture, Ankerstjerne said he saw the exhibit, and, although he was surprised by how large the his photograph was, liked the exhibit overall.

“The idea of making [the photographs] that big was to show them in a grand way,” Becker said.

Becker said he got to know many “great people” in his search of individuals to portray the traditional American farmer.

Despite the amount of work and expense involved, Becker said photographic art still remains very important to him.

“It’s a labor of love — it’s just something you want to do,” he said.