Behind every farm is a family, with dreams, goals and emotions, making tough choices.

An Iowa State professor is releasing a book next year that explores sustainable agriculture through the words of farming families and the values associated with their decisions.

Jerry DeWitt, professor of entomology, has captured the emotions of 27 families through his first book, “People Sustaining the Land.”

DeWitt and photographer Cynthia Vagnetti have studied farming families throughout the United States since early 1998.

Sustainable agriculture is not about what goods are produced, DeWitt said, but rather the stewardship of land and water, decisions for the family and contributions to the community.

“The families were good people with good energy,” he said.

DeWitt said he wants to inspire and challenge other farmers and farm families to follow the lead of families like those he interviewed.

DeWitt and Vagnetti experienced real farm life, doing everything from walking a herd of 2,000 sheep in the mountains and getting lost in the fog of a Texan cattle ranch to canning pickles in a community kitchen in Green Bay and waking up at 3 a.m. to videotape a bean packaging plant.

Growing up on an Illinois farm, DeWitt said he is not unfamiliar with agriculture as a way of life.

He graduated from University of Illinois with degrees in entomology and ecology, and has been at ISU since 1972.

DeWitt presently serves as a coordinator of educational programs in sustainable agriculture, insect pest management and pesticide application training. He teaches non-credit courses to farmers in each of those areas.

After experiencing agriculture nationwide, DeWitt said he has grown fonder of the business and the families behind it.

“Absolutely, it has made an impact on my professional life,” he said. “I am more sensitive to farm and ranch families across the nation.”

“People Sustaining the Land” should be on bookshelves by early to mid-2000, and a sneak peak is available at digitaljournalist.org under “Gifts and Graces of the Land.”