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The Fours Seasons of Agriculture

Artists throughout the centuries have depicted the four seasons in farming. The two most famous seasons are the planting in the spring and the harvest in the fall. Artist Frances Badger depicted the fall season in a mural she painted for the Illinois WPA artists' project. What specific activities and tasks go on during the fall? List the ones you see in the paintings, and then list some more that you know about.

The spring, summer and winter are important seasons on the farm, too. Think of or research some of the activities and chores that farmers and their families must do in those seasons. (You can see some of the other farm activities in the online image gallery of the Museum's WPA Collection) Make a list. The choose either the spring, summer or the winter on the farm to depict in a drawing or painting of your own. You can make them in a horizontal format like Frances Badger did, or you can make them in a vertical format.