Length: 48 minutes

This program was the result of a collaboration with four women who wanted to document the history of rural life in their community. The group hoped to gain the townspeople's interest in maintaining open space and fostering local agriculture. We received a grant from a Lincoln trust and financial support from the Historical Society.

At the public library we collected archival photographs and old town records which were dated from the turn of the century to the present day. Fifteen people who were either farmers themselves or children of farming families agreed to be interviewed. We followed them into their pastures and parlors to record their tales of back-breaking toil, fires, storms and the joys and rewards of living on the land.

The program was premiered at historic Bemis Hall to a standing-room-only crowd of Lincoln's citizens. Hundreds of copies were sold in local shops and sent to adult children around the country. In August of 2000 Keeping the Tradition Alive was accepted for screening at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.