Portrait #33: Bill Edelbach
Bill of Edelbach Produce
It’s sweetcorn season here in Minnesota, which reminds me of veggie vendor Bill Edelbach.
I met Bill two summers ago selling peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and sweetcorn from the back of his pick-up truck parked on a street corner in downtown Kenyon.
The Kellogg area farmer has been tending and vending vegetables for more than 50 years. That hard work shows in his salesmanship skills, in his lean frame and in his face. Oh, that face. Sun, sky and wind have furrowed lines deep into his weathered skin. His face tells the story of a man who works hard and loves the land.
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This is part of a series, Minnesota Faces, featured every Friday on Minnesota Prairie Roots.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Ah yes, he is a very familiar face in our neck-of-the-woods, also!!! I think he’s ageless!!!! LOL!!!!
I like that. Ageless. I didn’t ask his age.
he just died
I’m sorry to hear this.
😢
Perfect picture. His face definitely shows his passion for farming and his love of the land.
This is one of my favorite portraits.
Nothing better than fresh fruits and veggies from the farm – Yummers! This sweet man reminds me of my own grandfather. He farmed in Kandiyohi County and my two uncles still own 40 acres of land on the old farmstead. I want to get in the garden now and lazy the day away. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
I think I would have liked your grandfather.
He was a Jack of All Trades and Lived to be 91 Years Young 🙂 He was such a caring, kind and compassionate man – willing to step in and help out. He built the house I grew up in as well as the church he renewed his vows to my grandma and had his memorial service in. I no longer have any grandparents around, so every once in a while I find myself adopting someone else’s grandpa or grandma.
He sounds like an incredible man. Adopt away.
Ha! – adopt away – I will! There are certain things I see that remind me of my grandparents, like farms, cardinals, violets, etc.
How lovely. I know exactly what you mean.
More envy from this corner, this time for farmers and gardeners… You see, I grow tomatoes every year, and every year I have some sort of problem. Eventually, I do get some but, not without the wonder of what I’m doing wrong. The tags says will bear fruit in 72-77 days. Yeah right. This year I planted only 6 plants and so far 81 days into the process I have a grand total of 6 tomatoes showing on the vines of 5 plants.. Each year someone tells me how they are successful, and as of yet, yup, 6 tomatoes on 5 plants from this year’s suggestion. Well, as we say here in “Red Sox” country– “Wait til next year”!
Honestly, I can’t grow tomatoes either. Not enough sun in my yard. And then blight sets in and…
But when they do come, there is nothing better in the world than a garden tomato..
YESSS,
we have a guy, HANK, who has been on Grand Avenue for years.
You really captured his lovely face, Audrey! xx
Hank and Bill. Bill and Hank. Wonderful guys who are icons.
That is the face of true America. What America has been all about – pioneers and folk who strive to make their way, by doing it THEIR way. That is the face of a soldier and hero, a poet and sage. Seeing the face of Mr. Edlebach and hearing his story inspires me to hold on to the simple things in life and to be tenacious in doing what works for my family. As I look into Mr. Edelbach’s face, I see strength and success. God bless you, Mr. Edelbach!
Sweet sweet words. So poetic and true. To thine own self (and family) be true, dear Rena.
Love this… a Care-worn face indeed. I also noticed the “G’s” in the word Kellogg on the pickup sign…. they are interesting “G’s
See, you always notice the details, just like me. I like your word, “care-worn.”
Back when I was young and foolish (my wife says that was yesterday), someone convinced me and my friends that the faster you got sweet corn into a boiling pot, the better it tasted. So my track team set up a relay.
When the pot came to a boil, the news was “relayed” to the field and the corn was relayed back. It was the best corn we ever had…. though the effort and a lot of beer might have had something to do with it.
Faces like Bill Edelbach’s are why photography was invented.
Great story.
And, yes, Bill’s face is a photographer’s dream.
I can only imagine the stories this guy could tell and the gardening advice.
Me, too.
I love this portrait shot of Bill, Audrey. These people we make deals with, and probably only see once a year… there is something special about that kind of bond.There is genuine trust in an old fashioned handshake. What we learn in a little conversation with an old-timer is priceless. Even Bill’s pickup shows some interesting character.
Character, conversation, a photo, a memory, sweetcorn…
His face truly does look like he’s lived and worked on the land. I do love to buy my fruit and vegetables from local producers like this – I swear it tastes better! xx
It does taste better.
Great portrait!
Thank you.