Farm Family Story

Jim Parrish drives his girlfriend Patty Cuzack and nephew Jason Hall past his son Lucas Parrish (far right) and his friend Phil Graszler, who try to start the broken tractor Sept. 3 on the Deloria family farm property in Newberry, Mich.

Jason Hall takes his son Cole, 5, for a ride on a four-wheeler Sept. 3 on his great-grandmother's farm property in Newberry, Mich.

Jim Parrish prepares to work on fixing the roof of the old garage Sept. 4 on the Deloria family farm property in Newberry, Mich.

The Parrish and Hall families take a day off from farming Sept. 2 to visit the nearby Tahquamenon Falls state park.

Jason Hall (left) plays in the Tahquamenon Lower Falls with his wife Gina, son Cole, 5, and son Damon, 10, (pictured under the fall) Sept. 2 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The family sits together inside the Deloria farm house for breakfast on the chilly Sept. 5 morning on the farm property in Newberry, Mich.

Lucas Parrish prepares to rake out an area to plant deer feed for the upcoming hunting season Sept. 3 on his great-grandmother's farm property in Newberry, Mich.

The Deloria family farm is now kept by fourth-generation adults, some of whom even have young children.

The Delorias bought the property in the late 1930s/early 40s and it was originally used to farm strawberries and potatoes. Although now, the 40 acres has become overgrown forests and dirt trails.

Generations of the family have been coming up to the land in Newberry, Mich. since they were children, growing up on what they still fondly call ‘The Farm.’

Different members of the family frequently take weekend vacations to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to repair the old farm buildings or prepare for the winter deer-hunting season.

“(Farming) is an interesting way of life,” said Ron Hall, grandson of the original Delorias. “It’s work, but it’s rewarding work.”

Many of the Deloria family descendants have been traveling north to the property since they were children. Five-year-old Cole Hall, fifth-generation descendant, explores the dirt trails alone and his 10-year-old brother, Damon, rides four-wheeler around the edges of the property for hours on end.

The families spend most of the weekends outdoors, setting up camp chair circles and pit fires.  During the day, the children play while the adults work on the upkeep of the property. They are also very familiar with Upper Michigan’s attractions, having visited them frequently during family outings. 

The Hall and Parrish families took a day to visit Tahquamenon Falls state park’s upper and lower falls, taking advantage of the low water levels to wade across the river to an island and play in the water on Sept. 2.

The family is very close. People drop by all weekend long, some stay for the day, some for half an hour. Although sometimes things go awry and the family has problems or arguments, this is always the atmosphere– a family.

~JD