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Library

Michelle Hughes

June 27, 2016

|

Hudson, NY

Song

Recorded by

Brian Fuhr

This interview is available in-person only. Please get in touch if you would like to listen.
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Summary:

This interview with Michelle Hughes was conducted in her home in Hudson, New York on the afternoon of June 27, 2016. Michelle spoke of her Childhood in suburban New York City, her early adult years in New York City, and factors that brought her to Hudson. Primary among them is Michelle’s commitment to the agricultural community in the area, particularly a new generation of farmers honoring traditional agricultural practices. Michelle discusses her heroes in the community, and mentions several local farms she admires. Michelle speaks about diversity in the farming community, and reflects on the role her race has played in her professional experience. Michelle describes the example she wants to provide young farmers in both her work at the Young Farmers Coalition, and in her personal endeavors. She comments on the evolution of Hudson and the city’s connection to the land dating back to the Dutch and English colonies. Michelle compares her life in Hudson to other places she has lived in and around the Hudson Valley including Hillsdale, the Berkshires, and Orange County, New York.

This interview may be of interest to those seeking to learn about Hudson and the new, younger agricultural community reshaping farming in the Hudson Valley. It may also be of interest to those looking for examples of racial and gender diversity in agriculture.

Themes:
New York City
,
Farming
,
Local History
,
Migration
,
Youth
,
Interviewer Bio:
Brian Fuhr

Brian Fuhr is resident of Tivoli, New York, and a participant in Oral History Summer School. This is his first interview using oral history methodology to interview a narrator. In the brief time that Brian interviewed Michelle, he was able to discover its power in capturing memories and experiences, and the opportunity provided to narrators to create meaning of their histories. Brian looks forward to putting the method into practice in other areas of his life.

Additional Info:
Interview language(s):
English
,
Audio quality:
Low

Audio Quality Scale

Low - There is some background noise and the narrator is hard to hear.

Medium - There is background noise, but the narrator is audible.

High - There is little background noise and the narrator is audible.

Permissions: 

This interview is hereby made available for research purposes only. For additional uses (radio and other media, music, internet), please click here to inquire about permissions.

Part of this interview may be played in a radio broadcast or podcast.

Oral history is an iterative process. In keeping with oral history values of anti-fixity, interviewees will have an opportunity to add, annotate and reflect upon their lives and interviews in perpetuity. Talking back to the archive is a form of “shared authority.”

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