AP Man Featured On Magazine Cover

AVON PARK - From head to toe - black International Harvester cap, chambray shirt, blue jeans and black work shoes - Wilson Holloway looks the image of a hardworking farmer.

Holloway stands casually, but confidently, right arm resting atop his red restored 1954 I.H. Farmall tractor on beautiful day with mostly clear skies.

That image, on the August/September cover of Farm & Ranch Living magazine, was digitally edited by the photographer to produce a "photo art appearance."

Enhancement or embellishment about the man in the photo is unnecessary.

Magazine cover photos typically tout a feature story within. The Farm & Ranch issue with the "Farmer and his Farmall" on the front named the photographer and mentioned the digital editing.

The magazine featured stories about a farrier's 93-pound Mankel anvil that "is like a family member or best friend," and an old-fashioned broom maker from Iowa's Amana Colonies describing his craft and its history.

Holloway's story and how his image and tractor made the cover cannot be found within the magazine's 68 pages.

That story is best told by his wife, Esther Holloway, who as a 4-year-old, first met an 11-year-old boy who would one day become her husband.

The photograph was taken in February 2006 at the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club located on the Avon Park Cutoff Road in southern Polk County.

The photographer informed Esther months ago that the photo may be used for an upcoming cover.
After she saw her husband's photo on the cover on the magazine's Web site, Esther e-mailed a thank you to the editors. An assistant editor replied and wanted information about Holloway and the circumstances of photo.

The magazine seldom features an individual on the cover and she initially believed the image was an oil painting, the assistant editor told Esther.

The magazine printed an update in its latest issue (October/November) stating that Holloway had been a dairy farmer, a master mechanic and restored tractors, and that he and his wife are members of the Florida Flywheelers.

Esther said her husband was very knowledgeable and an excellent troubleshooter when it came to tractors and diesel machinery. People would call and Wilson knew the right questions to ask to diagnose the problem.

The Holloways moved from Bowerston, Ohio to Avon Park in December 1999.
Wilson Holloway was diagnosed with cancer in 2000.

Esther said the photo does look like an oil painting. The sky and clouds were added by the photographer because a building was in the original background.
Former neighbors from out of state spotted the magazine cover and called them. Wilson is very humbled about it, Esther said.

For a good part of his 65 years, Holloway used tools to fix broken tractors and make the old ones work and look good as new.
The photographer had the benefit of computer software to digitally manipulate his photographs.
Doctors have the latest medical advances to treat illness and disease, but their capabilities to effect a cure for what ails the body are limited. Holloway's illness is terminal and he is under end-of-life Hospice care.

So this farmer/mechanic's wife and five children, neighbors and church congregation have put their faith and trust in the Lord.
That's the story the picture didn't tell.