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9elevators in the hundreds of photography books I%u2019d accumulated over the years. To my delight, I found compelling photos by Wright Morris, David Plowden, and Hilla and Bernd Becher. I also purchased three books (Grain Elevatorsby Lisa Mahar-Keplinger, Measure of Emptinessby Frank Gohlke, and Grain Kings by Greg McDonnell) devoted exclusively to the subject. While these provided some fine reading and excellent pictures, they weren%u2019t enough to satisfy my craving.Then I had a brief encounter that was eerily synchronistic. At a book signing in Lafayette, just after the release of my first photography book, Lingering Spirit, a fellow about my age stepped up to the table. He looked familiar, but I couldn%u2019t quite place him. When he smiled and said, %u201cHi, John,%u201d I realized it was Mike Silver%u2014a good friend from my high school and college years, whom I hadn%u2019t seen in nearly three decades. Mike had been a farm kid. In fact, he was, and remains, one of the most enthusiastic farming persons I know. An ag major at Purdue, Mike has worked in a variety of agriculture-related positions. Yet, with his various successes, I suspected he missed driving a tractor%u2014and he later confirmed that he did. Although we didn%u2019t have a chance to visit long, I was glad Mike had stopped by. Before he left, he casually mentioned that, for years, as a hobby, he%u2019d photographed abandoned grain elevators. %u201cWow,%u201d I said, %u201cthat really sounds interesting.%u201dDuring the next two years, grain elevators continued to steadily call to me%u2014not quite like a Siren luring a sailor to the rocks, but almost. During this time, as I was busy shooting other subjects, I would occasionally stop and focus my camera on an old elevator or feed mill. I knew if I wanted to photograph it, I had no choice but to shoot it right away, because it might not be there if I returned later. By now, I was appreciating the various details, configurations, and materials making up these aging hulks. As my 2nd Stories book was wrapping up, I finally realized I was destined to produce this one. I also knew that our former Senator, Birch Bayh, would be the person to contribute its Foreword. He had been a farmer before entering government service, had spent time on a tractor, and he still had a deep love of Indiana, so I suspected he would have a soft spot in his heart for my subject. And he did, as you can tell from reading his heartfelt words. I%u2019d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his moving contribution to After the Harvest. I%u2019d also like to thank Mike Silver for his encouragement, my wife, Lynn, for her loving support and assistance, and the many people who helped me locate elevators and feed mills all across the state. So, with the completion of these pages, at last, the winding journey that began so long ago reaches its end. During this project, I%u2019ve come to realize that Indiana%u2019s historic grain elevators and feed mills are a tremendously important part of Indiana%u2019s soul. As such, they deserve to be honored and admired before any more are lost to fire, demolition, or neglect.John Bower