In 1998, armed with little more than a love of the plains and a working knowledge of print production, I talked my good friend and former employer Bo Jones into starting this company. I had a growing collection of photographs that I wanted to do something with and publishing was (and still is today) more appealing to me than selling prints. I'm see myself as more storyteller than artist and I liked the idea of reaching a larger audience. We put together a line of greeting cards and I began driving back and forth across the state opening accounts.

In 2001, my parents, Jack and Kay Ann Feiden, purchased Bo's ownership and a family business was born. Shortly thereafter, I met Edward Robison and we published our first of several books together. Believe it or not, that title, The Kansas Landscape, is still in print today—and still finding it's way onto our customers best sellers lists. We're real proud of this.

Our plans for the company changed somewhat over time—influenced in part by the 2008 downturn and the realization that our potential account base west of the 100th meridian was quickly shrinking. We have been, for the most part, a little Kansas company working to promote our home. And while my vision of a regional art press, featuring the work of many, has not (yet) been realized, I am extraordinarily proud of the products we have produced, the friendships that we have forged, and the fact that two decades later we are still delivering popular products to booksellers and gift shops across Kansas. I am also extraordinarily grateful—for the role that my folks play. I love having this thing that we do together.

As I write this, the world is under great strain and the future is uncertain, but I am confident that we will continue to be, in one form or another, and I continue to dream about playing a larger role in promoting the people and places of middle America. Thank you so very much for your interest in our company. —Mark Feiden

We invite you to learn more about the people and places of the great plains through these affiliated resources:

Learn more about the Flint Hills—the last significant stand of tallgrass prairie: A Flint Hills Anthology
Hear older farmers and ranchers sharing their favorite stories: Emil Redmon's Cow