• Archive
  • Apply
  • About
  • Donate
  • Merch
instagramfacebook
← Back to 1989

A common ground of understanding

by Mark Osler
Gary Farley talks with student Eugene Poole during 2nd period with grade english class.

Question: What’s more prolific: a pig or a cow?

Answer: A pig because it makes more babies.

Perhaps Daniel Webster would have chosen a different way to illustrate the word prolific. But for the students of Gary Farley’s special education program at Clinton County High School, the illustration makes the definition clear. His competency as a teacher has earned him the respect of his peers and students. At home, Farley exudes the same affection and playfulness around his children, Melanie and Joshua, and wife, Doris, who is a third-grade teacher at Albany Elementary School.

When he’s not teaching, Farley works at the Fish Tales guide service on Lake Cumberland. He started the business about five years ago and gets help from partners Tony Campisano and Joe Campbell. Tomorrow may be the day Farley starts writing his book about fishing or introduces his play to the school board for “practical experience” classes at the high school.

Whatever it is, Farley will undoubtedly face it with a pleasant grin.

Gary Farley teaches biology while talking with one of his students.
Gary Farley
Unfortunately there is no info with this photo.
During a conversation, Gary Farley makes a point about the subject being taught.
Gary Farley helps student Eugene Poole during his eighth-grade English class formatting an informal letter.
Gary Farley and his son, Joshua, 12, spend time together on the basketball court at Clinton County High School.
A row of ties along the waters of Grider Hill dock create an artistic pattern.
Unfortunately there is no info with this photo.
Unfortunately there is no info with this photo.
A young man housed in the local jail ponders over his situation.
Unfortunately there is no info with this photo.

Join Us

Take part in next year's workshops in photography, video, & picture editing.

Learn More

Follow Along

Keep up with the Mountain Workshops throughout the year.

Have more info on a story or found an issue?

Contact Us

©2026 Mountain Workshops & Western Kentucky University ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.

Mountain Workshops Director
School of Media & Communication
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11070
Bowling Green, KY 42101
mountainworkshops@wku.edu

Fedex or UPS address:
1665 Normal Drive, Suite 216
Bowling Green, KY 42101

We educate and inspire visual storytellers and create a valuable cultural archive of Kentucky life.

This archive project is supported with funding from the America250 Grant and the Kentucky Historical Society.

The Mountain Workshops is an extension of the School of Media & Communication’s Visual Journalism and Photography program and is part of Potter College of Arts and Letters at Western Kentucky University.

We respect your privacy. Read our policy here.