It’s easy to pick up a box of strawberries on a produce department shelf and think about its place, topping yogurt or mixed into pancakes. Picturing the before – a strawberry plant in a row, where hands meticulously pick for ripeness – is much harder to envision. A new film produced by Alma College brings the full picture of the plate to eaters everywhere. We had the opportunity to chat with the film’s producer, Stephany Slaughter, Professor of World Languages and Culture and Chair of the Theatre & Dance Department, to tell us more about her award-winning documentary.
Lifting Up Michigan Farm Labor on Film
For those in Michigan, ‘Did You Guys Eat?/¿Ya comieron?’ will feature familiar landscapes. The film takes place at farms, markets, and other food-centric locations throughout mid-Michigan, from Wesenburg Produce’s field, to Anderson and Girls’ agritourism stop, all the way to the Native Farmers Market. Each stop helps to share the picture of food in our agriculturally diverse peninsula, as well as the many pairs of hands that bring each delicious meal to our tables.
The film’s concept began as a feature on the array of migrant services offered in Michigan. Slaughter is a member of the Mid-MI Migrant Resource Council and has extensive experience working with this community, integral to our agricultural industry. This focus shines through with conversations with farmworkers, including migrant workers, being a central theme of the documentary.
As the film’s story solidified, it began to look at lifting up food labor in general. From there, farmers and farm stories became an obvious addition to the larger story. The documentary features stories from Monroe Organics, Wesenburg Produce, Anderson and Girls, and Mshkikiikaan, all food producers with unique stories to tell that share similar themes with the experiences of farmworkers.
For example, there is the theme of pride in work. Farmwork is very skilled work that often goes underappreciated or even under the radar, since so few have hands-on experience farming. An experienced farmworker may also create an illusion of ease while working around cucumber vines during harvest season due to their speed and efficiency. Farmers and workers alike rightly feel a sense of accomplishment at their work, and fondly recall waking before school for farm chores, and this pride is made evident in the film.
Healthcare is important to both farm business owners and workers. Producing food is physical, and the body is used as a tool. To maintain this tool, quality healthcare is essential, and yet more difficult to come by compared to that of an average worker. With healthcare premiums surging, this conversation is more relevant than ever.
The Making of Did You Guys Eat?/¿Ya comieron?
The title of the film came about with a happy accident. Jesse Costilla, director of Great Lakes Bay Health Migrant Services (and a main film participant), asks our camera operators, “Did You Guys Eat?” while at a farm worker appreciation event. Jesse explained that César Chávez once said that sharing a meal and getting to know the person is essential, and he often includes sharing food at events where his team provides healthcare as part of relationship building.
For Slaughter, making this film has changed the way she sees Michigan’s agriculture and land. Like many, she was surprised to find out Michigan is second only to California in crop diversity. Beyond that, she now looks at land and weather patterns in a totally new way, adding the lens of the farm worker to her perspective.
Catch a Screening of Did You Guys Eat?/¿Ya comieron? in 2026
You too can add the perspective of farm labor and Michigan’s agricultural landscape to your mentality. Catch a screening of Did You Guys Eat?/¿Ya comieron? in 2026:
- January 24 at the Garden Theater in Frankfort, MI at 4pm
- February 7 in Manistee 2-5pm -The West Shore Community College Humankind Program is going to cosponsor the event with MARJDI (Manistee Area Racial Justice & Diversity Initiative). The event will be at the WSCC downtown education center.
- Late February in the Central Michigan International Film Festival (date and time TBA)
Looking for a screening closer to you? Host one! Contact Stephany Slaughter at [email protected].