Carry Me Ohio

Matt Eich

Aurora Select/ The Alexia Foundation

Jesse Sellers Jr., his hair still wet from a bath, stands in his kitchen holding a trophy he won during his first dirt bike competition. As with many poor families in their Appalachian community, a large percentage of the family income is spent on “non-essentials” and entertainment. Jesse’s father has thrown all his time and the family’s remaining money into making Jesse and his brother pro dirt bike racers. “It was so cold and he wanted to quit,” Jesse Sr. said, “but I told him we needed those points and he had to finish. But he won something his first race!”

Matt Eich, "Carry Me Ohio," in POYi Archive, Item #42567, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/42567 (accessed June 18, 2025).