Agriculture’s Early Push Toward the West As America grew in its earliest decades, farming advanced steadily alongside the movement of settlers. In an American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explains …
How Early Agriculture Shaped Ohio: Insights from Mark Oppold
Pioneers Moving West and the Unexpected Settlement of Ohio As early American settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains in search of new opportunities, many expected to continue westward through the Great …
The Missouri River: A Key Chapter in American Agriculture History
The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. …
The Legacy of Land-Grant Universities in American Agriculture History
The Morrill Act of 1862 and the Birth of Land-Grant Universities Land-grant universities have played a defining role in shaping American agriculture, research, and education. As Mark Oppold explains in …
The Louisiana Purchase: How $15 Million Reshaped American Agriculture
A Landmark in American Expansion In 1803, the United States completed one of the most important land acquisitions in history: the Louisiana Purchase. For just $15 million, approximately $18 per …
Kansas State University: The First Morrill Act Land-Grant College and Its Civil War Origins
A Pioneering Beginning During the Civil War Kansas State University—originally named Kansas State Agricultural College—was formally established on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. As described in Mark Oppold’s American …
How Ohio State University Was Founded: The Land-Grant History Behind the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College
The Land-Grant Origins of Ohio State University: How a New College Was Chosen to Lead Ohio’s Future The founding of Ohio State University is a defining chapter in both Ohio’s …
How Early Agriculture Shaped Ohio: Indigenous Roots to 19th-Century Farming
As settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains on their journey west, many expected to continue onward to the vast plains, California, or Oregon. But a significant number stopped well before reaching …
How Iowa State University Began: The 1856 Origins of America’s First Agricultural College
A National Moment in Agricultural Advancement In the mid-1800s, agriculture was the driving force of American life, shaping communities, economies, and national expansion. Recognizing the importance of strengthening agricultural knowledge …
The Origins of the Deere & Mansur Corn Planter
A Landmark Innovation in American Agriculture In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a pivotal development in mid-19th century farming technology—the creation of the Deere …
Land-Grant Universities: History & Native American Colleges
Expanding America’s Land-Grant Tradition Most land-grant universities Americans know today—such as Iowa State University and Kansas State University—trace their origins to the landmark Morrill Act of 1862. This legislation established …
Kansas State: America’s First Land-Grant University
A Civil War–Era Beginning Kansas State University—initially named Kansas State Agricultural College—was founded on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. Remarkably, its establishment occurred during the American Civil War, a …
The Global Reach of America’s Land-Grant Universities
Exploring an Often Overlooked Chapter of American Agriculture History Land-grant universities remain one of the most influential forces in American agricultural development, scientific advancement, and educational access. Their story begins …
How Iowa State University Began: A Farming Legacy
The Origins of Iowa State University: A Landmark in Agricultural Education In a recent American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlighted one of the most important milestones in U.S. agricultural …