A Tribute to America’s Agricultural Legacy Across the nation, countless halls of fame celebrate excellence — from sports and music to science and education. Agriculture, the backbone of America’s growth …
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
A Pioneering Moment in American Agriculture In 1873, Illinois farmer Fred Hatch built what is believed to be America’s first version of the modern silo. During this period, grain storage …
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
The Birth of Cargill: From Iowa Grain Storage to Global Agribusiness Surplus Grain Sparks Innovation In the mid-1800s, America’s agricultural landscape was changing rapidly. As grain production soared, farmers across …
The Birth of the FFA Blue Jacket: A Proud Tradition Since 1933
The Beginning of a National Legacy I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The history of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) is filled with traditions that have …
George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy
George Washington’s Complicated Relationship with Slavery George Washington, the first President of the United States, had a deeply complicated relationship with slavery. Over his lifetime, he controlled more than 577 …
How Ralston Purina Revolutionized American Agriculture
Agricultural Expansion and Innovation As America moved into the late 19th century, farming continued to evolve beyond the grain fields that once defined early agriculture. By the 1880s and 1890s, …
How Wheat Transformed Mid-Atlantic Farming Before the American Revolution
Early Colonial Agriculture and Trade Before 1720, most colonists in the mid-Atlantic region lived through small-scale farming operations that provided both sustenance and a modest income. These family farms were …
Early 19th-Century American Farming and Westward Expansion
America’s Agricultural Roots In the early 1800s, American agriculture was the backbone of the national economy. As Mark Oppold explains in An American Agriculture History Minute, most citizens relied on …
How Immigrant Farmers Shaped Early American Agriculture
Ethnic Traditions and the Roots of American Farming In the early days of the United States, immigrant farmers played a defining role in shaping American agriculture. As Mark Oppold explains …
Ethnic Roots of American Agriculture: How Immigrants Shaped U.S. Farming
The Immigrant Influence on American Agriculture I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Ethnic groups played a vital role in shaping early American agriculture. Immigrants brought unique farming …
How Railroads Transformed American Agriculture
The Iron Tracks That Changed Rural America I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Railroads dramatically changed the face of agriculture and rural America as the nation expanded …
How the Smith-Lever Act Created 4-H and Transformed Rural America
A Turning Point in Agricultural Education In 1914, the United States Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, establishing the Cooperative Extension Service—a transformative program that reshaped how Americans learned about farming, …
How Rural Electrification Transformed U.S. Farms
Life Before Electricity on the Farm In the early 1930s, life in rural America looked vastly different from city living. Roughly nine out of ten rural homes were without electric …
Gage A. Kent and the Birth of Kent Feeds
Revolutionizing Cattle Feeding in the 1920s In the mid-1920s, central Iowa cattle feeder Gage A. Kent recognized that raising superior cattle required more than care—it required proper nutrition. While most …