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 …
Land O’Lakes: Minnesota Creameries to Iconic Butter Brand
The Origins of Land O’Lakes: From Minnesota Creameries to an Iconic Brand A Historic Merger in Minnesota In July 1921, a major milestone in American dairy history took place in …
America’s Biggest Farm Boom: 1860–1910
A Half-Century That Transformed American Agriculture From the Civil War era to the early 20th century, the United States experienced the most dramatic growth in agricultural development in its history. …
Women Farmers of the Civil War
Women on the Homefront: How the Civil War Transformed American Agriculture A Nation at War and Farms in Transition In the 1860s, as the Civil War pulled countless men into …
Early 19th Century Farming Shaped America’s Economy
In the early decades of the 19th century, the United States was a nation built on agriculture. As Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, no one at …