The Early Midwest Homestead In the 1840s Midwest, the average family farm covered about 100 acres—large enough to support crops, livestock, and a self-sustaining lifestyle. Homes were often handmade one-room …
Marietta, Ohio: First Settlement of the Northwest Territory
A Landmark in Westward Expansion: 1788 and the Northwest Territory In the annals of American history, 1788 marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s westward expansion. As settlers moved beyond …
How Pioneers Hunted and Preserved Food After 1776
The First Push Westward Following the end of the Revolutionary War, the United States entered a new chapter of expansion and exploration. The first major wave of westward migration began …
Robert McCormick and the Birth of American Agricultural Innovation
Robert McCormick was a successful farmer in Virginia who owned a substantial 532-acre estate. This farm was nearly self-sufficient, a testament to the resourcefulness and hard work of the McCormick …
Cyrus McCormick and the Reaper Revolution
The Reluctant Start of a Farming Innovation In the annals of American agriculture, few figures loom as large as Cyrus McCormick. His journey from invention to industrial impact is a …
Heritage Roots of American Farming Communities
Honoring Agricultural Heritage Across the Early U.S. In the years following the American Revolutionary War, as the United States emerged as a new nation, it also became a cultural mosaic …
Ticks to Tech: The Evolution of Cattle Ear Tags
A Persistent Pest Problem in the Mid-20th Century In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, cattle producers across the southern United States faced a major challenge: the Gulf Coast …
Land for Service: How Revolutionary Soldiers Were Paid in Acres
A Revolutionary Incentive: Land Grants in 1776 In the earliest days of the American Republic, before military pensions or cash enlistment bonuses existed, a unique form of compensation helped build …
Lawnmower Origins in Agriculture History
Honoring Unsung Contributors to Agricultural Life In the rich history of agricultural innovation, names like Cyrus McCormick (mechanical reaper), John Deere (steel plow), and Eli Whitney (cotton gin) are firmly …
Evolution of Irrigation in American Agriculture
The Roots of Irrigation In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold sheds light on the long and fascinating history of irrigating cropland. While modern systems are sophisticated and efficient, …
Three Agricultural Revolutions That Transformed U.S. Farming
A Look Back: Key Turning Points in American Agriculture From horsepower to genetic engineering—three revolutions that redefined the American farm In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold reflects on …
Early Turnpikes Paved the Way for American Agriculture
The Forgotten Role of Roads in Ag History In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a surprisingly critical piece of infrastructure that helped shape the nation’s farming future—early …
Rubber Tires Revolutionized American Tractors
From Steel Lugs to Rubber: A Turning Point in Ag Innovation How Florida Growers and Harvey Firestone Changed Farming Forever In the early days of American agriculture, tractors and steam …
How Early Colonists Sent Letters Before the U.S. Postal System
Colonial Communication Before Post Offices In the early 1600s, communication between American colonists and their families back in Britain was a slow and uncertain process. Without an established postal system, …