…communities. American Agriculture History Minute This installment of the American Agriculture History Minute, hosted by Mark Oppold, highlights the important role European immigrant groups played in the development of early…
Railroads Transform American Agriculture and Rural America
…interconnected agricultural marketplace that exists today. Mark Oppold’s American Agriculture History Minute highlights these important moments in the history of American agriculture and the rural communities that helped build the…
Jessie Shambaugh and the Early Roots of 4-H
…people opportunities to learn by doing and to better understand the agricultural industry that feeds and supports communities across America. American Agriculture History Minute is presented by Mark Oppold. Jessie…
California Pumpkin Season Underway as Van Groningen & Sons Nears 100 Years
…in Illinois that is largely destined for processing, much of the San Joaquin County crop is grown for the ornamental market. Van Groningen said growers in the county supply more…
4-H Roots Trace Back to the Smith-Lever Act of 1914
…this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explains how the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 helped establish the Cooperative Extension Service and ultimately played a key role in…
Rural Electrification Transforms American Agriculture
…rural living. From kerosene lanterns after sunset to widespread electric service, the history of rural electrification illustrates how infrastructure helped reshape the American countryside. This has been Mark Oppold with…
The Story Behind Ralston Purina’s Famous Checkerboard Logo
…distinctive pattern for his animal-feed business. From Childhood Clothing to an Agricultural Trademark The story of the checkerboard begins with Danforth himself. As a child, he often wore clothing made…
Gage A. Kent and the Birth of Kent Feeds: Feeding Better Cattle Without the Filler
…feeders to new machinery, crops and agricultural businesses, these stories help explain how American agriculture evolved over generations. This has been Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Gage…
Grand Island, Nebraska: Where the Platte River Meets American Agricultural History
…to settlement. The Platte River provided a natural corridor for migration, while the railroad later strengthened the connections that allowed communities and agricultural markets to grow. The island may have…
The Eagle and the Globe: How Old Abe Became a Symbol of Case IH
…American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold explores the story behind the eagle and globe associated with the Case farm equipment tradition. J.I. Case Builds an Implement Company J.I. Case began…
From Plymouth to Plantation Agriculture: The Early Crops and Trade That Shaped American Agriculture
…commerce. This transition marked an important development in American agricultural history: farming was increasingly becoming not just a means of survival, but an economic enterprise. From Survival to Trade For…
Franklin King: A Pioneer of Sustainable Agriculture
…perspective on where some of those concepts originated. The American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold highlights these often-overlooked people and events that helped shape American agriculture. Franklin King: A…
Joseph Dart and the Birth of the Grain Elevator
How Buffalo Helped Transform the Grain Trade The movement of grain from farms to markets has always depended on transportation and efficient handling systems. In the early 1840s, a major…
Étienne de Boré: The Pioneer Behind Louisiana’s Granulated Sugar
…processing, marketing, and agricultural commodities. American Agriculture History Minute Étienne de Boré’s story is featured in an American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold, highlighting the people and innovations that…