Settling Ohio After the Appalachian Crossing Once early American settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains, many chose to stop rather than continue westward. After enduring difficult and often dangerous travel, these …
How the Ohio and Erie Canal Helped Shape Ohio
The Ohio and Erie Canal: A Turning Point in Ohio’s History In the early 19th century, Ohio leaders recognized the need for better transportation to support agriculture, commerce, and settlement. …
Ohio: America’s First Agricultural Capital
Ohio’s Early Role in American Agriculture In the early 1800s, Ohio was widely considered the agricultural capital of the United States. As westward expansion pushed settlers beyond the Appalachian Mountains, …
Johnny Appleseed: John Chapman’s Legacy in American Agriculture
Early Life in Massachusetts John Chapman, famously known as Johnny Appleseed, holds a lasting place in American agricultural history. Born in September 1774 in Massachusetts, Chapman grew up in a …
New Mexico: A Surprising Leader in American Agriculture
New Mexico’s Agricultural Significance When most people think of top agricultural states in the U.S., New Mexico might not immediately come to mind. Yet, this southwestern state plays a vital …
The History of Corn Harvesting in American Agriculture: From Hand-Husked Fields to Mechanization
Hand-Harvesting Corn – A Labor-Intensive Tradition Corn has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture, but harvesting it in the early 20th century was a labor-intensive challenge. Before tractors and …
The Cooper Barn: A Kansas Landmark of American Agricultural History
Barns have long stood at the center of American agriculture, symbolizing hard work, innovation, and the enduring spirit of farm families. As settlers pushed westward across the heartland, barns became …
Corn Shelling Bees: How Community and Early Technology Shaped American Agriculture
Corn’s Foundational Role in American Agriculture Corn has always played a central role in American agriculture, serving as a vital crop for both human consumption and livestock feed. From early …
Corn Shelling Bees: How Early Americans Processed Corn by Hand
Corn Shelling Bees: A Cornerstone of Early American Agriculture Corn has played a vital role in American agriculture since the nation’s earliest days. Long before modern machinery transformed farming, corn …
How Weather Shaped Early American Agriculture
An American Agriculture History Minute with Mark Oppold Early American farming was never just about the land—it was about the weather. In this American Agriculture History Minute, agricultural historian Mark …
Largest Barns in the United States
Exploring the Debate Over the Biggest Barns in the United States By Mark Oppold – American Agriculture History Minute When it comes to American agriculture, size has always mattered—and few …
The Westward Expansion of American Agriculture: Wheat, Corn, and the Rise of Dairy Farming
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 …
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 …