Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “This Land of Ours”
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 those destinations. Drawn by fertile soils, abundant water, and promising farmland, early pioneers found their home in what we now know as Ohio. Their arrival—combined with the long-established agricultural practices …
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 and innovation, the Iowa General Assembly made a landmark decision in 1856: it enacted legislation to create the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. This initiative marked one of the …
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 & Mansur corn planter. As agriculture expanded across the United States, so did the need for more accurate and efficient planting equipment. This growing demand set the stage for an …
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 a new model for public higher education, focused on practical instruction in agriculture, engineering, and the mechanical arts. Following the act, states across the nation founded colleges and universities that …
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 time when national conflict threatened the stability of institutions across the country. Yet Kansas leaders pressed forward, committed to building a university that would serve the new state’s educational and …
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 with the Morrill Act of 1862, a landmark piece of legislation that provided federal land to states to establish colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts. This act forever transformed …
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 education: the establishment of what is known today as Iowa State University. Its roots trace back to the mid-19th century, a time when states were laying foundations for institutions that …
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 St. Paul, Minnesota. 320 cooperative creameries merged to form the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. This strategic unification helped small dairy producers strengthen their market presence during a competitive period in …
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. As Mark Oppold explains in his American Agriculture History Minute, the 50-year span between 1860 and 1910 reshaped the nation’s farming economy, population distribution, and land value in profound ways. …
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 military service, American agriculture faced a sudden and profound shift. With many men marching off to battle, farms across the country were left in the hands of women, children, and …
