SD Agricultural Heritage Museum Blog

Displaying 111 - 120 of 375

Ernie Pig (6/28/23)

By Staff June 28, 2023

Many people have a jar, bowl, or coffee can that they toss their loose pocket change into, let it accumulate, and then take it to the bank to deposit of change it to bills. Some even have an actual coin bank. This fellow is a literal piggy bank!

Making Do (6/22/23)

By Staff June 22, 2023

Due to the drop in value of commodities and wages during the Dust Bowl, farm families usually had food but often lacked the cash for fuel, repairs of machinery, and household items. The Pennington County Homemakers Club learned how to make furniture from barrels, crates, and scrapped wood and used printed flour sacks or purchased fabric to upholster the furniture.

2002:037:001 Civilian Conservation Corps Hat, ca. 1933-1940

Civilian Conservation Corps (6/21/23)

By Staff June 21, 2023

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s most successful work-relief programs. The CCC, WPA (Works Progress Administration), and other relief programs helped the United States overcome economic depression and severe unemployment.

Bagging Wool (6/15/23)

By Staff June 15, 2023

For nearly 60 years, Otto Wolff was a sheep rancher in the northern plains and gained a reputation as a top wool producer. He was a field man and wool buyer for the South Dakota Cooperative Wool Growers Association.

2016:037:001 Aberdeen-Angus Sign, pre-1964

Aberdeen Angus (6/14/23)

By Staff June 14, 2023

Crossbreeding of cattle from the southeastern regions of Scotland, Aberdeen and Angus resulted in the Aberdeen-Angus breed of cattle.

1981:082:0009C Ralph Sorenson (left) and John Overby (right) kneeling in a field of wheat.

Overby Wheat Breeding Plots (6/8/23)

By Staff June 8, 2023

John Overby (1881-1970) was a farmer, plant breeder and inventor. He is known for the creation of Marvel and Spinkota wheats.

1978:163:005 College Creamery bottle, ca. 1940s-1950s

College Creamery (6/7/23)

By Staff June 7, 2023

South Dakota State University has been, from the beginning, a national leader in dairy science. In 1896, the Dakota Agricultural College, now South Dakota State University, acquired its first herd of twenty-five dairy cows and twelve years later (1907), the Dairy Science Department is officially formed.