Agriculture

John Deere Model D Tractor

From butter churns to diesel tractors, the Museum's agricultural artifacts trace the story of Americans who work the land. Agricultural tools and machinery in the collections range from a John Deere plow of the 1830s to 20th-century cultivators and harvesters. The Museum's holdings also include overalls, aprons, and sunbonnets; farm photographs; milk cans and food jars; handmade horse collars; and some 200 oral histories of farm men and women in the South. Prints in the collections show hundreds of scenes of rural life. The politics of agriculture are part of the story, too, told in materials related to farm workers' unions and a group of artifacts donated by the family of the labor leader Cesar Chavez.

John Deere Plow
John Deere Plow, 1830s

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Enpee brand apple crate label was used by the North Pacific Sales Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a blue background with the letters “N.P.” in the center, filled with triangles of a variety of colors.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
North Pacific Sales Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.124
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.124

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1888
ID Number
NU.69.127.348
catalog number
69.127.348
accession number
286471

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
NU.68.263.1650
catalog number
68.263.1650
accession number
281689

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Buddy brand apple crate label was used by the Andrews Brothers, Detroit, Michigan during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt Lithography Company of Fresno, California. The label has a blue background with a green rim, and an illustration of a red apple and a golden apple next to the face of a smiling baby. Apple advertising would often stress the health benefits of eating apples for young children.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0441.108
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.108

Tobacco Shipping Crate

This is a side panel of a R.A. Patterson seal cut plug tobacco shipping crate. The shipping crate was probably used between 1856 and 1900. R.A. Patterson Tobacco Company was founded in 1856 in Richmond, Virginia.
Description (Brief)
This is a side panel of a R.A. Patterson seal cut plug tobacco shipping crate. The shipping crate was probably used between 1856 and 1900. R.A. Patterson Tobacco Company was founded in 1856 in Richmond, Virginia. Patterson is famous for introducing the Lucky Strike brand plug (chewing) tobacco, and continued the brand as the popular Lucky Strike cigarettes. The Patterson Tobacco Company was purchased by the American Tobacco Company in 1905, but the Lucky Strike brand persists to this day.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
R. A. Patterson Tobacco Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.310
catalog number
1979.0441.310
accession number
1979.0441

Prunes Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Reliance brand prunes from Santa Clara, California during the early part of the 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Reliance brand prunes from Santa Clara, California during the early part of the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
National Grocery Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.336
catalog number
1979.0441.336
accession number
1979.0441

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Dainty Maid brand apple crate label was used by H.S.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Dainty Maid brand apple crate label was used by H.S. Denison & Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a red background and a central illustration of a pretty young girl with ruddy cheeks. Fruit labels often used depict images of healthy young children to promote the health benefits of apples.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
H. S. Denison & Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.061
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.061

Louden Hay Carrier

This is a hay carrier designed by William Louden of Louden Machinery Company. It is one of the first designs Louden patented for agricultural equipment.
Description
This is a hay carrier designed by William Louden of Louden Machinery Company. It is one of the first designs Louden patented for agricultural equipment. This device was used with a pulley and hayfork, so the hay could be lifted off a wagon and then moved into the barn loft for storage. The earliest designs ran on wooden rails, to be replaced later with steel.
William Louden was born in 1841 in Cassville, Pa but his parents had moved to Iowa before he turned a year old. Louden had a small build and was often sick as a child, which made it harder for him to complete his farm chores. He learned at an early age he would have to change the tools he used since he could not change his physique to be better suited for farm work of that era. In 1867, he had applied for his first two patents, one was a device used to lift and stack hay and the other was used to carry hay into the barn. While not an instantaneous success, his device allowed barn architecture to dramatically change from single to two-level structures, therefore doubling the usable space.
Louden started his first agricultural business in 1868, working out of space on his father-in-law’s farm. In 1870, he moved his operation into Fairfield, IA. He struggled the first few years and in 1877, he was forced to file for bankruptcy. Undeterred, he spent the next 7 years traveling to farms in the area, installing his equipment and developing a consumer base for his products. In 1887, he founded Louden Machinery Company and in 1892, he incorporated, naming his brother as President and himself as Vice-President in order to focus more on the invention and production side of the business. Over the next 40 years, Louden Machinery Company would apply for approximately 200 patents for various inventions and improvements, including the all steel cow stall, individual automatic drinking cup and the flexible barn door hanger. One of his most important inventions that would eventually over-shadow the agricultural side of the business was the supertrack overhead carrier. Manufacturing businesses quickly realized the potential for this product, and Louden quickly amended his design to better suit industrial needs. Even though Louden Machinery Company no longer exists and the agriculture line had been discontinued in the 1960s, the current owner still manufactures this overhead equipment under the Louden name.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.75A09.03
catalog number
75A09.03
accession number
1987.0226

Union Pacific Rail Road Train Wagon

This cast metal model of the “Big 6” locomotive wagon was made by Irvin’s Model Shop of Creston, Ohio during the 1970s. The locomotive was in use in Oregon by the Union Pacific Rail Road from 1812-1865.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This cast metal model of the “Big 6” locomotive wagon was made by Irvin’s Model Shop of Creston, Ohio during the 1970s. The locomotive was in use in Oregon by the Union Pacific Rail Road from 1812-1865.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.79A09.3
catalog number
79A09.3
accession number
1978.2387

Ford 4000 Tractor Model

The nature of farming dramatically changed in the 20th century through what came to be known as the Green Revolution.
Description (Brief)
The nature of farming dramatically changed in the 20th century through what came to be known as the Green Revolution. From the 1920s-1950s farming productivity rose dramatically due to mechanization, fertilizers, chemicals (fungicides, pesticides, herbicides) and the hybridization of plants and animals. Agricultural innovations continue to be important to farming today. While the museum has over a dozen full-size tractors and other pieces of farming equipment, most technical developments of the 20th century are represented in the collection through toys and models.
The Ertl Company of Dyersville, Iowa manufactured this metal model of a Ford 4000 tractor in 1965. This tractor is Ertl stock number 805, and made on a 1:12 scale, larger than most models that are 1:16.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.69A09.08
catalog number
69A9.08
accession number
282677

1979 Tractorcade, Protest Pin

The American Agriculture Movement was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production.
Description
The American Agriculture Movement was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production. In February of 1979, members of the American Agriculture Movement organized a tractorcade, a protest on tractors, in Washington, D.C. Farmers from around the country, some driving more than 1500 miles, arrived by the thousands. On February 5, they convened in Washington, D.C. from four different directions. In order to accommodate both the protesters and the city’s residents, the D.C. police required the farmers to park on the National Mall and restricted their protests to specific times during the day.
The farm crisis of the late 1970s and 1980s was triggered by several factors stemming from the early 1970s. When Earl Butz became the Secretary of Agriculture in 1971, he changed farm policies that provided supports to farmers who did not plant a certain percentage of their land, and instead asked farmers to plant “fence row to fence row” in order to increase production. New foreign markets had opened up, inflation was high which increased land values and interest rates were low which provided extra incentive for farmers to increase their landholdings and purchase modern equipment that made output from the land more productive. Many farmers took advantage of this confluence of factors to increase their income by following this advice.
In the late 1970s, the Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates in an attempt to bring down the rate of inflation. This happened at the same time foreign markets dried up and a trade embargo was placed on the Soviet Union. These factors meant farm income dwindled at the same time interest rates skyrocketed, eating up what little income remained for farmers. The members of the American Agriculture Movement were highly involved in protests through the late 1970s and 1980s, speaking to officials at all levels of U.S. government in an attempt to raise awareness of the growing farm crisis. Concern over the 1977 Farm Bill ignited the concern for many farmers who believed the bill would adversely affect farm income by lowering commodity prices to less than the cost of production. Farmers began to protest at all levels of government, most for the first time, in order to bring this to the attention of policy makers as well as the people.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1993.0188.022
accession number
1993.0188
catalog number
1993.0188.022

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Kile brand apple crate label was in use by the W.B.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Kile brand apple crate label was in use by the W.B. Kile Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a blue background with an illustration of two red apples on a branch, with the brand KILE above it in large letters. Yakima was part of the Wenatchee Valley apple producing region, which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
W. B. Kile Company
ID Number
1979.0441.022
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.022

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Luxor brand apple crate label was used by the Fruit Growers Service Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a blue background with a blue and yellow geometric stripe across the middle with a large red cross in the center.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fruit Growers Service Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.114
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.114

Political Support Pin

The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production.
Description
The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production. In 1978, Senator Bob Dole put together a proposal to help alleviate the growing agricultural concerns of American farmers. In the plan, he devises a sliding scale of parity (meaning commodity prices equal costs of production) based upon the percentage of land a farmer leaves fallow. If a farmer only plants 50% of his arable land, then he would receive 100% parity for his crops. Senator Dole felt this was a good compromise between what those participating in the AAM were demanding and what could potentially pass in Congress. The AAM lobbied for the passage of this plan.
The farm crisis of the late 1970s and 1980s was triggered by several factors stemming from the early 1970s. When Earl Butz became the Secretary of Agriculture in 1971, he changed farm policies that provided supports to farmers who did not plant a certain percentage of their land, and instead asked farmers to plant “fence row to fence row” in order to increase production. New foreign markets had opened up, inflation was high which increased land values and interest rates were low which provided extra incentive for farmers to increase their landholdings and purchase modern equipment that made output from the land more productive. Many farmers took advantage of this confluence of factors to increase their income by following this advice.
In the late 1970s, the Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates in an attempt to bring down the rate of inflation. This happened at the same time foreign markets dried up and a trade embargo was placed on the Soviet Union. These factors meant farm income dwindled at the same time interest rates skyrocketed, eating up what little income remained for farmers. The members of the American Agriculture Movement were highly involved in protests through the late 1970s and 1980s, speaking to officials at all levels of U.S. government in an attempt to raise awareness of the growing farm crisis. Concern over the 1977 Farm Bill ignited the concern for many farmers who believed the bill would adversely affect farm income by lowering commodity prices to less than the cost of production. Farmers began to protest at all levels of government, most for the first time, in order to bring this to the attention of policy makers as well as the people.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1993.0188.019
accession number
1993.0188
catalog number
1993.0188.019

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1897
ID Number
NU.69.127.614
catalog number
69.127.614
accession number
286471

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
NU.68.263.747
catalog number
68.263.747
accession number
281689

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
NU.69.127.711
catalog number
69.127.711
accession number
286471

medal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
NU.69.127.740
catalog number
69.127.740
accession number
286471

Grain Elevator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1968
maker
Plowden, David
ID Number
1986.0711.0714
accession number
1986.0711
catalog number
1986.0711.0714

Cranberries Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Eatmor brand cranberries sold by the American Cranberry Exchange of New Jersey during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Eatmor brand cranberries sold by the American Cranberry Exchange of New Jersey during the early 20th century. The ACE was formed by a merger of the Grower's Cranberry Company with the National Fruit Exchange in 1907, and sold cranberries from Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Massachusetts under the Eatmor brand.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
American Cranberry Exchange
ID Number
1979.0441.366
catalog number
1979.0441.366
accession number
1979.0441

Foster Farms "Say No to Plumping" Toy

Faced with increasing price competition from national poultry producers, California poultry producer Foster Farms, the largest West Coast producer, commissioned a humorous ad campaign that promoted their chicken by redefining the word natural and building upon customer’s fears of
Description
Faced with increasing price competition from national poultry producers, California poultry producer Foster Farms, the largest West Coast producer, commissioned a humorous ad campaign that promoted their chicken by redefining the word natural and building upon customer’s fears of food purity. The campaign coined the term “Plumping” to describe the widespread industry practice of saline water injection. Seeking to differentiate their “all natural” chicken from competitors’ “all natural” chicken Foster Farms created ads that proclaimed that they did not plump.
ID Number
2014.3080.05
catalog number
2014.3080.05
nonaccession number
2014.3080

Oyster Meat Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Sea Plane brand oyster meat crate label was used by the Biloxi Fishermen’s Packing Company of Biloxi, Mississippi during the early 20th century. The label has an image of two oyster shells split apart on the left side, and a central image of a sea plane taking off. The crate contained 8 ounce cans of oyster meat.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Biloxi Fishermen's Packing Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.101
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.101

1979 Tractorcade, Protest Pin

The American Agriculture Movement was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production.
Description
The American Agriculture Movement was started in the fall of 1977 in response to the 1977 Farm Bill which had the adverse affect of dropping commodity prices to a level lower than the cost of production. In February of 1979, members of the American Agriculture Movement organized a tractorcade, a protest on tractors, in Washington, D.C. Farmers from around the country, some driving from more than 1500 miles away, arrived by the thousands. On February 5, they convened in Washington, D.C. from four different directions. In order to accommodate both the protesters and the city’s residents, the D.C. police required them to park on the National Mall and restricted their protests to specific times during the day.
The farm crisis of the late 1970s and 1980s was triggered by several factors stemming from the early 1970s. When Earl Butz became the Secretary of Agriculture in 1971, he changed farm policies that provided supports to farmers who did not plant a certain percentage of their land, and instead asked farmers to plant “fence row to fence row” in order to increase production. New foreign markets had opened up, inflation was high which increased land values and interest rates were low which provided extra incentive for farmers to increase their landholdings and purchase modern equipment that made output from the land more productive. Many farmers took advantage of this confluence of factors to increase their income by following this advice.
In the late 1970s, the Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates in an attempt to bring down the rate of inflation. This happened at the same time foreign markets dried up and a trade embargo was placed on the Soviet Union. These factors meant farm income dwindled at the same time interest rates skyrocketed, eating up what little income remained for farmers. The members of the American Agriculture Movement were highly involved in protests through the late 1970s and 1980s, speaking to officials at all levels of U.S. government in an attempt to raise awareness of the growing farm crisis. Concern over the 1977 Farm Bill ignited the concern for many farmers who believed the bill would adversely affect farm income by lowering commodity prices to less than the cost of production. Farmers began to protest at all levels of government, most for the first time, in order to bring this to the attention of policy makers as well as the people.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1993.0188.028
accession number
1993.0188
catalog number
1993.0188.028

Wooden Grain Pitchfork

This wooden grain fork was used during the late 19th century. Wide tined pitch forks like this were used to pitch hay, grains, straw, and other agricultural products.
Description
This wooden grain fork was used during the late 19th century. Wide tined pitch forks like this were used to pitch hay, grains, straw, and other agricultural products. Before the mechanization of harvesting by combines, reaping, threshing, and winnowing were done by hand with simple tools like this wooden pitchfork.
ID Number
AG.63A01
catalog number
63A01
accession number
252786

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