Ohio’s agricultural history is a key part of Ohio’s story. From barn design to farming techniques, the industry has evolved a lot over the years in the Buckeye State. The following are 11 rare, vintage photos that showcase Ohio’s farming history throughout the years.
- During December of 1936, these brothers are preparing warm drink for their hogs near Dickens, Ohio.
Russell Lee/yale.edu During extremely cold temperatures, this was common. Today, methods for preventing farm animal water from freezing have evolved.
- Inspecting farm equipment in Jackson in 1936
Theodor Jung/yale.edu Today, Farmall tractors and equipment incite nostalgia for many farmers.
- A farmer closing the door to the corn crib on a farm, near Mechanicsburg in 1938.
Ben Shahn/yale.edu Large wooden barns that contained many individual bins of corn were once the common type of corn cribs. Today, typical corn cribs aren’t attached to barns and are made of out various material.
- Pictured is a hay rake on farm near the Greenhills Project in Cincinnati in April of 1936.
Theodor Jung/yale.edu The humble, horse-drawn hay rake sure has come a long way.
- A Greenhills, Ohio farm in October 1939
John Vachon/yale.edu One of only three “Greenbelt Towns” built in the United States, this town got its start during the Depression Era as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal projects.
- Cultivating ground at the Greenhills farm in October 1939
John Vachon/yale.edu Projects like this helped to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.
- A Ross County farm in 1940, featuring a round barn.
Arthur Rothstein/yale.edu Several round barns were constructed across the United States between 1880–1920. A prime advantage of this kind of design was the ability to store more hay in the loft above for the stable below.
- A young couple starts their life on a 500-acre dairy farm in Gallia County in February 1943.
John Vachon/yale.edu The photo credit information indicates that the young man was placed on this particular farm after attending farm labor training school at Rio Grande College.
- Farm labor trainees attaching a disc plow to a tractor at Rio Grande College in February 1943.
John Vachon/yale.edu After completing farm labor training, many men were relocated to more productive farming areas and hired to work for farmers.
- This man was hired to work on a Gallia County poultry farm after he completed a farm labor training course at Ohio State University.
John Vachon/yale.edu Today, agricultural and natural resource training at Ohio University takes place at the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
- Grading eggs in 1943 at a Gallia County poultry farm
John Vachon/yale.edu In 1943, the U.S. Department of Agriculture first recommended the letter grades of AA, A, B and C.
How else has farming in Ohio changed over the years? Share your old photos and experiences with us!
Russell Lee/yale.edu
During extremely cold temperatures, this was common. Today, methods for preventing farm animal water from freezing have evolved.
Theodor Jung/yale.edu
Today, Farmall tractors and equipment incite nostalgia for many farmers.
Ben Shahn/yale.edu
Large wooden barns that contained many individual bins of corn were once the common type of corn cribs. Today, typical corn cribs aren’t attached to barns and are made of out various material.
The humble, horse-drawn hay rake sure has come a long way.
John Vachon/yale.edu
One of only three “Greenbelt Towns” built in the United States, this town got its start during the Depression Era as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal projects.
Projects like this helped to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.
Arthur Rothstein/yale.edu
Several round barns were constructed across the United States between 1880–1920. A prime advantage of this kind of design was the ability to store more hay in the loft above for the stable below.
The photo credit information indicates that the young man was placed on this particular farm after attending farm labor training school at Rio Grande College.
After completing farm labor training, many men were relocated to more productive farming areas and hired to work for farmers.
Today, agricultural and natural resource training at Ohio University takes place at the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
In 1943, the U.S. Department of Agriculture first recommended the letter grades of AA, A, B and C.
For more vintage photos and Ohio history, check out our previous article, This Rare Footage In The 1950s Shows Ohio Like You’ve Never Seen It Before.
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