State Historical Society of Iowa

Farmer Plowing with a Two-Horse Team, ca. 1900

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Wooden farmhouse seen in background. Man walking behind single-row plow seen with team of draft horses on a plowed field in foreground.
Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa, Larson, Andrew Orm, ca. 1900

Description

#1 Occupation: Farmer
In 1900, Iowa was all about farming. From about the 1850s to 1880s, people had recently moved to the state and either bought land at a very good price ($1.25 an acre) or signed up for 160 acres for free through the Homestead Act. By 1900, Iowa land sold for about $20 per acre. Andrew Orm Larson took this photograph of a hard-working Iowa farmer out plowing in preparation for planting the next crop.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What is the working environment for this farmer?
  • What skills does this farmer need in order to be successful at his job?