SD Agricultural Heritage Museum Blog

As grain is unloaded at the Sexauer Elevator, Brookings, an elevator employee takes a sample of the incoming shipment of grain to test it for moisture and quality. To know exactly how much grain is being sold, trucks are weighed upon arriving at the elevator and again after they are emptied.

• Throwback Thursday

Made of plaster and wire, this instructional model of a tobacco hornworm was used in early South Dakota State University biology and entomology classes. Hinges on the outside allow the model to be opened to view the worm’s internal organs, which lift out in one piece. In the photograph, the 48 inch long model is being examined by three students and Professor Severin. This photograph appeared in the 1911 Jackrabbit.  

Tobacco hornworms are found throughout the United States and are related to the tomato hornworms. Despite their fierce appearance, they are harmless to humans. However, their larva are common pests to tomatoes, tomatillos, potatoes, eggplants, bell peppers and chili peppers. The worm lays eggs on the leaves of the plants and as the larvae grow, they eat the plants leaves. Eventually they eat down to the tubers and roots of the plants and cause considerable damage to garden and commercial crops. The adult stage of this creature is the hawk moth.

• What's New Wednesday

This image, taken in 1962, is captioned “John Overby Wheat Breeding Plots. Ralph Sorenson (left), Spink County Agent, John Overby (right) Spink County Farmer and Wheat Breeder.” John Overby (1881-1970) was a farmer, plant breeder and inventor. He is known for the creation of Marvel and Spinkota wheats. John was interested in working with plants since he was a young man. He was interested in the differences within varieties and the making of new kinds.

• Throwback Thursday

During the 1930s, the Great Depression saw many government programs providing employment to the millions of unemployed. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), established in 1933 put to work mostly unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 25.

• What's New Wednesday

Agricultural fairs are an important annual event in 19th century rural areas. They provided an opportunity for the community to gather and learn. Fairs were organized to promote modern agricultural techniques, equipment and livestock breeds.

• Throwback Thursday

The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago celebrated the 400th Anniversary of Columbus landing in the new world. The international exposition promoted the achievements of the nations. Forty-six nations were represented at the Exposition. Introducing people to many modern marvels, the World’s Columbian Exposition was the ‘fair that changed America.” Fair attendees were introduced to elevators, zippers, the Ferris wheel, a mechanical dishwasher, chili, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, and brownies. The fair popularized the use of electricity, electrical lighting, and electrical devices.

• What's New Wednesday

The Francoli Family farmed in Brown County. During harvest time many farmers, including the Francoli’s, hired neighbors or other farm laborers to round out the threshing crew. In this photo a Farmall tractor is pulling a cookhouse or bunk house on wheels. The threshing crew of 1939 was made up of (left hand side front row) Lettee Saft, William Francoli, Ervin Jefferies, four unidentified men, Bud Jefferies, Tony Francoli and Prima Francoli. In the back row (l to r) are Edward Francoli, unknown, John Murray, John Osborn, Henry Francoli, man in center with bib overalls is Gabe Francoli and the other man is unidentified.  Several of crew came each summer to work in the harvest fields.

• Throwback Thursday

Asafetida, asafoetida, or asphidity bags were a common sight, or rather a common smell during the late 19th and early 20th century. These little bags were purchased at local pharmacies and stuffed with various pungent herbs to ward off diseases and evil spirits. The herb-filled bundles were also used to treat asthma, colds, bronchitis, anxiety, polio, measles, and hysteria. In 1918, asafoetida was approved by the US Pharmacopedia to ward off the Spanish flu. Asafetida is a soft brown, lumpy gum resin from the genus Ferula in the parsley family. It had a strong garlic or rotten egg odor. Combined with onions, garlic, fennel, and other herbs made asafetida bags a really stinky accessory. My suspicion is that the smell coming from the bags helped people social distance, thus lowering germ transmission!

• What's New Wednesday

The 1913 Annual Report of the Railroad Commissioners of South Dakota lists the Atlas Elevator Company in Raymond having a capacity of 15,000 bushes.

• Throwback Thursday

Canning season is well underway. All the work and patience of gardening is paying off in delicious foods to eat all winter long. Canning foods has a long history. In 1679, French physicist Denis Pepin developed a pressure cooker he called a digester. Pressure cooking uses high pressure steam in a sealed vessel. In a sealed pressure cooker, as the water boils the steam trapped in the cooker raises the pressure and the boiling point of water increases. The pressure results in super-heated water. The high heat of the cooker kills pathogens that cause food poisoning.

• What's New Wednesday