Southern Minnesota Century Strong | October 2021 | C10
◗ McVicker Farm continued from page 9 early ‘70s, he recalls them having dairy cattle, along with a chicken coop.
FARMING IN A DEPRESSION
One of his fondest memories was going to the farm as a child and bringing his grandpa lunch on his bike. Even if it meant biking through the freshly plowed fields at just 7 or 8 years old, it was bumpy and memorable experience for him. Mentz says it was also always fun to see the animals while he was there.
After the United States entered World War I in 1917 and continuing into the post-war years, 40 million acres of uncultivated land in the U.S. went under the plow, including 30 million acres in the wheat- and corn-producing states of the Midwest. Minnesota farmers had nearly 18.5 million acres under cultivation by 1929. The demand for land inflated the price of farm real estate, regardless of quality. The average price of Minnesota farm land more than doubled between 1910 and 1920, from $46 to $109 per acre.
He says his children too, made many memories on the farm through fun activities like wagon rides. “There’s a lot of sentimental value in it for me, so I’m hoping my kids continue to hold the property also,” said Mentz. Keeping a close eye on when the farm reached 100 years of ownership in the family, Mentz was eager to apply for Century Farm recognition. Classifying it as a one was a neat thing to do, said Mentz, who enjoyed receiving recognition at the Steele County Fair. With the size of the rural community dwindling, Mentz is saddened by the number of abandoned farm houses he
A canopy of trees line the perimeter of the McVicker Farm, with a handful towering over the house where George and Bessie once lived together. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)
sees and hopes to keep his grandparents’ farm for the next generation to enjoy. “I definitely want to hold on to the land and keep that in the family,” said Mentz.
An estimated 60 out of every 1,000 farmers in the U.S. either lost their farms or filed for bankruptcy. From 1926 to 1932, 1,442 Minnesota farms totaling 258,587 acres were lost to foreclosure. In spite of the hardships, Minnesota’s rural population increased during the 1930s. Many who lost farms to foreclosure remained on the property as tenants. Others moved from urban areas to the country. Source: Minnesota Historical Society
A love of farming keeps Murphy family farm going for 150 years By PAT BECK editor@apgsomn.com
While farmers’ work never ends and they never have a day off, Joe still loves it.
love of farming has kept Joe and Jean Murphy continuing the family tradition of farming for five generations and more than 150 years along at Le Sueur Road 11 and State Highway 19 in Henderson.
“I just love being on the farm, and it’s all I’ve ever done,” Joe said. “We’re independent. I love having cattle. Maybe some day I’ll get rid of my dairy supply business, and maybe I’ll start running the land again. Right now it’s just too much.”
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“It’s a good life,” Jean said. “We’re happy that we’re on the farm now. We’re out in the country. It’s a good place to bring up kids. The grandkids were out yesterday, and they just love it.” The Murphys two grandsons. “My daughter, Ellie, nannies six kids and they’re here all the time, too,” Joe said.
