Kidder County Extension Records

Images of the Coteau

This document details research done at the North Dakota State University Archives. The records used are Cooperative Extension Annual Reports from Kidder County, North Dakota. The aim of the research is to identify photographs in the report illustrating vital aspects of life in the Missouri Coteau region and to record information explicating the images. Links in the table below call up images of interest that have been scanned from the manuscript reports.

Most images, including all photographic images, are scanned at 600 dpi and saved as TIFs. Certain other images, mainly textual things, are scanned at 300 dpi and saved as PDFs. TIFs have been saved also as JPGs for reference and web use.

Thanks to NDSU Archives for making these records available for research.

1932	First report in the collection. This is not the first year of extension work in the county, but it is tough times for extension, evidently. The County Extension Work of Kidder County has run along very smoothly during 1932 in spite of the fact that we have had three years of crop failure besides economic depression, and the fact a certain group of tax payers deemed it advisable to circulate a petition for the discontinuance of County Agent work, which question was voted on at the general election Nov. 8^th, and the County Extension work carried by a 82 vote majority. There are now seven homemaker clubs in the county and twenty junior clubs.
	“Beef Club Members Make Profits” There were 18 beef club members in the county, raising 19 head of livestock. Had 14 meetings through the year. There seem to have been two groups, the Pursian Park Baby Beef Club led by Francis Haibeck of Steele, and the Beef Club of Robinson led by Bert Wick. Robinson district had “a total crop failure . . . due to drought and grass hopers,” and so its club disbanded, but everyone in the Pursian Park group completed. Marvin Rothi of that club exhibited at the Achievement Institute in Fargo and won reserve champion.
	Photo on p. 39, Pursian Park Baby Beef Club members with their calves
	“Farmers Construct Temporary Silos” Last year the county agent worked with a farmer named Joe Hild NW of Dawson to build a temporary silo. This year two more farmers have done the same, and others are interested. These are used to store corn silage. This temporary silo may also be known as a portable silo constructed of ordinary snow fencing and the use of reinforced paper called sisalkraft. The snow fencing comes in 50ft rolls and when stretched out and placed in a circle forms an enclosure of 16 ft. in diameter. The inside of this enclosure is lined with sisalkraft paper making it air tight. Fill the first section with silage and proceed until it is within six inches from the top, then add sections of the silo and fill in the same manner as the first. Place the second section of cribbing on the top of and inside the first section. Folds of about four inches are made in the sisalkraft paper every three or four feet to allow for expansion of the cribbing in the settling of the silage, and in case this precaution is not taken the paper will be torn when the cribbing expands. This is a cheap silo and is taken down when not in use.
	Photo on p. 50, Portable silo made of snow fence
	“Farmers Are Interested in Multi-Hitch Methods” NDAC extension engineer C.L. Hamilton conducted a series of demonstrations in seven sites across the county during the past year, 370 farmers attending. Farmers furnished the horses for demonstrations, with extension providing the eveners and straps. At all of the demonstrations the 5-6-8-9 & 12 horse teams were hitched and considerable time was spent in discussing the line of draft and side draft of various farm implements.
	Photo on p. 52, Multi-hitch demonstration
1933	The report opens with a statement of the impact of New Deal programs on extension work. The county extension work of Kidder County has been devoted mostly to emergency work during 1933, which included Federal Seed Loans, C.C.C. work, C.W.A. work, and wheat allotment work. It has been almost impossible to carry on a good constructive extension program under these conditions.
	On p. 49 is another photo of a temporary silo built of snow fence, but there is no write-up about it, as the report is mostly concerned with organizational meetings for the farm program. In general, there is not much depiction of things other than the farm program and club work; other initiatives are suspended.
1934	The report for this year opens with a similar statement, except that the new programs are broadening into a more general emergency range . . . which included Federal Seed Loans, C.C.C Work, C.W.A. Work, Wheat Allotment Program, Corn and Hog Program, Grasshopper Control, Bang’s Disease Test, Government Cattle Purchasing Program, Feed and Seed Surveys, and Gopher Control Work.
	“Record Low Cost for Drouth Cattle Purchase” The tenor of the considerable section of the report devoted to the cattle purchase program indicates that the county agent may not fully understand that a major purpose of the program is relief. It took only 23 ½ cents per head expense for the purchasing of drouth relief cattle in Kidder County. . . . 20,230 head were purchased of which 18,155 were delivered to the cattle surplus agent of the F.S.R.C. for shipping and 2075 were condemned on the farm. The agent’s prose also indicates mixed feelings about conducting this program, but it has to be done, “this county being in the middle of the worst drouth area of the State.” It is not always best, or reasonable, to consider programs from the stand-point of the statistical results that are attained. Many other features of the work, the contacts, the morale, the difficulties of location and transportation coordination and the final temper of the farmer all has a proper place in any story of this nature. The program began with a call from the state office on 1 June. Needed two 80 farmers, 2 for each township, as committeemen. They were all recruited by personal contact, visiting by auto: “The County Agent and Adjustment Agent spent the next twenty-four hours on the road.” The FERA acted as the agent of the FSRC in North Dakota. The FERA appointed Robert S. Craig of Vernon Township its Cattle Surplus Agent. By early July the program was functioning. From then, “No attempt was made to ship great quantities of cattle at one time, but rather a program of ‘staggering’ the work was found to me more successful.” Farmers applied to the program to have cattle purchased. Committeemen did initial appraisals; a veterinarian followed up at each farm. Once the paperwork was done and the cattle shipped, the owner, or sometimes the lien holder, received a check. The procedure had to be run efficiently and strictly. A constant guard against myriads of mistakes had to be maintained. Strict regulations had to be enforced as to the exact conduct of all interested parties. The nature of the business made it impossible to accommodate farmers by allowing them to change their minds as many desired regarding the number of head, and which ones, they decided to sell. Other difficulties brought upon the program by the farmer himself were inaccuracies in their reports as to the number of cattle they owned . . . and even the exact location of the farm. Difficulties with lienholders were numberless. Railroad shipping facilities were the main line of the Northern Pacific and a branch through the northern part of the county. This meant a lack of competition for shipping charges, as well as a chronic shortage of cattle cars: “Other counties with two competing railroad lines would get the cars and if any were left over the Northern Pacific would bring them into this county.” The agent records many details that make the experience graphic. As a temporary measure at the beginning of the program Committeemen were allowed to paint the cattle with a green number indicating the price of the individual animal, but soon a few tags were furnished and thereafter tags were to be firmly fastened in the ear. It soon became apparent that sufficient tags would not be received and the Committeemen were used in manufacturing tin tags at home using machine dies with numbers on them and stamping it out on tin purchased at the local hardware stores. These tags were fastened on with hog rings using hog ringers. These became a part of every Committeeman’s paraphernalia. The cattle program was completed by end of November: “The conduct of the buying program has pleased the producer.”
	Photo on p. 60 (top of three), Drought cattle condemned and killed on farm
	Photo on p. 60 (middle of three), Drought cattle condemned and killed on farm
	“Beef Club Members Make Profits” In a jarring juxtaposition, immediately after detailing the sad process of the drouth cattle purchase program, the county agent goes on to recount the continuing success of baby beef clubs. The section concludes, however with the ominous statement, The older members of this club are quite worried about the future prospects of their club in that there seems to be very few younger people that are joining, but they have made up their mind that they will continue the club if possible.
1935	Evident in this report is a move toward sheep as an adaptive strategy for hard times and drought. “Weiser Sheep Club Completes Successful Year” This 4-H club had “one of their most successful years.” It is led by John DeKrey, Jr., of Pettibone. It had 11 meetings, and six members exhibited lambs at the county achievement day, with one going on to state achievement day. “Kidder County Wool Pool Organized” On 4 June there was a meeting of sheepmen to form the Kidder County Wool Pool Association. Cooperative marketing of wool was the aim. The members also desired to acquire pure bred rams and ewes. The pool ordered wool bags and twine for the members. “Sixteen Carloads Ewes Imported” Sheep raising is definitely increasing. The returns which sheepmen of Kidder County realized from wool and lambs prompted them to import sixteen carloads of ewes, which numbered to approximately 3840 head. This brings the sheep population of the county to approximately 17,547 head or an increase of 28 percent. The County Agent was called upon to aid in locating these ewes in Montana and elsewhere and bunching orders. . . . It is safe to say that wool and lamb money accounted for a major part of the farmers income in the county in 1935. “Sheepmen Call for Better Rams” The sheepmen cooperated in the purchase of 52 purebred Hampshire rams; these were imported into the county. They came in on the NP from the Mount Haggin Land and Livestock Co., Anaconda, Montana. In addition they had a “Sheep Day” in Steele for local purchases of rams.
	Photo on p. 83, “A Lot of 500 Choice Yearling Ewes Imported Into Kidder County”
	Photo on p. 134, “Fat Lambs Being Judged at the County 4-H Achievement Day”
1936	“Pursian Park 4-H Beef Club” This remains quite an active group, which had its own, local achievement day, showing both beef and sheep. The whole club attended the state achievement day.
	Photo on p. 53, “Pursian Park 4-H Beef Club” Left to right, back row: Maynard Schuette, Everett Barta, Bert Forsberg, Russell Haibeck, Palmer Rothi, local leader. Front row: Arlene Rothi, Elton Schuette, Vern Boynton. Notable feature: a girl crashing the beef club!
	“Woodlawn Homemaker Club Active” This was organized by a home demonstration agent at large, Miss Astrid B. Christensen, on 25 February 1932. The initial meeting was at the courthouse in Steele. “The club is composed entirely of town women.” It is growing and flourishing; its major project is “Home Furnishing and Management.”
	Photo on p. 70, “Members of Woodlawn Homemakers Club in Attendance at the County Homemaker Club Achievement Day”
	“Weiser Homemakers’ Club Now in Fourteenth Year” This is the oldest club in Kidder County. Unlike of Woodlawn, the county agent writes of Weiser, “The club is made up entirely of country women, the biggest majority of their members being Hollanders.” Major project, “Household Economics and Home Management.” Comparison of photos of Woodlawn and Weiser poses interesting questions in regard to wardrobe.
	Photo on p. 94, “Weiser Club Members in Attendance at Achievement Day”
	“Westford Women Enjoy Club Work” “The club is composed entirely of country women.” It meets in Tappen and is quite active. Photo poses another good study of wardrobe.
	Photo on p. 97, “Westford Homemakers Attending County Homemaker Club Achievement Day”
	“Kidder Homemaker Holds State Record” Mrs. Hiram May, Tappen, is a member of the Westford Homemaker Club. She holds the state record for never having missed a homemaker meeting in eight years. She has held every office in her club and this year was selected president of the county council of homemaker clubs.
	Photo on p. 98, “Mrs. Hiram Maw”
	Photo on p. 129, “Fat Wether Lamb Display”
	Photo on p. 130, “Arlene Rothi Showing Club Champion Baby Beef”
1937	“Successful Homemaker Achievement Day Held at Tappen” This was the 15^th annual achievement day, held at Tappen, on 15 May, “with a record crowd in attendance.” Mrs. Hiram Maw presided over the morning business meeting. Club members served a picnic lunch to family and friends in the Tappen Community Hall. The club program followed, with a welcome by Mayor John Whitson and with Mrs. Charles Lunner presiding over the program. See image of printed program for details.
	4-page program pasted onto p. 103, “Kidder County Homemakers’ Achievement Day, July 15, 1937”
	Photo on p. 104 (top), “Steele Homemaker Club Members Showing Costumes Worn for the Irish Folk Dance”
	Photo on p. 104 (middle), “Westford Homemaker Club Members Showing Costumes worn for the Laurely”
	Photo on p. 104 (bottom), “Weiser Homemaker Club Members Showing Costumes Worn for the Dutch Folk Dance”
	Photo on p. 105 (top), “Dawson Homemakers with Costumes for a Novelty Act”
	Photo on p. 105 (bottom), “Three Tappen Homemakers with Costumes for a Novelty Act”
	“Camp Grassick Scene of First Kidder County 4-H Club Camp” Camp Grassick is south of Dawson. The program was organized by Mrs. Viola Jordheim, of NDAC, and drew on various extension specialists. Topics: entomology; weeds; cooperative marketing; “courtesy, developing personality, color schemes and folk games”; rifle marksmanship. There also was outdoor recreation, including swimming.
	Photo on p. 131 (middle), “Club members find Lake Isabel a good swimming place”
	Photo on p. 132, “F. Gray [Extension Entomologist] conducts field trip on insects”
	“Kidder County Well Represented at U.S. Great Plains Station Day” Annual station day at Mandan held in July. The county was “well represented.”
	Photo on p. 172 (bottom), “A Lecture and History of an Old Field of Crested Wheat Grass Is of Interest to Visiting Farmers”
1938	“Interest in Tillage Demonstration Shows Need of Further Work” Some 25 Kidder County farmers attended a tillage demonstration in Bismarck on 4 June. The agent reports, “farmers realize need of change to different types of tillage methods to prevent soil erosion, a problem almost every farmer in this county is faced with.” Most interesting to Kidder farmers were made-over machines, including three bottom plows with mold boards removed, three bottom plow with center mold board removed, disc harrow with every third disc on, corn cultivator changed into a ridger, and one-way disc with two out of three discs removed.
	Photo on p. 27 (bottom), “Disc Harrow with every second and third disc [removed] ridges land to temporarily stop wind erosion”
	“320 Tons Poison Bran Distributed” On account of reports from the extension entomologist, the county organized a grasshopper control campaign. The county had left over from 1937 22 tons of grasshopper bait, 18.15 tons of sawdust, and 1025 gallons of sodium arsenite. In the fall of 1937 the agent called a meeting to discuss grasshopper control, but “only three individuals attended this meeting which was very discouraging to grasshopper control officials.” So they met with the county commissioners, the entomologist citing “a serious infestation of unhatched grasshopper eggs in the soil.” The commissioners liked the idea of having a control program, but didn’t want to pay for it or do it. There followed another meeting called of township officers with the agent, the entomologist, and a member of the grasshopper control committee appointed by Gov. Langer. Township officials also were reluctant, wanting to refer the question to township elections in March. Unfortunately, “only 14 townships voted for the program which mean further educational work before federal supplies would be available to the county.” A mixing station was opened early at Steele. More calls and letters, and finally 20 townships were signed on to the program. There followed numerous other meetings in the townships organizing the campaign. Forty tons of mill-run bran, one hundred twenty tons sawdust and twelve hundred gallons of sodium arsenite were received from federal sources. This was exhausted by 28 June and mixing stations closed.
	Map on p. 85, “Grasshopper Project [map]”
	“Feeding Demonstration Shows Pheasants Will Not Eat Poison Bait Prepared for Grasshoppers and Gophers” A great deal of criticism directed at the Extension Department by wildlife organizations for work in connection with assistance given farmers in grasshopper and gopher control work through the use of poison baits, suggested this experiment. An attempt was made to determine whether, under ordinary conditions, pheasant would eat or be killed by strychnine poison oats or through the arsenical poison bait used for grasshopper control. Experiment done with cooperation of state fish and game on a wildlife preserve south of Dawson.
	Photo on p. 88 (bottom), “At left shows pheasants in pens #5 and 6”
1939	“82 Head Purebred Livestock Purchased” The agent assists farmers in locating and purchasing purebred bulls, stallions, and rams.
	Photo on p. 33, “Purebred Registered Belgian Stallion Bred by Patterson Land Co., Bismarck, N.D. / Purchased by Paul Kinev, Dawson, N.D.”
	“Farmers Assisted with Small Irrigation Projects” The extension office has been publicizing small-scale irrigation for home production and limited market production, irrigating areas of 5 to 10 acres. Mostly this is well irrigation, but a few have built dams for irrigation. Surveys show good possibilities for such development in the Tappen area and in Valley Township: These two areas indicate possibilities of this type of development because of the high water table ranging from fourteen to eighteen feet in depth and irrigated garden plots now being successfully irrigated in the area. Typical of garden irrigation in the Valley Township area is shown in the picture below. This type of development, however small the project might be, will tend to give greater stability to farm income by assuring provision of home grown vegetables and fruits.
	Photo on p. 88, “Mrs. Reynols Hasse, Tappen, Tells How Small Windmill, 14 ft. Well and Small Plot Produces More Vegetables than Her Former Garden Five Times the Size”
1940	“‘Our Heritage of Foods’ Staged at Homemakers Achievement Day” This program resulted from cooperation with Miss Amy Erickson, Extension Agent in Foods and Nutrition. The pageant was written by Miss Ruth Dawson. It was presented on 6 June in the Tappen school gymnasium. See photos and program below.
	Photo on p. 90 (top), “Pursian Park Club representing Early American Indians”
	Photo on p. 90 (bottom), “Tappen Club Representing Pilgrims”
	Photo on p. 91 (top), “Woodlawn Club representing Sweden”
	Photo on p. 91 (middle), “Excelsior Club representing Norway”
	Photo on p. 91 (bottom), “Dawson Club representing France”
	Photo on p. 92 (top), “Harmony Club representing Ireland”
	Photo on p. 92 (middle), Tappen Township Club representing [Britain]”
	Photo on p. 92 (bottom), “Liberty-Bunker Club representing Scotland”
	Photo on p. 93 (top), “Hillside Club representing Russia”
	Photo on p. 93 (middle), “Steele Club representing China”
	Photo on p. 93 (bottom), “Weiser Club representing Holland”
	4-page program pasted onto p. 94, “Program of Kidder County Homemakers’ Achievement Day”
1945	“Fertilizer Increases Bromus Seed Production” Production of Bromus grass seed has been a cash crop in Kidder County for over 25 years, as some areas of sandy soil are more adapted to this production than any other crop. This production has now mounted so that Kidder County is one of the leading counties in the State in bromus seed production. Of late years, when moisture conditions have been normal or above, the seed production has decreased due to the enormous foliage growth depleting the available nitrogen necessary for seed production. This has caused discouragement in this important cash crop revenue to the county. . . . The initial approach to solving these problems was made this year by applying various amounts of an application of 20% Ammonium Sulphate and barnyard manure to bromus and crested wheat grass.
	Photo on p. 15, “3000 pounds Bromus seed ready for market by W.E. DeVore, Dawson”
	“Livestock Protection Associations 7^th Year in Control of Predators” Coyotes have been for decades habitants of Kidder County, due to the favorable natural conditions, so in order to keep them down to a decent level, the North and South Livestock Protective Associations maintain that a control program must be constantly kept in operation. These associations have been instrumental in exterminating coyotes during their seven years’ work. . . . The work of controlling coyotes and foxes by these associations has definitely kept many farmers in the production of sheep. These associations are working in cooperation with the Fish and Wild Life Service and Kidder County in providing funds, equipment, and plans for conducting this eradication of coyotes and foxes. They have hired Harry A. Olson, Government Hunter and Trapper, for the past three and one half years, who has taken a total of 792 predators, consisting of 305 coyotes and 387 foxes. This is an outstanding record, which has meant security from coyote losses by our sheep owners. . . . An exhibit in the County Agent’s office, which is pictured below, displays the exact location in the county of coyotes taken, by red tacks, and of foxes taken, by blue tacks.
	Photo on p. 30, “Predatory Animal Control demonstration in County Agent’s office shows a tack for each coyote and fox taken by Harry Olson”
	“Portable Sheep Dipping Vat in 5^th Year of Operation” The Livestock Breeders Association operates a dipping vat, in fifth season. The problems of ticks, lice, and scab have practically been solved. . . . The planning of the route of the vat through the county to the requested sheep owners was scheduled by the County Agent. . . . The dipping of 71,997 head of sheep in the past five years in 428 farm dippings has contributed immensely to the income and additional fiber during the five years of its operation.
	Photo on p. 32, “Sheep dipping vat in operation on farm of E. Dahne, Jr., Robinson”
	“They Dip Cattle to Kill Lice” It was during the early spring of this year that farmers of Baker township in Kidder County, North Dakota, began seeking means of practical control of cattle lice, which for some time had been infesting their animals. Today they own and operate a cattle-dipping vat, capable of treating 200 animals per hour, with corrals sufficient in number and size to handle from 5009 to 600 head, from three to five herds at one time, while at the same time keeping them separate. These farmers for some time had realized the dollars and cents value of eradication of cattle lice, which had caused great losses in weight and market value of their animals, in some instances causing death. The county agent helped farmers draw up a petition and place construction of the dip on the township ballot. It carried by a 2/3 vote. Township supervisors and the county agent then got advice from the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Bismarck. They also visited other operating dipping vats. Construction of this vat was accomplished mostly by farmers of the township. The vat is 42 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches deep, and 44 inches wide at the top, tapering to 28 inches at the bottom. A 5 foot slope of 75 degrees angle had a tendency to plunge cattle into the vat, completely submerging the animals. Cattle have to swim through the main body of the dipping vat which is 20 feet long, and wich contains 6 feet of dipping solution before reaching the 17-foot exit incline to gain entrance to the 16 x 18 foot drain pan. The top of the vat extends about one foot above the ground level. In addition, there are two splash boards the length of the tank, which also act as covers when dropped down when the tank is not in operation, which acts to prevent loss of solution when the animal plunges into the bank. The walls are six to eight inches thick, made up of a mixture of one part cement to five parts sand and gravel. A total of 96 sacks of cement was used to construct this vat, which holds 2900 gallons of non-poisonous, safe handling 5 percent Rotenone and sulphur solution. In addition to the cement, reinforcements of wire, steel, and stone were used in the vat construction. A flowing well about 15 feet from the tank provides water for the vat at a flowing rate of 80 gallons per hour. A drain was not constructed in connection with this tank, as it is situated on the Pursian Lake shoe, which is considerably higher than the water level of the lake. A siphoning hoe is used to drain out used solution into the lake. . . . This dipping vat is conveniently located just 12 rods from a good township road, in a pasture away from a farmstead. . . . A total of 2300 cattle have been dipped twice at 18-day intervals. . . . Harry Anderson, a resident of this township, is hired to operate the vat and is paid at the rate of three cents per head dipped.
	Photo on p. 36 (top), “A de-lousing swim for these calves in Baker Township Cattle Dipping Vat”
	“Numerous Coyotes and Foxes Eradicated by Cooperative Efforts” Coyotes have been a menace to sheep and poultry for many years, caused by natural conditions that have encouraged their existence. Various methods of organized efforts of destruction have been used by sheep men. In the early days the only known means was of large groups congregating on saddle horses for drives on coyotes. Packs of hounds were used by individuals, who destroyed a few coyotes each year. Then another means of cooperative effort was organized in 1938 and 1939, when Livestock Protective Associations were organized in both the North and South part of the county. They hired an airplane hunter for five years who killed 143 coyotes, which reduced losses from coyotes in areas of our county. After our nation was “Pearl Harbored,” which resulted in war conditions that restricted private airplanes hunting coyotes, these Associations turned to the use of a Government Hunter and Trapper, in cooperation with the Fish and Wild Life Service, in 1942. This method has proved of the most satisfaction in eliminating losses, and for the catch of 305 coyotes and 387 foxes in a three year period has far exceeded the benefits of other means of control. The county commissioners and the livestock associations share costs of employing Harry Olson as hunter. Mr. Harry Olson’s three years of service in the control of predatory animals is being recognized as an outstanding achievement and had immensely contributed to eliminating losses of sheep and poultry products when our nation so badly needed them in its war effort. Mr. Olson uses many different methods, as he shoots some with a gun, catches them in concealed traps and snares, uses poison stations, humane poison getters, and digs them out of dens.
	Photo on p. 107, “One shipment of coyotes and foxes caught by Harry A. Olson, with County Agent in Picture”
	Photo on p. 108 (top), “Just a few of the coyote and fox scalps taken by Harry Olson in the year round Predatory Control Program”

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