Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Archival Anecdotes: Agricultural Roots

A century ago, agriculture was a whole different business. Sure farmers had to contend with soil conditions and weather patterns, but the process of getting grain from field to market was markedly different. Wheat was the preferred crop and threshing was the required technology.

The homesteaders of the region were lucky to have access to threshing technology. At that time, most threshing was done with a horse-powered belt system and was quite labor intensive. In the photo above, several members of the Starke family were involved in the threshing, chaffing and cleaning in preparation for the public grain market.

In time, steam-powered engines and tractors proved to be a far more effective way to harvest these crops. The technology brought together neighbors, who shared equipment and labor. Today, technology has changed, but the power of the steamer can still be heard during the harvest season.

 
 
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