Activist Agriculture: Farm protest in Iowa, 1929-1969
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
Throughout the twentieth century, farmers in Iowa and the Midwest struggled to make a living off their land and hard work. Post-war price busts and the Great Depression only exacerbated the general erosion in farm parity as increasing costs of production were not matched by an increase in farm commodity prices. In response, farmers organized in an effort to move from being victims of the economic and social situation to self-determined shapers of action. In this exhibit, we take a closer look at mobilization of farmers to confront and obstruct tuberculosis testing of cattle during the Iowa Cow Wars of the early 1930s and the commodity holding actions of the National Farmers Organization (NFO) in the 1960s. The exhibit will cover the actions and methods used by the farmers as well as how they leveraged the media to affect change. Finally, we look at the parallel struggles of migrant farm workers to improve wages and working conditions, examining the efforts both to pass legislation in Iowa in support of migrant farm workers and to support the Delano Grape Strike in California and the related international boycott.
Comments
Special Acknowledgments: Janet Weaver Iowa Women’s Archives, University of Iowa Libraries
Exhibition Curators: Amy Bishop, Olivia Garrison, Kimberly Anderson
Exhibition Coordinator: Rachel Seale
Exhibition Catalog: Harrison W. Inefuku
Digital Exhibit: Lori Bousson
Digital Exhibit can be found at: https://exhibits.lib.iastate.edu/activist-agriculture