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In this October 1944 photograph, Gerrick DeHaai, from Douglas County is driving a Farmall H tractor with an attached corn snapping machine. The photograph is one in a series of photos about the South ��ֱ���� and National Corn Picking Contest. Farmall H tractors are a medium sized row crop tractor. International Harvester produced the H between 1939 and 1953. The attached corn snapper removes the ears of corn from the stalk but does not remove the husk. A 1941 U.S. patent for a corn snapping machine describes how the machine operates this way, “…corn snapping machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction in which the corn stalks both large and small, are firmly gripped between two rolls and pulled downwardly between them without breaking or crushing the stalks or pulling them up and in which the ears are prevented from entering between the rolls and, hence, are not shelled or crushed but are snapped from the stalks by snapping bars above the rolls as the stalks are drawn downwardly between the rolls.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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This photo was taken in August 1924. The man was part of the Gabe Francoli threshing crew who came to help thresh each year. The Francoli’s farmed in Brown County. The wagon load of straw is pulled by two horses. The horses are wearing canvas fly covers. Fly covers and fly nets are used to protect the horses from biting insects. Biting insects distract the horses and cause them distress. Just like humans, horses don’t like being bitten by flies, mosquitoes and other insects.

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Did you know that August is National Goat Cheese Month? In case you didn’t know, here is your chance to indulge. The American Cheese Society launched National Goat Cheese Month in 1998 to “promote the benefits of cooking with goat cheese.” Domesticated around 9000 years ago, goats provided humans with milk, cheese, and meat to eat; wool or hair and hides to use for clothing. Goat cheese originated in the Mediterranean areas and in the Middle East.

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In 1891, the people of Madison, SD built the Lake Madison Chautauqua on the northwest shore of Lake Madison. The Grand Hotel was located on the Chautauqua grounds. To provide easy access to the Chautauqua grounds and hotel, Madison built a narrow gauge, steam railroad. The Milwaukee railroad later built a spur line from Madison to the Chautauqua grounds.

Chautauqua’s flourished in small communities across the country. They were especially popular in the Midwest. The Chautauqua Movement began in 1874 as a summer school for Sunday School teachers. Over the following decades its mission broadened to include adult education of all kinds. Chautauqua was designed to bring a “college outlook” to working- and middle-class Americans. Chautauqua sought to bring culture, education, and entertainment to rural areas. Chautauqua brought national and international speakers to audience that would otherwise not have had the opportunity to hear them speak. The economic depression of the 1930s ended the Chautauqua era. Organizers found it increasingly difficult the find funding for the event.

• Throwback Thursday

Bowdle Flour Mill began operation in 1892. Since wheat is harvested once a year, yet flour is milled year-round, the mill stored 15,000 bushels of wheat. The last batch of Bowdle Flour was milled in 1967. In 1968, the flour mill became a feed mill.

• Throwback Thursday