Richlands Farmer Day Research Paper

America — a land known for its ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the idea that every man and women is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J.Hector St. John Crevecoeur, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in today’s world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than it is today. The definition of an American is always evolving due to the influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Crevecoeur defined an American as someone of European

Farmers did well after the Civil War and into the 1880s with plentiful rainfall and easy credit from banks. In the 1890s, however, American farmers suffered from drought, poor harvests, restrictive tariff and fiscal policies, low commodity prices, and competition from abroad. A downward swing in the business cycle exacerbated their plight, and many farmers in the Plains filed for

From 1880-1906, western farmers were affected by multiple issues that they saw as threats to their way of life. The main threats to the farmers were railroads, trusts, and the government, because these institutions all had the power to drastically affect the ability of the farmers to make profits. Therefore, the farmers were not wrong to feel frustration toward those institutions when the institutions caused the farmers to live lives of increasingly extreme poverty.

In the late 19th century, farmers all over the country were filled with discontent due to the rough financial and agricultural conditions they were experiencing on the farm. As far back as the Homestead Act of 1862, which gave families land grants west of the Mississippi, farmers have been migrating West. Manifest Destiny was driving these families west creating jobs and opportunities, which had greatly impacted the time. This period before the late 1800s had produced high numbers of wheat, agricultural technology, and success for hard working farmers. The perfect life started to disintegrate with the increase of farmers, and the high amount of wheat being sold. With wheat prices dropping, farmers going into debt, and businesses controlling the economy, the farmers were starting to experience hardships like never before. This was the start of the depression of 1893. Farmers had experienced a number of problems during this time, but the conflicts of the Bimetallic Standard in currency, the overpowering big businesses, and the lack of government interference had contributed greatly to the validity of the farmers argument.

Arguing that the majority of farmers during the Great Depression benefitted from the government policies produced through President Roosevelt’s New Deal is an inaccurate claim. While history textbooks highlight the improvement of finances for people in rural areas in the United States of America, the personal experiences of family farmers contradict those textbooks. Writers of textbooks about American history should consider looking further into the delicate topic of how the Great Depression effected common farm families. In the West, farmers endured the Dust Bowl. In the North, people in rural areas competed to make a profit. Although statistics show the most economic damage of the Great Depression beginning at the end of 1929, small farm families refer to the effects of the Depression dating back as early as 1925 since government policies mostly benefitted large farm industries as small farms were forced to foreclose.

The Labor Unions protect their workers in many different ways people do not know. The Unions make it possible for their members to receive adequate pay better benefits, have left of absences, and have vacation time when you ask and not take the punishment for it. Once you are in the union books it is hard to be fired from it. There is a downside of it, you can be laid off which is not being fired.

Can we utilize them as mere means to an end (for entertainment, companionship, or food)?

Throughout my childhood, I have participated in a local 4-H club. In this club, I became a part of our town’s biggest festival, the Potter County Fair.

The definition of what America is, and furthermore what an American is, has been eternally elusive. However, it can be reasonably said that the vision of America rests upon freedom of expression, the right to property, and self-determination. These ideas are explored in one European’s examination of American agricultural society in the late 18th century. Letters from an American Farmer by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur illustrates the gilded nature of the early vision of America; one that appears to be simplistic and based in freedom, but lies on a foundation of oppression and greed.

My entire life I have been on the farm with my dad and grandpa. When I was too little to drive the tractors I would sit and just ride around with them. Now that I am old enough to drive them, I have a lot of experience, and as a farmer working with your family and friends you hire you can take some days off if needed without getting in trouble.

My experience at DePaul’s Community and Involvement fair was a bit overwhelming to say the least. I was so inspired to join so many politically active organizations. I’ve signed up to join Depaul Democrats, DePaul Community Peacemakers, International Socialist Organization, and DePaul’s Urban Farming Organization. The reason why I consider DePaul’s Urban Farming Organization to be a politically active organization is because urban farming allows urban communities to obtain healthier, fresher, and cost reducing foods. One other organization also got me thinking, I never really did consider myself a socialist before, but after share ideas and opinions with the International Socialist Organization, I firmly believe it is a human right to acquire food, shelter, and an education. I am very curious to see what International Socialist Organization has in stores for me.

All year we prep for one of the greatest fairs in the entire United States. There is nothing quite like the experience of the “Great Minnesota get together” as many people call it. This is the big finale, the end of my summer, and probably the best way to end the greatest season of the year. The state fair in its entirety is about two weeks long. There are more people there than you will ever see in one place, the streets are packed solid full of people.

The public place, in which I chose to observe fashion, was a community fall festival. This festival occurs once a year and brings people from several communities. I arrived at the festival in early afternoon, around 12:30 pm. The festival was just starting to get crowded. At this time there were mostly families with children present. I observed numerous families with babies in strollers. There were at least twenty “vendor” booths

I woke up before my alarm. A distant square of eerie half-twilight from the window held the familiar outline of the locust tree. In the dark, I fumbled to dress without waking my parents. I slipped outside.

Every year I get this feeling. The knots in my stomach are pulled tighter every time I pass through the narrow rock arch labeled with an aged sign reading, Welcome to the Delta County Fair Grounds. My eyes peer into the distance, and like every year, the park is full of commotion and energy. Kids swinging on the swings, teenagers showing off their new school clothes while sitting on the chipped green tables eating mazzo dogs, and the various types of food stands, complete the atmosphere of the Delta County Fair. The fair is a place where parents enjoy themselves by spending quality time with their families; it 's an ending to the summer and a beginning to a new school year. Entering such grounds would usually make a person feel serenity