The Deep History of a Modern Phenomenon: An Archaeological Perspective on Corporate Agriculture in Northwest Ohio

Summary

Yard signs proclaiming, "Family Farms Not Factory Farms!" are a common site along rural highways in the Midwest. These signs are a direct response to the tremendous growth of corporate agriculture during the second half of the 20th century and the concomitant decline of the traditional farming model in which a single family owns and operates a productive, commercial farm. While most lay people likely assume that "factory farms" are a fairly recent economic phenomenon, in reality land consolidation and corporate approaches to agricultural production have a long history that stretches back to the late 19th century in the Midwest. A recent cultural resources survey of the Howard Farms property in Lucas County, Ohio documented an early example of corporate agriculture in this region. This survey provides a starting point for the development of a research design focused on the transition from family-owned farms to corporate agricultural enterprises.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Crops and Culture: The Archaeology of Agricultural Thought   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 749