9/19/2006:
The Elmer Fraase Farm near Buffalo was the center of excitement on this day in 1964. The Plowville National Plowing Contest and Soil Conservation Field Days were underway and, although President Lyndon B. Johnson would not be able to attend, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, from Minnesota and Senator Barry Goldwater from Arizona would address the crowd along with Governor William Guy. Among other dignitaries present were Senator Quentin Burdick and congressional candidates George Sinner and Rolland Redlin.
Preparations for the event had been underway for more than a year with over a dozen committees wrestling with problems such as traffic congestion, farm equipment displays, camping areas, water needs and even an airport for light planes to take off and land. Permission was obtained to open the yet uncompleted portion of Interstate 94 to expedite traffic from Fargo. The event was expected to yield a four day attendance of 150,000 to 200,000 persons from the Red River Valley and beyond. Billed as the "Showcase of Agriculture", it was sponsored by the North Dakota Soil Conservation Districts, the Fargo Chamber of Commerce and the North Dakota Broadcasting Company
Plowville USA, kicked off on Wednesday with the selection of a National Conservation Days queen which went to Denise Fledderman, who would later become Miss North Dakota in 1966. Thursday’s events began with the dedication of the North Dakota Diamond Jubilee day and a fly over by the Air Force Thunderbirds and Gov. Guy gave the opening address before the contour plowing competition began. Friday consisted of the level land plowing competition and selection of a national plowing champion. There was also sky diving, square dancers and dancing to the music of Lem Hawkin’s.
Saturday was politician’s day with speeches in the morning by Senator Humphrey and in the afternoon by Barry Goldwater. Over 150 newsmen covered the event which led Wayne Lubenow, staff writer for the Fargo Forum to quip that although Plowville was for farmers, "it is the politicians that are making hay there." When photographers followed Goldwater onto the speaking platform, already laden with numerous Republican party officials, the weight was so great that the platform began sinking into the mud but it did survive the onslaught.
Amid all the hoopla and chaos connected to the event came the calm, relaxed, unflappable wife of the vice presidential candidate. Bill and Jean Guy escorted Hubert and Mruiel Humphrey to the Fraase farm for the occasion. As the car approached the entrance to the farm, there was a barn with a manure spreader parked prominently nearby, along side a pile of manure. Unable to resist the impulse, Mrs. Humphrey, a veteran of many campaigns, turned to Hubert and exclaimed, "Hubert, I think we’re going past your speaking platform."
by Jim Davis
Sources:
Governor William L. Guy, Oral History Tapes, State Archives and Historical Research Library, SHSND.
"Area farmers to compete in plowing contest on Thursday", Casselton Reporter, September 18, 1964, page 1.
"Great Day for North Dakota", The Fargo Forum, September 17, 1964 page 1.
Buffalo, Our Town on the Prairie, Centennial Edition, 1880-1980, page 71-72.
"Over 70,00 at Plowville; Weather Favors Republicans", Fargo Sunday Forum, September 20, 1964 Page A-1 and A-2.