9/18/2007:
Bonanza farms are a rich and living chapter in the history of the Red River Valley in North Dakota. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, these gigantic spreads were literally known throughout the world. Part of this legacy lives on today.
The North Dakota Bonanza farms were known for their size; utilizing the latest agricultural technology available at the time. They were progressive, establishing the template for today’s modern-day agricultural operations. These farms helped establish North Dakota as the most highly mechanized agricultural state in the world.
The largest and perhaps best known Bonanza farm is the Dalrymple Farm, located twenty miles west of Fargo. Consisting of 11,000 acres, this was at one time the largest cultivated farms in the world.
Oliver Dalrymple began this huge operation as the manager. The original farmstead was then owned by George Cass and Benjamin Chaney, both Northern Pacific Railroad executives. Dalrymple’s contract with Cass and Chaney allowed for the gradual acquisition of the land, which Dalrymple took advantage of.
Other Bonanza farming operations were found at the Kingman farm in Hillsboro, the Raymond farm north of Fargo, and the Antelope farm in Mooreton.
During this time, the average farming operations were cultivating 200-300 acres. As late as 1910 however, North Dakota had 341 farms with over 1000 acres.
In eastern North Dakota, the legacy of the Bonanza Farm lives on at Bonanzaville. In fact this coming Saturday and Sunday, during their Pioneer Days, Bonanza farming will again come alive. Andrew Nielsen, the Assistant Curator at Bonanzaville is excited about this year’s demonstrations.
Following the parade that starts at 3pm there will be a demonstration of a Bonanza farm staple: the steam tractor and thresher. The tractor is an early 1900’s Case Steam Tractor. The thresher, which separated the wheat from the chafe, is powered by a long belt attached to a flywheel on the steam tractor.
Also part of the exhibit is the Rumley Oil Pull tractor, which came along in the early 1920’s making the transition from the steam to the gas engine.
The whole family will enjoy the music, entertainment and historic demonstrations at this year’s Pioneer Days, where the spirit of Bonanza farming lives on.
by Dave Seifert
Sources:
Interview with Andrew Nielsen, Assistant Curator, Bonanzaville, USA. September 7, 2007.
Bonanza Farms, http://www.fargo-history.com/early/bonanza.htm
Connolly, James, “Bonanzaville, U.S.A”., North Dakota Horizons, Volume 1, Number 4, pg. 30-37.
http://www.mnstate.edu/heritage/BaggFarm/history_bonanza_farms.htm