Dodge County was settled by farm families beginning in 1854, and the contributions of those families were significant in making our county what it is today.
Every year the number of family farms in our county dwindles. We have gone from 1770 farms in 1920 to 617 in 2023.
The Dodge County Historical Society is collecting and preserving information about our farm families. We have information on the ninety-six Dodge County Century Farms and eight Sesquicentennial Farms that are registered with the Minnesota Farm Bureau.
We are asking those families to share historical information and photos featuring their families’ past lives on the farm.
And we have created our own project that we’re calling Heritage Farms. If your farm has been in your family 75 years or more, we would like you to share your information with us and become a Heritage Farm. To qualify, your family had to establish their farm in or before 1951.
“We are encouraging everyone that has had a family farm of 50 or more acres that has 75 or more years of continuous ownership by consecutive generations to contact us,” Jean Bartel, president of the Dodge County Historical Society, said.
“We want all farms that fill that criteria, even if the farm has been sold,” she explained. “We are looking for photos that show the progression of the farm, from a sod house or log cabin, and the beautiful barn that great-grandpa was so proud of, or a prized farm animal, maybe the draft team, or the first tractor along with today's record of fieldwork.”
The historical society is also interested in wedding photos and family photos of each generation that toiled on their farm. Aerials are welcome, as well as early ground shots of the farmhouse and outbuildings. “Maybe you have a grain receipt or the purchase of an implement or prized animal,” Jean said, “or perhaps a land grant or an interesting entry on the abstract. If you are digging through that box in the attic and aren't sure if it's something of interest, please bring it to us!”
We have printable forms to fill out on our website at https://dodgecountyhistorical.mn/projects-2/, or call the museum and we will email or mail it to you. Please let us know you will be bringing your precious photos and papers to the Museum. We want to be sure someone is there that can scan your information and return it to you before you leave. Or, if you can't get to the Museum, we can come to you!
You can contact the Dodge County Historical Society by email at dodgecountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com, or phone 507-635-5508 and leave a message.
