We like to have a lot of fun the farm.  During Wessels' events you can be sure there are activities for the whole family surrounding the featured activities of the event. Occasionally we hold an adults-only event during evening hours.  Event listings are updated here, on our FB page and often found in Nebraska Life & Nebraska Traveler magazines, York Chamber Chats, YCDC Community Calendar and local news sources.

You might be surprised just how much there is to do at Wessels during our family-friendly events.  Bring the family and tell your friends!  Proceeds from all events go towards maintaining our living history displays, educational program, animal care and facilities.

Create your own event!  Wessels Farm is a great place for family reunions, birthday parties, bridal showers, team get-aways and more. We do allow weddings on the farm but we do not close the farm for an event held during our regular open hours as we are a living history farm first, venue as a bonus!  Contact us to begin planning your event today! 

Marketing In The 1930s

We like to have a lot of fun the farm.  During Wessels' events you can be sure there are activities for the whole family surrounding the featured activities of the event. Occasionally we hold an adults-only event during evening hours.  Event listings are updated here, on our FB page and often found in Nebraska Life & Nebraska Traveler magazines, York Chamber Chats, YCDC Community Calendar and local news sources.

You might be surprised just how much there is to do at Wessels during our family-friendly events.  Bring the family and tell your friends!  Proceeds from all events go towards maintaining our living history displays, educational program, animal care and facilities.

Create your own event!  Wessels Farm is a great place for family reunions, birthday parties, bridal showers, team get-aways and more. We do allow weddings on the farm but we do not close the farm for an event held during our regular open hours as we are a living history farm first, venue as a bonus!  Contact us to begin planning your event today! 

Marketing In The 1930s

How a farmer makes money – which crops or livestock are raised and sold – depends on where he or she lives. The type of soil, amount of rain, temperature and the length of a growing season all affect how a farmer makes money.

hog market

  • York County, Nebraska, is on the western edge of the “Corn Belt.” This is a region running from central Nebraska, through Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio where most of the corn in the U.S. was grown in the 1930s and is still grown today.
  • Further west in Nebraska and other Great Plains states, it was (and still is) much drier and so cattle ranches were the main type of agriculture.
  • Winter wheat was grown across Kansas, western Oklahoma, Missouri and the other Corn Belt states. Spring wheat grew well in North and South Dakota’s short summer.
  • Across the Southeast, warm and wet conditions were best for growing cotton.
  • Fruits and vegetables were grown mostly in California, Florida and the mid-Atlantic states.
  • Milk was produced around the Great Lakes areas of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and the northern-Atlantic states.

DueWhile some crops were commonly grown in an area, most farmers during the 30s grew several crops, a large garden and a few cows or hogs. As
Carla Due remembers, a farmer’s main crop might have been corn or wheat, but in between harvest times cream and eggs were the source of cash
during the 30s. “That was our money flow,” Carla says.

OpitzMillie Opitz remembers what happened when they spilled the can of cream on the way to town. “There went our money for gas and groceries.”

Beginning in 1933, payments from the government became a more and more important source of cash for farmers.

Written by Bill Ganzel of the Ganzel Group. First written and published in 2003.

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