From the Ipswich Tribune

January 28, 1925 edition

South Dakota Boasts

3,000 Lady Farmers

South Dakota boasts 3,000 lady farmers, according to data analyzed by the Blue Valley Creamery Institute. Of this number over 1,500 operate farms, 1,400 their own, 5 as managers and not quite 150 as tenants, the data disclosed.

Dairying, poultry and hog raising are some of the branches of agriculture in which the women farmers of the state specialize, the analysis revealed. The land under cultivation by the feminine agriculturists is close to 640,000 acres, of which 330,000 acres are improved. The value of these farms is 44 million dollars. The figures further revealed that woman cultivate 2.1 per cent of all farms in the state and 1.8 per cent of the total acreage, the value being 1.8 per cent of the whole. The average value of the land and buildings on farms operated by women was found to be in excess of $26,000.

Commenting on the large percentage of women who go in for dairying and poultry raising, the Institute sees a peculiar adaption of these occupations to the feminine nature. From early times, it says, the average farm women has had to care for the milk and act as dairymaid, too. And milking cows and selling butterfat with its requirements of close attention to details seems to be a type of work that women naturally take to. The same appears to hold true for poultry raising. For pin money for the thousand and one items needed in the home, the sale of eggs and poultry and cream has ever been known as a sure means. Many a woman in need of more money has almost instinctively turned to milking cows and keeping hens.