A History of Montana Agriculture: A Life of Discovery

Agriculture developed into Montana’s top industry from humble beginnings. In 1841, Father De Smet planted a small plot at St. Mary’s Mission. Thomas Harris, the territory’s first farmer, harvested oats at Fort Owen for sustenance and trade in 1854. Within thirty-five years, beef and wool were being exported out of the territory to satisfy national and European demands. In the intervening years, the mechanical engine and rural electrification dramatically transformed agribusiness. Billings became home to America’s largest monthly horse sale. And the modern cooperative model is lauded for sustaining agricultural operations and rural communities. With untold and forgotten stories, the American Doorstop Project co-founders and authors Jody L. Lamp and Melody Dobson spotlight the technological advancements and legacies of those who blazed trails, broke sod and built farms and livestock ranches that shaped the Treasure State’s agriculture history.