The early 1940s saw the United States involved in World War II. This war affected every one in one way or another. Shortages of common items occurred. People of all walks of life were asked to make changes. This included the people on the farms too. One of the problems facing the farm was the short supply of labor to harvest the crops. The county agent requested assistance from the State Labor Office. As a result of this request troops of southern workers were moved into the state. 100 of these troops came to Carrington where they set up camp and a headquarters. Workers were sent out in groups of seven in a truck to the farms. These troops shocked up to 15,000 acres of grain at a cost of 45 cents per acre to the farmers.

The War Mothers' Club furnished pies and doughnuts for the soldiers. A dance was provided on Saturday night with an atmosphere similar to the USO's.

The city cooperated by opening the library and the use of the showers in the school. It also furnished water, grounds and other available materials for proper housing.

The southern workers went to the Glenfield area. The next year help was received from a group of Mexican Nationals. Here's a story from the Independent:

Farmers Find Mexican Nationals Excellent Harvest Laborers:

"As good help as I have ever had on the place", is the way one farmer in the Carrington vicinity expresses his satisfaction with the Mexican laborers who are assisting with this year's harvest.

Several farmers have remarked on the politeness of the men from "South of the Border". Most of the Mexicans will not sit down at the table until the family is seated and will not take food until the family is served, they say. Some of the laborers are thoughtful enough to stack their dishes when the meal is over. One woman said they thanked her for the meal afterward, something no hired help she had known had ever done before. There is a story that the Mexicans are accustomed to eating with their hats on, but, with broad smiles, pulled their hats off when they observed that the Americans took theirs off.

One farmer said he, in the usual harvest-time rush, gave his hands and face a hurried dab before eating, and was almost ashamed of himself when one of the Mexicans after washing threw the water out and then got fresh water and washed again. Some of the laborers, farmers said, change their shirts when they come in from working, then change back to their working clothes before going back to the fields.

Almost all men using the Mexican laborers are satisfied with their work. One farmer has this story to tell of the obedience of one of them. He took the laborer to the field and showed him how to set up a shock, then, as the farmer will, he walked around the shock to see how it looked. All afternoon, after he had set up each shock the Mexican walked completely around it before starting another.

The Mexicans have proved that they are not "fussy" about what they eat, but because their food is usually more highly seasoned and North Dakota farmwomen may like to prepare their native dishes; the NDSU Extension Service has issued a folder containing Mexican recipes.

Many North Dakotans will have a new picture of Mexico and the Mexican people as a result of this migration of labor which has carried the Mexican national almost completely across the U.S. and they, perhaps, will have a new picture of the American Northwest."

Here are some of the Extension Office's activities during this time:

1941- Dairy Day established under the sponsorship of Jaycees. Four Holstein calves were given away in a drawing to some lucky boys or girls.

1942- Neighborhood War Service Leaders organized to coordinate war effort on the farms. Six leaders in each township chosen to pass on the information.

Homemakers Council organized.

Frank Johnson becomes County Agent.

1943- Severe wind swept through the county knocking down trees and destroying buildings. A portable saw was located to cut up the trees. One farmer salvaged approximately 80,000 board feet of wood. Assistance was also available for cleanup and repair of the damaged buildings.

1944- Fox drives were held to cut down the fox and coyote population. 50-100 men participated.

1945- Foster County Livestock Association started. Goal to improve the livestock industry.

1947- George Stewart becomes agent. Two large cattle barns built on the fair grounds.

1948- Mable Coyne is added to staff as Home Economist. Crop Improvement organization started. Purpose to improve yield and quality of grain.

1949- Purebred sales begin.

1950- Advisory Committees formed to help Extension Agent.

I. Livestock and Major products
Banks and other diseases
Marketing feeder cattle
Marketing 4-H beef
Improving livestock quality

II. Crops and Soils
Insects
Barley improvement
Pure seed crop varieties
Miscellaneous
Seed Conference
Weed Control

III. Farm Home and Improvement
Horticulture and gardens
Forestry
Water and sewage
Water systems
Testing
Sewage disposal

Veterinary arrives for start practice, Dr. Edward Jakobsen, who had previously been employed with the Livestock Sanitation Board.

1951- Wet grain that was left in the swaths causes much interest in grain dryers being set up on the farms.

1952- Laverne Zink, Bordulac, is chosen as IFYE student to Costa Rica. Soil train visits county. Exhibits show all phases of soil structure and types to effects of rainfall and erosion. Also effects of irrigation, use of commercial fertilizer and evolution of soil from glacial period were shown by charts and graphs.

Farm tour visits 10 farms illustrating various farming methods. First sprinkler system installed on Lloyd Butts farm three miles north of Carrington. It was used on an alfalfa field.

1953- Water Development Committee formed to study irrigation possibilities. Soil testing started to determine need for commercial fertilizer. Trench silos were being built to replace upright silos easier to use with tractor and scoop. Artificial breeding is started. 300 cows are bred. Makes it possible to build up herds.

1955- Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Some methods of improvement were to keep record on the herd, provide tester to spend one day a month taking records, weighing milk and testing for butterfat. Soil Bank Law passed- a method to reduce wheat acreage. Leif Peterson, IFYE from Denmark arrived to spend some time in area. Wilfred Rosenau was the host family. Dwayne Erickson of Glenfield was a Farm Youth Trainee to England. This program was sponsored by the Farmers Union and the United Kingdom Authority.

1957- Horticulture Society is formed. Area is divided into districts with a representative in each one.

1958- Largest crop in history- one reason much of the land was in fallow because of the large amount of hail the previous season.

1959-Testing wells in county is inaugurated. Tests were done by Public Health office in Devils Lake. Rural telephone service installed- some farms without phones for 25 years. Preliminary plans for Irrigation and Experiment Station under the auspices of NDSU were set up to be located four miles north of Carrington. Test pumps were able to remove 1,400 gallons of water a minute with a quick recovery. Farm Home Development was set up to assist farmers who were in need of help. Work was done with 12 families.

1960- Duaine Dodds, native of New Rockford, appointed county agent due to resignation of George Stewart. United Fund started.

1961- Farmers played hosts to the businessmen who have been helpful and supportive to agriculture throughout the years. A beef barbecue was held at Juanita Lake. Over 2,000 farmers, businessmen and their families were there to feast on 900 lbs. of choice beef that had been cooked in an open pit.

Rural Area Development Committee organized. Divisions:

1. Agricultural Committee
Farm Management

2. Recreation and Wildlife
Raise water in Juanita Lake and set up county park there.

3. Ground Water Survey

4. Industries Committee

5. Education
Adult Classes

1964- Miss Ute Ringeling IFYE from Germany arrived to stay at the Tom White home.

1965- Mary Hartl- IFYE destination Japan.

1966- Commercial fertilizers introduced to area. After many trial plots, 1000 tons sold for upcoming season.

1967- Beef Buyers banquet started to say thank you to businesses and individuals who purchased calves at the 4-H Fair sale. Money was used from 4-H premiums to pay for the supper. Three farmers grow sunflowers. 133 acres are planted. Yield 1200 pounds.

1968- 4-H Junior Leader organization started. Special programs for the older 4-H members on the county level.

Cargill promotes growing of oil sunflowers. Mrs. John Sellie becomes area Home Economist. She works in Eddy, Wells, and Foster Counties. 4-H Newsletter is established so members may be better informed.

1969- Ag Improvement establishes beef drawing contest. 4-H members sell the tickets, the association in turn sponsors wind-up banquet. Beef is given away during the fair.

Another project was performance testing of livestock which was introduced in 1957. Calves were weighed at weaning time and again at the end of a feedlot period. Grading and scoring the calves for type, thus assembling data on which to base judgment of the sire or dam to build up the herd.

A drill box survey was conducted on several farms. Wheat and flax were taken from the drill boxes and checked for seed cleaning, treating, whether seed was certified or not, whether seed was purchased or home grown, and if it had been tested for germination.

A system of grain bonding was set up to protect farmers from losing grain through theft.

The farmer would pay $10 for a bag of "Confetti", which was a small slip of paper on which three numbers were printed. The first designating the state, second the county, and the third the farm. The "confetti" was scattered through the stored grain. Publicity about the project was hoped to be sufficient to discourage anyone contemplating loading up some grain.

Prairie Printers of Cooperstown printed the "confetti", assigned code numbers, kept them on record and sent copies to the local elevators and sheriff offices.

A new method of branding was introduced to identify livestock. It is called "freeze branding". Dry ice is used in the process. The hair in the area turns white, thus making it easier to read the brand.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 107

1940-1960