Harvey A. and Mabel Benson and sons started the chicken hatchery in Hannaford in 1936. The first hatchery was in a boxcar. In the winter of 1936 and 1937, they built a basement structure which was used as long as the facility was in operation. Mabel and son, Arvid, operated it in the spring of 1937, after which Arvid left for Moorhead. Harvey took a leave of absence from the railroad and he and Mabel ran the business for one year. Then the next season Mabel managed it with hired help.
January 1940, Harvey died, and son Homer quit college and came home to operate the hatchery. Homer helped Mable until 1944, when he left to go into the Navy. Mabel operated the hatchery on a limited basis until 1946, when Homer came home to the business. The season of 1947, Homer helped on a part-time basis until 1954, when Mabel retired.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 26