Delta and Providence Cooperative Farms facts for kids

The Delta and Providence Cooperative Farms were special places in Mississippi. They were started in the 1930s to help families who were struggling. These farms aimed to create a better life for people, especially sharecroppers. Sharecroppers were farmers who rented land and paid with a share of their crops.

What Were the Cooperative Farms?

These farms were located in Bolivar County, Mississippi and Holmes County, Mississippi. The Delta farm began in 1936. The Providence farm followed in 1939. They were unique because they were run as "cooperatives." This means everyone worked together and shared the benefits.

The farms were founded by Sherwood Eddy, a missionary and author, and Reverend Sam H. Franklin. They wanted to help people escape poverty. A friend, Reinhold Niebuhr, thought these farms were a very important social experiment.

Why Were They Started?

Many farmers, especially sharecroppers, faced tough times in the 1930s. This was partly due to a government program called the New Deal's Agricultural Adjustment Administration. This program paid farmers to grow fewer crops. The goal was to raise crop prices.

However, this often meant landowners needed less help. Many sharecroppers lost their homes and jobs. The cooperative farms offered a new chance. They provided a place where families could work and live together.

How Did They Work?

The farms followed four main ideas. First, they focused on working efficiently and managing money wisely. This was based on the cooperative principle, where everyone helps each other. Second, they wanted to build a society where everyone had enough.

Third, they believed in fairness for all races. This meant people of different backgrounds worked together. Everyone received equal pay for equal work. Fourth, they used their religious beliefs to inspire social change. Many of the first members at the Delta farm were sharecroppers from Arkansas. They had lost their homes after a strike.

Life on the Farms

Life on the cooperative farms involved many different activities. Farmers grew cotton, which was a major crop. They also raised beef and dairy cows. The farms had a plant to pasteurize milk. They even had a saw mill to cut wood.

Besides farming, the cooperatives offered many services. They had a cooperative store where members could buy goods. There was also a credit union to help with money. A medical clinic provided healthcare. Educational programs and a library helped people learn. Religious services were held regularly. Students could also join summer work camps.

Why Did They End?

The cooperative farms faced challenges over time. In the 1950s, the political situation became tense. There was a general fear of certain social ideas. Also, cotton sales at the Providence farm were not good.

Because of these problems, the cooperative efforts stopped around 1956. Parts of the land were then sold to the members. Even though they ended, these farms showed a unique way to help people. They aimed to create a fairer and more equal community.