Porter Farm facts for kids
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Walter C. Porter Farm
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Old farm house at Porter Farm
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 Walter C. Porter Farm
Location in Texas
Walter C. Porter Farm
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Terrell, Texas |
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| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000819 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Porter Farm, also known as the Walter C. Porter Farm, is a special historical farm located near Terrell, Texas in Kaufman County, Texas. This farm became famous because it was the place where a very important farming experiment happened in 1903. This experiment helped farmers grow more crops and led to the creation of a big government program that still helps farmers today.
The Porter Farm is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place that is very important to the history of the United States. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The First Farm Experiment
The story of the Porter Farm began with Dr. Seaman A. Knapp. He was a smart person who wanted to help farmers grow more food. In 1903, he worked with a farmer named Walter Porter to start a special project.
How the Experiment Worked
Walter Porter set aside 70 acres of his farm for this experiment. Dr. Knapp wanted to show farmers new ways to grow crops. They tried using special plant food, called fertilizers, on some parts of the land. They also used a method called "crop rotation." This means planting different crops each year. For example, they planted legumes, which are plants like beans or peas. These plants help put important nutrients, like nitrogen, back into the soil.
Amazing Results
The experiment was a huge success! By using these new methods, Walter Porter was able to double the amount of cotton he grew. This was a big deal because it showed that farmers could get much more from their land.
Walter Porter was chosen by his community to be part of this project. They even set aside $1000 to cover any money he might lose if the experiment failed. But Walter Porter actually made more money because of the success, so the $1000 was never needed!
Why the Porter Farm Was Important
The success at Porter Farm changed farming forever. It showed that new ideas and scientific methods could really help farmers.
Helping Farmers Everywhere
Because of this successful experiment, the United States Department of Agriculture created a program called the Agricultural Extension Service. This program helps farmers all over the country learn new and better ways to farm. They teach about new crops, how to deal with pests, and how to make farms more productive.
For example, the Extension Service later helped farmers in the area fight against a tiny insect called the boll weevil. This insect could destroy cotton crops, but the new methods helped farmers protect their plants.
Location of the Farm
The Porter Farm is located about 2 miles north of Terrell, Texas. You can find it on FM986. The farm used to be much bigger, about 500 acres in total.
The original Porter family home, a 1-1/2 story house, is on one side of the road. The land where the famous experiment happened is mostly on the other side.
Images for kids
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Westward view of tomato barn on south side of demonstration plat at Porter Farm
