06/20/2025
It’s Farm Fact Friday!
Recently, I discussed how the American Farmer provided vital support for our nation and the entire world during World War II. President Roosevelt even shared that the war would not have been won without the increased food supply produced by the American farmer.
Another very important fact that most people do not know about is how and why the first “food stamp program” began. During the war, the US government realized that the war could not be won without a major increase in food production. The government actually campaigned heavily with a LOT of propaganda to encourage American farmers to take low interest loans out to increase their food supply during the war. Propaganda was so strong that many farmers took out big loans to increase food production, as they truly believed it was their American duty to help our country win the war. Thankfully, this heroic effort by our farmers was a major contributor to finally ending and winning the war.
Unfortunately after the war ended, there was a massive overproduction of food (and much less demand), and farmers couldn’t sell their products. Therefore, they couldn’t pay their debts off either.
The government realized this and initially created the first food stamp program to help farmers sell their products! An interesting fact is that the food stamp program was controlled by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture); at that time, the secretary of agriculture decided on what food stamps could be used for. Food stamps were ONLY USED for agriculture commodities that had an “overage” supply issue. Although this program was initially created to help farmers, it became a win-win—helping the American farmer survive, while also helping those in need.
Unfortunately, this program did not provide enough monetary offset to pay the devastating debt that American farmers had accrued during the war. Millions of farmers went bankrupt, were forced to abandon their farms, and then moved to the city to find jobs to support their families.
Next week, we will talk about the “dust bowl”….
Did you know that the dust bowl happened to occur around the same time that millions of farmers went bankrupt and farms were abandoned….
Coincidence?
Stay Tuned!
Lily Burns, Jr. Miss Arkansas State Fair
