Plowville remembered Augusta events of 1953 Wisconsin plowing
In September 1953 about 68 000 gathered in Augusta for national and state plowing matches billed as Operation Watershed and Wisconsin Soil Conservar tion Days. Ezra Taft Benson spoke as 68 000 spectators watched champions from 22 states compete for top honors while eight local farms hosted the event and irrigation helped dry ground.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Augusta
Plowville
U.S.A
Wisconsin
Soil and Water Conservation
Mary Ann Bendel Crowned Queen at Balliett Plowing Champs
Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson joined Mary Ann Bendel, 17, of Athens, Marathon County, as the Balliett farm hosted the baking of the national plowing contest. Contestants included Mary Ann McKlquham, Shirley Severson, Lois Rich and Avis Olsen. Graeme Stewart of Plainfield and R. C. Cummins of Lewistown won in level land and contour divisions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ezra Taft Benson
Mormon Church
Council of Twelve
Agriculture
Emma Balliett
Balliett Farm
Contest
Mary Ann McKlquham
Chippewa Falls
Shirley Severson
Eau Claire
Lois Rich
Chetek
Avis Olsen
Shell Lake
Mary Ann Bendel
Athens
Marathon County
Graeme Stewart
Plainfield, Ill
Level Land
R.C. Cummins
Lewistown
Ohio
Wisconsin Plowing Contest Draws Nation to Augusta Roads
Tractors arrived on trucks along Highway 12 as the interstate era hadn’t begun. Notable visitors included Arthur and Elise Schroff from Milltown and officials from the Doboy Co. at New Richmond. Everett Mitchell broadcast from Eau Claire, praising the day, while Benson’s keynote drew a modest response. Local organizers and UW Extension staff led contests, with Wilbur Roehr and Ernest Walker starting the contour plowing. The event featured musical acts Homer and Jethro, a flagged stop by The 400, and plenty of farm aid like lime, seed, and a well drilled on host farms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Doboy Co
New Richmond
Arthur
Elise Schroff
Milltown
N.J
Ballietts
Wilbur Roehr
Buffalo County
Alma
Ernest Walker
University of Illinois
North Dakota
Iowa
Minnesota
Michigan
Illinois
Wisconsin
Homer
Jethro
Augusta
Eau Claire
Kelcher
Also Mentioned on This Page
Wisconsin Farm Progress Days
Waupaca
Fred Steffen
Morning
Eau Claire Leader
Steffen
Mother Earth
Jay Balliett
Mr. Luedtke
Balliett
Mrs. Balliett
Mr. Benson
Walter Kohler
Eau Claire County
Orrie Shiffer
Bob Guthrie
Watford Seguin
Benson
Whitehall
Barney Roytok
Thorp
Elder Rutschow
Ed Saiger
Hager City
Cyril
Buckley
Menomonie
Dorrance Stolts
Hixton
Basil Tenneson
Blair
Douglas Goodrich
Cylon
Phil Olson
Elena
Walter Herman
Glen Flora
Alvin Pernsteiner
Medford
Roy Dodge Jr
Don Strauch
Neil Ansen
Star Prairie
George Wendlich
Rudy Christ
Independence
Norman Thorson
Withee
Carl Long
Boyd
Bob Gilbertson
Arcadia
Roscoe Knipfel
Hammond
Herb Dietsche
Colfax
William Tenner
Melrose
Willis Jerome
Barron
Joe Hemm
Conrath
Manitowoc County
Barnevald
Stillwater, Minn
Thompson Creek
Leone Balliett
Pennsylvania
Nebraska
Missouri
Oklahoma
Midwest
Mr. Keliher
Ed Baker
Luedtke Farm
B.F. Rusy
A.J. Wojta
Uw-Extension
Herb Plambeck
Station
Des Moines
Don Hall
Old Wisconsin Conservation Department
Orrin Berge
Chippewa
Hans Horne
Hal Smith
Clark County
Stanley Ihlenfeldt
Ted Myren
St. Croix County
SCS
del Thomas
Chicago North Western
Mr. Kelcher
Galesville
Hwy
Findlay
Jim Gonnering
Kaukauna
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