ITMI 2012

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Field Trip

On Tuesday afternoon we will exit the scientific venue for a field trip to the Bagg Bonanza Farm, which is approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) south of Fargo.  Along the way we will have a clear view of the rich agricultural way of life in the Red River Valley.

If you have not heard of a Bonanza Farm, they were very large farms created created in the late 1800’s when Northern Pacific Railroad allowed stockholders to buy large tracts of land at a rate competitive with land the government sold.  This was to raise the necessary capital to continue building the railroad that was crossing present day North Dakota.

 

The Bagg farm was created when the 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares) established in 1886 was placed under the control of J. F. Downings nephew took over the enterprise as the superintendent of the farm that his uncle had purchased during the great land deal with the railroad.

 

In 1915 Mr. Bagg moved his inheritance, including land, buildings and machinery, one mile from the Downing farmstead and began his own Bonanza Farm. 

Today the Bagg Bonanza Farm Historic Preservation Society run the 15 acres (6 hectares) of the original Bagg farm and are working to restore all buildings on the site as well as begin agricultural production plots adjacent to the farm site to commemorate these Bonanza Farms.

 

The Bagg Farm was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and to the State Historic Sites Registry in 1986.

 

The field trip will include guided tours of the farm, a country-style dinner, drinks, music, dancing, and plenty of time for social interaction.

 

Link 1Bagg Bonanza Farm History

Link 2Bagg Bonanza Farm Pictures

Link 3Bagg Bonanza Historical Farm

Link 4History of Bonanza Farms

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