17 Photos Showing Why Farming Was Better In The 1900s

The early 1900s were a time when farming was the backbone of society, shaping not only the economy but also the daily lives of countless families. In these 17 powerful photographs, we are offered a rare and intimate glimpse into the world of farmers. These men and women’s lives were deeply intertwined with the land they cultivated. From the simplicity of rural life to the gritty challenges of agriculture, these images capture the perseverance, innovation, and spirit that defined a generation of farmers. Join us as we look back at a time when farming was both a way of life and a labor of love.

1. Farmers taking down the Sheriff.

A group of men in overalls and hats crouch around a person lying on the ground. A sign nearby reads, "This is exempt property from seizure. This is a widow's homestead." The scene appears tense and urgent.
u/csa1935/via reddit

They’re attacking the sheriff because he was trying to evict a woman from her farm after her husband died.

2. Farmers dressed differently in 1913.

Vintage black and white photo of a family outdoors in winter clothing. A woman in a long coat and hat, a child in a hooded coat, and a man in a suit holding a hat stand between leafless trees, with a barn in the background.
u/miserystate/via reddit

There’s nothing like tending to animals in a 3 piece suit.

3. In the ’30s, farmers had as many children as possible to lighten the workload.

A black and white photo of a family of twelve standing in front of a tent. The group includes adults and children dressed in worn clothing typical of the early 20th century, with some children barefoot. The background shows part of a covered structure.
u/eaglemamxie/via reddit

Your kids provide the best type of labor, free.

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4. Would you visit this place?

A person wearing a hat and holding two snakes stands in front of a large sign that reads, "Regal Reptile Ranch & Menagerie" with depictions of snakes and text advertising various species. The area appears rustic and outdoors.
u/keeperofthecan/via reddit

Anyone with a fear of snakes should steer clear of this snake farm.

5. The ’20s were just different.

A vintage black and white photo shows a young girl in a dress and shoes sitting on an alligator, which has a rope around its mouth. She is in an outdoor setting with grass and trees, and other people are visible in the background.
via reddit

Kids could ride alligators at this farm in California.

6. Johnny Cash at his home farm, 1950s.

A person wearing a plaid shirt and straw hat crouches on a plowed field, holding soil and a hoe. It's overcast, with trees and open land in the background.
u/malibuhuladuck/via reddit

This is his parents’ farm, the one Cash grew up on as a child.

7. A Kentucky dairy farm, 1940.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a person in white overalls standing beside a dairy cow, smiling. They hold a hat in one hand. In the background, there is farm equipment and blurred trees.
u/smart-cricket/via reddit

That device behind him was used to remove manure.

8. Future president Jimmy Carter, 1960.

A man in a plaid shirt is sitting on a tractor with two boys standing beside him. They are outdoors near a wooden structure, with the boys dressed in button-up shirts. The atmosphere appears casual and cheerful.
u/act1989/via reddit

This is a photo of him on his peanut farm. That’s a lot of peanuts.

9. This is not an Abercrombie ad; it’s farm boys in 1914.

Three young men stand with arms crossed, wearing sleeveless tops, in front of a leafy background. They have short hairstyles and confident expressions, and the image appears to be a vintage black and white photograph.
u/jphillipre/via reddit

The man in the middle would go on to be a champion wrestler, fight in WWI, and then graduate from law school.

10. Cats getting some fresh milk.

A man in a barn milks a cow while wearing a cowboy hat and boots. Two cats eagerly stand on their hind legs, watching the stream of milk. Sunlight filters through the barn's wooden slats.
u/polymathyx/via reddit

It’s adorable how they’re waiting so nicely in line.

11. How would they move a rock like this in 1910?

A vintage photo shows six people, three women and three men, standing and sitting on a large rock in an open landscape. They wear early 20th-century attire. The background features trees and an open field under a cloudy sky.
u/swiggy1957/via reddit

Farmers need to remove big rocks in fields so they can hay the field. I have a feeling this one took some time to move.

12. Now these guys look like some early 1900s farmers.

Two men stand in front of a wooden barn. Both wear overalls; one has a large brim hat and beard, the other a bowler hat and mustache. A small child is partially visible on the right. The image has a vintage, black-and-white appearance.
u/sictransitlinds/via reddit

They weirdly remind me of the Wright brothers.

13. Farm kids have it the best.

Two people sit in the raised bucket of a red tractor. They are smiling and waving. In the background, there is a vintage green pickup truck and leafless trees. The image appears to have a faded, nostalgic look.
u/collector_and_fish/via reddit

Who wouldn’t want to sit dangerously high in a tractor bucket?

14. Contrary to popular belief, this photo is from the ’70s.

A person in a hat is plowing a field with a dark horse on a sunny day. The horse is harnessed and pulling a plow through the soil. There are trees and a garden in the background.
via reddit

There were heavy machines, but this man just wanted to farm the old-fashioned way.

15. These girls are living the life.

Two children joyfully ride large, fluffy sheep across a grassy field. The boy and girl smile widely as they grip the animals, who are in mid-run. The background is slightly blurred, emphasizing the action and speed of their ride.
u/melanatedtukon/via reddit

You’ve heard of racing horses, but have you heard of racing sheep?

16. There’s nothing quite like eating in fear.

Three women sit at a table in shallow water with drinks and a basket, while several alligators swim nearby. A man in a chef's hat stands beside them. The scene appears relaxed yet surreal, combining elements of leisure and danger.
via reddit

I just hope everyone went home with all of their toes.

17. George Foreman was a beast.

A man in a jacket and hat carries a calf over his shoulders. The calf is resting comfortably, with its legs hanging down and head near the man's arm. The background features a wooden fence and blurred trees. The image is in black and white.
u/mechrec/via reddit

George is carrying a calf on his farm, 1970s.