Lake Elizabeth Township near Lake Lillian in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Farm Holiday Association

August 26, 2023

1. Farm Holiday Association Marker

Inscription. The Farm Holiday Association, which at one time was reported to be the largest organization of farmers in the United States, began in Kandiyohi County in 1932. One particular incident led to the formation of this organization. A Kandiyohi County farmer, Robert Lee, attended a Lake Elizabeth Farmer's Union meeting asking for help with his chattel mortgage. He had recently moved from Stevens County and it said in his chattel mortgage that he could not move from one county to the next without consent from the creditor, so the bank was going to foreclose on his mortgage. In an effort to stop the sale of Lee's cattle, the organization held a "one cent sale" in which area farmers attend the sale and buy everything for one cent and return it to the owner. John Bosch determined that an organization was needed to assist other farmers with similar situations and to help get reform lending practices to farmers. The organization successfully advocated on the national level for reforming lending practices to farmers, thus the Farm Holiday Association dissolved in 1938.

Erected by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical

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Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the Kandiyohi County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 45° 2.75′ N, 94° 50.351′ W. Marker is near Lake Lillian, Minnesota, in Kandiyohi County. It is in Lake Elizabeth Township. It is on County Road 4 Southeast half a mile north of 90th Avenue Southeast (County Highway 20), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8193 Cty Rd 4 SE, Atwater MN 56209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Minnesota

and specifically in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Death of Captain Cady

August 26, 2023

2. Farm Holiday Association Marker

(approx. 1½ miles away); Carrie Johnson (approx. 3.3 miles away); Capitol Hill (approx. 3.6 miles away); US-Dakota War of 1862 Aftermath (approx. 4.9 miles away); John Other Day Camp (approx. 5.2 miles away); Tromso Norsk Evangeliske Kirken (approx. 5½ miles away); Wakanda (approx. 6.1 miles away); Train Wreck (approx. 6.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Lillian.

Farm Holiday Association Marker, from the south image. Click for full size.

August 26, 2023

3. Farm Holiday Association Marker, from the south

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2023. This page has been viewed 295 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2023.