Family farms were once a way of life throughout rural America, the proverbial red farmhouses dotting landscapes in communities across the Midwest. But today, many of these smaller farming operations are a thing of the past, rendered extinct due to financial hardships and other agricultural developments.

The saga of the Peterson family farm has spanned more than half a century, marking a roller coaster of agricultural, social, economic and technological booms and busts. From price controls to pest controls, learn how the history of one small Illinois farm reflects the larger changes in American agriculture over the past seven decades.

Begin your journey through family farming in America.

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