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The West Central Minnesota Historical Association (WCMHA) is a collaboration of the county and area historical societies and museums of 10 counties in West Central Minnesota. The counties included are Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine. The purpose of this collaboration is to network and promote and tell the history of West Central Minnesota through exhibits, programs, and more.
In 2022, WCMHA received a Heritage Partnership grant in the amount of $39,250 to hire a consultant to work with WCMHA on an interpretive plan and research for the 1980s farm crisis in West Central Minnesota. Jim Roe Museum Planning was hired to develop an interpretive plan and research the topic. He conducted several oral history interviews with residents in the 10 counties to supplement the research he gathered from primary and secondary sources. Last month, Jim Roe completed the project and submitted the final document to WCMHA. Ultimately, WCMHA wants to bring the stories of the 1980s farm crisis to its audiences through programs and traveling exhibits based on the research gathered from this project. WCMHA members will discuss next steps at their fall meeting.
One of the stories featured in the research document is about the Marshall Rust Implement, which was located on Hwy 19 where Wayne's Tractor Repair is now. Marshall Rust Implement was a dealer for Case tractors and equipment. With farmers struggling to make payments on purchased equipment, implement dealers such as Rust, suffered too. Eventually, Rust was unable to make payments to Case and on June 26, 1985, the manufacturer announced repossession of its tractors and implements. As word got out, Groundswell members rallied support for Rust, staging an onsite vigil that lasted until Aug. 1, when trucks arrived to haul away the implements. In protest, 19 Groundswell members lay down across the dealer's driveway in an attempt to stop the trucks. They were subsequently arrested. Most of the protestors were members of Groundswell, a farm activist group.
In the Independent on Aug. 2, 1985, a couple of protesters were interviewed. Canby resident Bob Olsen said being arrested was worthwhile since it proved a point, "I got tired of just sitting out there and not saying anything." he said. "To help a good guy like Ed out. I'd do it again and again and again." Betty Neuman of Cottonwood said the protest and her arrest left her with a "beautiful" feeling, "We've got to fight for survival, we've got to get our story out some way."
Heritage Partnership Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage. Heritage Partnership Grants are administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.
The photograph featured this week shows the cover of the 1985 Lyon County Rural Resident & Plat Directory, which is in the Lyon County Museum's collection.
The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors.
To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.