The Importance Of Agriculture In Harrison County

Toned muscles; strong, hardened hands; and sun kissed skin: The proud physical signs of farm labor have left their mark on the hardworking citizens of Harrison County for over 200 years. This year we celebrate the Bicentennial of Indiana and the tremendous achievements of our Hoosiers during the past two centuries. The history of Harrison County is inextricably intertwined with its history of agriculture. To this day, farming and agriculture are a crucial part of the economy in Harrison County; although, earlier in our county’s history, agriculture was not only a critically important piece of the economy, it was also a necessity for life in rural Indiana.
The first settlers came to Indiana along the vast Ohio River in search of fertile land fit for farming and rural life; finding what they were searching for in our very own Harrison County. The rich soil and direct river transportation attracted courageous pioneers to the area to lay the firm agricultural groundwork on which generations would build their livelihoods in the agricultural industry.
The heightened production of corn and soybeans brought the wealth of agricultural trade to the ever growing Harrison County community. The sharpened blades of grain scythes and the deep furrows plowed by cultivators soon made their appearance in farms across the county. The trade of livestock raised for consumption, such as cows, pigs, and chickens, was also a necessary part of Harrison County agriculture. Additionally, farmers utilized the shear natural power of animals including horses, mules, and oxen to assist them with the heavy loads associated with farm labor. Gradually, the agricultural industry of Harrison County became a thriving, profitable income for many local laborers of the