Independence, quality of life and self employment are a few of the main reasons that North Dakota's stewards of the land list as their livelihood's rewards. Surprisingly, North Dakota leads the nation with a dozen different crops, from barley to (Durum) wheat.
The state is big on Lewis and Clark, and perhaps one reason may be the fact that the 1804 expedition spent more time in North Dakota than any other area, bringing back a wealth of information. Following 300 miles of the Missouri River, expedition journals characterized the land as semi-arid, noted a wide variety of wildlife, and related a string of tall tales that included gigantic Indians, mountains made of salt and soil too rich to grow trees.
Along with the Dakotas' statehood, a flood of homesteaders spread over the plains states. By 1865, 20,000 new residents occupied land acquired under the Homestead Act. Early plains farmers endured the territory's harsh winters, small sod homes and plenty of hard work. Today's farms, averaging over 12,000 acres, are aided by incredible advances in farm machinery and the pleasant fact that three quarters of the annual rainfall appears during the growing season. This farm scene was found along the Lewis and Clark Trail near Williston.