Successful Farming magazine’s history is no April Fool’s joke

4/1/2022

It’s April Fool’s day, but Successful Farming magazine’s long history is no joke. Here’s a look back at covers from the month of April over the years. Several of these pieces of art are more than 100 years old.

1908

When this cover was first published in April 1908, Theodore Roosevelt was president. James Wilson was serving as USDA secretary of agriculture. In the fall of this year, production of the Model T began.

1918

Woodrow Wilson was president when this cover of Successful Farming magazine was published. David Franklin Huston was serving as USDA secretary of agriculture. The flu pandemic of 1918 killed tens of millions of people, and many young men served in World War I at this time.

1921

In April of 1921, Warren G. Harding had just become the 29^th president of the United States. This is also the year the Tomb of the Unknowns was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery. Irving Berlin’s song “All By Myself” became popular at this time as well.

1930

When this April issue of Successful Farming magazine was published, Herbert Hoover was president. Arthur Mastick Hyde was serving as USDA secretary of agriculture. The Great Depression was just beginning at this time.

1943

Franklin D. Roosevelt was president when this cover of Successful Farming magazine was published. Claude Raymond Wickard was USDA secretary of agriculture. In the spring of this year, Oklahoma!, the musical, opened on Broadway. Frank Sinatra was popular at the time.

2009

When this cover was published in April 2009, Barack Obama was president. Tom Vilsack was serving his first term as USDA secretary of agriculture. Cell phone technology continued to grow with increased use of 3G networks. Michael Jackson died later that year.

2018

Donald Trump was president when this cover was published. Sonny Perdue was serving as USDA secretary of agriculture. This is the same year Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line was top of the country music charts.