When you think of World War II, how often do you think of food? If you’re like most Americans, it probably doesn’t cross your mind all too often. Believe it or not, during the 1940s, America was constantly on the brink of famine.
As those involved in agriculture left their jobs to join the military and support the war effort elsewhere, a gaping hole in the farming industry formed. In an attempt to fill this hole, the Emergency Farm Labor Service was born. From 1943-1947, the Emergency Farm Labor Service employed women, children, Mexican nationals, interned Japanese-Americans, German Prisoners of War, wounded servicemen, and several other untraditional categories of workers in order to keep America and Americans abroad fed.
Heavily impacted by the Emergency Farm Labor Service, Oregon has a unique and interesting story, which happens to be the feature of our newest exhibit. To learn more about this exciting time in Oregon’s history, check out Fighters on the Farm Front: Oregon’s Emergency Farm Labor Service, 1943-1947!