The early 1940s saw the United States involved in World War II. This war affected everyone in one way or another. Shortages of common items occurred. People of all walks of life were asked to make changes. This included the people on the farms, too. One of the problems facing the farm was the short supply of labor to harvest the crops. The county agent requested assistance from the State Labor Office. As a result of this request troops of southern workers were moved into the state. The southern workers went to the Glenfield area. The next year help was received from a group of Mexican Nationals. Here's a story from the Independent.

July 1936: Record temperature of 119 degrees recorded. The two week period of July 5-18, everyday during that time the temperature climbed to at least 100 degrees or higher.

Farmers Find Mexican Nationals

Excellent Harvest Laborers

As good help as I have ever had on the place is the way one farmer expresses his satisfaction with the Mexican laborers who are assisting with this year's harvest.

Several farmers have remarked on the politeness of the men from "South of the Border." Most of the Mexicans will not sit down at the table until the family is seated, and will not take food until the family is served, they say. Some of the laborers are thoughtful enough to stack their dishes when the meal is over. One woman said they thanked her for the meal afterward, something no hired help she had known had ever done before. There is a story that the Mexicans are accustomed to eating with their hats on, but with broad smiles, pulled their hats off when they observed that the Americans took theirs off.

One farmer said he, in the usual harvest time rush, gave his hands and face a hurried dab before eating, and was almost ashamed of himself when one of the Mexicans after washing threw the water out and then got fresh water and washed again. Some of the laborers, farmers said, change their shirts when they come in from working, then change back to their working clothes before going back to the fields.

Almost all men using the Mexican laborers are satisfied with their work. One farmer has this story to tell of the obedience of one of them. He took the laborer to the field and showed him how to set up a shock, then as the farmer will, he walked around the shock to see how it looked. All afternoon, after he had set up each shock the Mexican walked completely around it before starting another.

The Mexicans have proved that they are not "fussy" about what they eat, but because their food is usually more highly seasoned and North Dakota farm women may like to prepare their native dishes, the NDSU Extension Service had issued a folder containing Mexican recipes.

In 1949, an achievement program was inaugurated to honor the farmers who were willing to follow good conservation practices. A group of judges travel throughout the county selecting the winner. The county winners are then invited as guests to the state SCS meeting.

At this time they are presented an aerial painting of their farm. Another copy of the painting is displayed in the meeting room of the First American Bank and Trust in Carrington.

Winners of this award are: 1949, H. D. Lyman, Arnold McDaniel, Claus Otto; 1950, Ervin Topp, Wallace Topp, William Spitzer; 1951, Walter Larson, Lloyd Butts, Paul Black; 1952, Eugene Zink, Arnold Leppke, Gustav Miller.

1953, F. F. Reimers; 1954, Soren Clausen; 1955, W. A. Rosenau; 1956, L. E. Ellingson; 1957, Henry

Zink; 1958, Edwin Gussiaas; 1959, Darold Anderson; 1960, Ralph Harmon; 1961, Leon Gauderman; 1962, William Zink; 1963, Robert Montgomery; 1964, Clamats Gader; 1965, Leonard Norheim; 1966, Lawrence Utke; 1967, Woodrow Topp and Merlin; 1968, A. J. Mullenberg.

1969, Paul Brandt; 1970, Joe Reiniger; 1971, Ernest Walen; 1972, John Murphy; 1973, Bernard Kramer; 1974, Olaf Gussiaas; 1975, William Black; 1976, Einar and Arvid Ellingson; 1977, Glenn Lindstrom; 1978, Kermit Skadberg; 1979, Stanley Smith; 1980, Douglas Schmid.

Source:  Glenfield History 1886 €“ 1987 Page 77