Experimental Farm
There are records of animals and vegetable gardens on the "old Fort" property back to the 1880s. In 1893 C.C. Duncan, United States Indian Inspector, reported that 65 acres was being cultivated by the school. During the year it produced 18 tons of oat hay, 17,350 pounds of potatoes, 200 pounds of turnips, 2973 pounds of onions, 240 pounds of beans and 2700 pounds of other vegetables. The school also owned 7 horses, 4 swine, and 36 domestic fowl.
By 1900, two hundred acres were under cultivation and all but 15 of those were irrigated. According to records, in 1903 the school owned "8 horses, 1 mare, 1 pony, 44 cattle, 38 calves, 2 bulls and 6 good pigs." The cattle were branded with I.D.F.L. indicating ownership by the Department of Interior and Fort Lewis School.
In 1911, twenty pedigreed Holstein dairy cows arrive from the former Teller Indian School at Grand Junction.
In 1916, Colorado A&M established a branch experiment station at Fort Lewis, specializing in high-altitude agronomy and horticulture research.
| Photo courtesy of Fort Lewis College Center of SouthWest Studies |  |
Excerpt from 1917 Fort Lewis School Catalogue...Students and instructors take their meals at a central dining room where is served home-butchered pork and beef, fresh vegetables from the garden, butter, cream, milk and buttermilk, fresh from the school's own dairy. The school is largely self supporting from the standpoint of food....
In 1923, experimental orchard planted. Trees included cherries, plums, crabapples, and six varieties of apples. The first Farmers Institute (field day) to share information from agriculture research was also held in 1923.
1925 Catalogue excerpt.....
Livestock
The school has a fine herd of registered Hereford cattle, a herd of Holsteins for dairy purposes, good Oxford and Rambouillet sheep, Duroc-Jersey hogs and fine Percheron horses. these are used by the boys in their stock judging studies.
Experimental Work
The Colorado Experiment Station has two men at Fort Lewis in charge of experimental work with grains, grasses, clovers, peas, potatoes, small and orchard fruits, and of livestock investigations.
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Floy Bader gathers eggs in 1940s. Photo courtesy of Fort Lewis College Center of SouthWest Studies |