Lewis Thaddeus Nordyke, newspaperman and author, explains the situation of drought and dust storms in Dalhart, Texas during 1930s. He talks about a "black blizzard" during a funeral in April, 1935.
Farmers of Dalhart, Texas describe the terrible sand storms they suffered in the region during 1930s. In 1960 interview, farmer Harold Hogue describes a severe dust storm he experienced in 1934. Scene change to mid 1930s footage showing dust bowl views of desolated farms, drought stricken lands and houses and farm equipment all piled high and buried in dust and dirt. A 1960s' farmer on his tractor describes how the dust storms destroyed his wheat crops and left sand and dust on everything. He states that they experienced 110 dust storms in the Spring of 1934.
Views of life during the Dust Bowl. People removing dust and sand from their houses. Farmers shovel sand from around their homes and farm buildings. Livestock have nothing to graze. Crowd gathered as desperate farmers auction off their livestock.
Lewis Thaddeus Nordyke, newspaperman and author, who lived through the Dust Bowl in Dalhart, Texas, recounts how some people "stayed and prayed" in hopes of rain, always looking forward to "next year." Views of drought stricken land and sand covered houses during dust bowl in Great Depression. Scenes of farmers packing up their families and abandoning their homes. Some wear handerchief masks over their faces to protect against dust. Families load belongings into the backs of towed carts and trucks, leaving their homes. (Between 1935 and 1939, 350 thousand people left their homes in the dust bowl. Many migrated west toward California.)
Narrator, Lewis Nordyke, recalls seeing farm families passing through Dalhart, Texas, on their way West, to escape the dust bowl and start anew in California. Farmers and their families traveling in trucks. They stop and make camp for the night. Two farmers in conversation. Woman feeding a baby. Woman drying clothes. Girl sleeping. Journey starts again, with trucks piled high with belongings driving on roads. A sign marked with 'Arizona Welcomes You' can be seen as they pass through the Inspection office. Entering California, a board marked 'Needles welcome You to California'. Farmers go through inspection process in California.
Lewis Thaddeus Nordyke, newspaperman and author,speaks about hard lessons learned from the dust bowl experience of the past, particularly regarding soil conservation. A government agriculture expert counsels a farmer, as they kneel over a seedling. A field of healthy crops. A farmer on a cultivator. A farm in Dalhart, Texas. Farmer, Garland Palmer, explains why he stayed on his land after the dustbowl experience. Farmer, Harold H. Hogue, leaning against his tractor, tells of farming experience in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. He attributes ultimate success to irrigation. Views of irrigation systems employed on farm. Farmer, Orville H. Finch, expresses his confidence in the future of farming. Expansive views of farm fields.
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