To trace Wright County Farm Bureau members Dennis and Cheryl Jacobsen’s Heritage Farm to its beginning, one must begin on June 4, 1856, the day the farm was gifted to a man by the last name of Bixby for his service in the military. Less than one month later, on July 3, 1856, it was sold to Dennis’ ancestor, Solomon Orcutt. The price: $640 for 160 acres, or $4 per acre.

"So basically, it’s been in the family all except for that one month," Dennis said.

Back then, Dennis said the area was a collection of "prairie potholes" — prairie grass and standing water.

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