Potatoes grow big in Iowa 1908

William H. Martin created this photographic print, titled “Potatoes grow big in Iowa”, in the United States around 1908. It depicts a man atop a wagonload of oversized potatoes being pulled by two horses. The image is humorous, obviously unrealistic, and plays into the turn-of-the-century American fascination with novelty and the glorification of agricultural bounty. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw rapid industrialization and urbanization, yet there was a strong cultural attachment to agrarian ideals, particularly in the Midwest. Images like these were often circulated as postcards, serving as both advertisements for the state’s agricultural prowess and as humorous mementos. Understanding this image fully requires looking into the history of agriculture in Iowa, the development of photography as a popular medium, and the cultural values of the time. Images like this offer us a glimpse into the hopes, dreams, and sometimes absurd fantasies of a society undergoing profound transformation.