LOUDON — In the middle of a war that divided his country and pit brother against brother, President Abraham Lincoln didn't lose sight of the fact that without farmers, America wouldn't prosper. So, in 1862, he established an agency to strengthen the country's agricultural base — the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On Wednesday, set against the backdrop of Miles Smith Farm, which was going strong when Lincoln signed the legislation, folks from around the state celebrated the 150th anniversary of the USDA.

Judy Canales, USDA undersecretary for rural development, said Miles Smith Farm was chosen as the perfect place to commemorate the birth of the USDA because owners Bruce Dawson and Carole Soule have joined with the USDA to ensure that their farm, which raises Highland cattle, is built on a strong economic foundation and has a sound business plan to carry it into the future.

“We try to carry on Miles Smith's tradition of keeping this farm a small farm and the USDA has played an important role in helping us do that,” said Soule.

“We would not be where we are today without the help of the USDA. They're truly our partners.”

“Carol and Bruce have been able to utilize USDA investment products for their farm,” said Canales, “and their success is important for them, but also for the people who count on them for local food, which is now more important than ever.”

The USDA was called “the people's department,” by Lincoln, Canales said, because he understood the importance of agriculture in the daily lives of his contemporaries.

The same year he established the USDA, he also signed the Morrill Land-Grant Act that allowed for the creation of agricultural colleges, and the Homestead Act that gave families access to land in the West.

Today, Canales said, “the American farmer feeds the nation, and we feed the globe.”

Also on hand at the ceremony was Lorraine Merrill, New Hampshire's commissioner of agriculture, who said that Lincoln had amazing foresight in establishing the USDA at a time when the nation was fighting, a potato famine was gripping Ireland, and American farmers were starting to face stiff competition from farmers around the globe.

Merrill said that in New Hampshire, there's a strong partnership between the state and federal agencies that provides a network of support that helps ensure that New Hampshire maintains its strong agrarian roots and that farmland is used for farming.

nfoster@newstote.com