From the Archives - Sept 11, 2025

100 Years of Howe Farms History

Odin Floyd “O.F.” Howe left his Iowa home early to ride the rails out west in 1906. He worked to become a jeweler, watchmaker, and optometrist in Brody’s Pharmacy. He and his partners built the Enterprise Block on Main Street to house their businesses. O.F. married Alice Gray in 1912. He began buying Kootenai Valley homestead ranches in 1925, when overflow lands were being reclaimed by diking and converted to mechanized farming.

O.F.’s son, Don, still in school, got his start working on the farm hoeing celery row crops earning 25 cents an hour. The First National Bank failed in 1932. With little to no money coming into the household from the jewelry and optometry shop, O.F. borrowed money from friends to send Don to the University of Idaho. Don graduated in 1936 with a degree in Agronomy. Father and son began a life of farming together. Don married Muff Vermass in 1939. They had two children, Terry and Tracy.

O.F formed a partnership with Don, and purchased more acreage. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Don began farming full time. He used his Agronomy degree to modernize farming methods - upgrading equipment, building grain bins for storage, and implementing reclamation procedures. High water and flooding were dealt with annually. O.F retired from both his shop and the farm in 1949.

Don expanded the farm over the years. His son, Terry worked summers and Saturdays while attending school. He shoveled grain out of trucks for $5 a day and loaded 110 pound seed sacks on trucks. Don formed Howe Farms, Inc. in 1960 and hired many men over the years. Terry served in the Army, married Susan Kucera, and attended the University of Idaho, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Economics. They had two children, Karen and Andy.

Don Howe served on the Kootenai Valley Reclamation Association, Idaho Wheat Commission, Idaho Wheat Growers, Western Wheat Associates, National Association of Wheat Growers, and as Idaho State Senator, all while overseeing Howe Farms’ operation of 1,700 acres. After Don’s death in 1990, Terry and Tracy each inherited half the farm. Terry and Sue continued operating as Howe Farms, Inc. and Tracy and husband, Tom Iverson formed T&T Farms. (Now farmed by their son, Ty). Howe Farms became a four generation farm when Terry’s son, Andy began operating a combine at age 14. As Sue’s health declined, Terry retired in 1997 to care for her, leasing the farm land to local farmers. In a few short years, Andy’s daughter will become the fifth generation of Howe Farms, Inc.

The Idaho Century Farm Award will be presented to Howe Farms Friday, September 19, 2025 3:00-5:00 pm at the Museum. It is "dedicated to the memory of all the former owners of the lands that eventually made up the Howe farm. Their hard work and sacrifice are honored by this award. Credit is given to those who improved the land, loved it, and preserved its integrity over a span of one-hundred years."

The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column. 

Visit the museum, Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or visit the website at boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 208-267-7720.