The Andersons cleared their land by burning the brush cover and pulling stumps, then broke the prairie sod with a plow and smoothed a rough plowed field by pulling logs over it. Grethe brought her children out to the fields, where they could sit in the shade while she worked with Lars and Jens. Their first year on the land, the Andersons planted root crops and vegetables, which sustained both people and animals. Lars and Jens also hunted for wild game.

Like most farms of the era, theirs quickly became a diverse operation. By 1870, they had a team of horses, six milk cows, nine other cattle, five sheep and five swine. In 1869, they raised substantial crops of wheat, Indian corn, oats, barley, potatoes, and hay, and produced 150 pounds of butter and 10 pounds of wool.

“It is a fact well established among buyers that this valley produces a better article of wheat than any other section of the state. Straight lots from this place brought 5¢ more per bushel than any other section last fall in Milwaukee.”
— Eau Claire Free Press, c. 1863

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