Our Stories

From Dirt to Dollars: Big Agriculture in Chandler August 31 10:30 am As Dr. Chandler’s vision of turning the desert into a green garden became a reality, early Chandler residents took advantage of the fertile land and the opportunities it provided. Industrial sized farms growing alfalfa, cotton, citrus, beans, melons, and sugar beets flourished as Chandler farmers learned how to capitalize on profits of these cash crops. By the 1970s community leaders realized the changing economy’s threat to cash crops and they shifted focus to a new industry, growing microchips. Museum Administrator Jody Crago will trace the history of Chandler’s big business agriculture.