What was a sodbuster and how did they help farmers?

A sodbuster was a term used to describe farmers, particularly those in the Great Plains, who specialized in breaking up the thick sod of prairie land to cultivate crops. By using plows and other farming equipment, they transformed this previously uncultivated land into arable farmland. This practice allowed for increased agricultural production and helped settle the region, promoting the expansion of farming communities and contributing to the economic development of the area. Sodbusters played a crucial role in the transformation of the American landscape during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.