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The Agricultural Wheel was a cooperative alliance of farmers in the United States that existed from 1882 until 1888 when it merged with the National Farmers' Alliance. It was initially started by W. W. Tedford, farmer and school teacher, to improve farming conditions.
On February 15, 1882, during a period of depressed farm prices and drought, a group of nine Arkansas farmers led by W.W. Tetford, W. A. Suit and W. Taylor McBee met at the McBee Schoolhouse eight miles south of Des Arc, Prairie County, Arkansas and formed the Wattensas Farmers' Club. The club's stated goals were to improve the lives of farmers, improve their education and knowledge, and improve communications between them. Many Arkansas farmers were suffering under what they viewed as oppressive mortgages (known as anaconda mortgages) and were heavily in debt.
Within a short time it was suggested that the organization change its name. The choices were between "The Poor Man's Friend" and "The Agricultural Wheel" which was the name finally selected.
By 1883 the organization consisted of over 500 members in Arkansas. At the organization's meeting in the spring a state Wheel was established and deputies were appointed to spread the word to neighboring states and seek to establish local wheels in those states.
In 1885 the Wheel absorbed the Brothers of Freedom, another Arkansas farm organization.
In 1886 delegates from Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee gathered at the town of Litchfield, Arkansas and established the National Agricultural Wheel and to establish an official newspaper for the organization.
By the time of the 1887 meeting the membership of the national organization was over 500,000 farmers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Indian Territory, and Wisconsin.
Prairie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population is 9,539. The county has two county seats, Des Arc and De Valls Bluff. Prairie County was formed on October 25, 1846 and named for the Grand Prairie of eastern Arkansas.