very few single men worked on a farm alone. farmers understood the need for a hard-working wife and many children, to handle the many chores, including child-rearing, feeding and clothing the family, managing the housework, feeding the hired hands, and handling the paperwork and financial details (especially after the 1930s). in the late 19th century, farm women were important in keeping the family going by working outdoors. after a generation or so, women started leaving the fields. this changed their roles within the family. new technology such as sewing and washing machines made women play domestic roles. the scientific housekeeping movement was promoted across the land by the media and government extension agents. it was also promoted by county fairs which showed achievements in home cookery and canning, advice columns for women in the farm newspapers, and home economics courses in the schools.