A young, university-educated farmer named Joseph Coulter convinces the farmers to buy new hybrid corn. As he returns with the crop, Coulter's horses bolt causing his wagon to veer down a steep hill trapping the farmer underneath exposing the precious seed to hungry crows. The residents of Walnut Grove fear that they may have been cheated and take their frustrations out on his wife with harsh accusations. Charles is convinced something is wrong and hurries to look for him.