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Historic figures in agriculture
The 4-H Pledge says, “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
A number of individuals throughout history have done that and contributed to the agricultural world with little recognition.
In February, we celebrate African American History Month. Thomas Monroe Campbell, an African American, was a field agent for the U.S. Department of Agriculture before being appointed farm demonstration agent in Alabama in 1906.
Over time, he advanced to state agent in Alabama and then onto field agent for seven Southern states. As a result of his work, there are now nearly 600 county and home demonstration agents in those seven Southern states. Some credit him as the first Cooperative Extension agent in the United States.
March holds the honor of having two-month long celebrations devoted to history. These are Women’s History Month and Irish-American Heritage Month.
Mary Agnes Meara Chase, a female botanist, was an illustrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry. During her work at the Bureau, she made great contributions to the study of grasses. She collected more than 4,500 specimens from Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. and donated her collections to the Smithsonian and the National Herbarium.
Cyrus McCormick, an Irish-American farmer, invented a lightweight cradle for carting harvested grain. He went on to complete his father’s goal of developing a horse-drawn reaping machine in 1831. Therefore, Cyrus is credited with the world’s first mechanical reaper.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Virgil Duyungan, a Filipino Alaskan, was the president of the Cannery Worker’s and Farm Laborer’s Union (CWFLU) during the early 1930s. The main goals of the CWFLU were to rid the salmon canning industry of the exploitive labor contracting system and to improve working and living conditions at the canneries. Though Duyungan’s presidency was short-lived, the CWFLU was able to leave its mark on the Northwest labor movement.
September is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Dolores Huerta was born in 1930 in a small New Mexico mining town. Her family lost their farm during the Depression. Years later, while teaching, she became interested in advocating for farmers because she could not stand seeing kids come to class hungry and needing shoes. Ultimately, that is what led her down the path to become one of the co-founders of the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez.
Native American Heritage Month is in November. No one questions the impact American Indians have had in agricultural fields, ranging from introducing the Three Sisters to introducing colonists to edible plants. The Three Sisters refers to the companion planting of squash, corn and beans. The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) was founded in 1987 to pursue and promote the conservation, development and use of our agricultural resources for the betterment of Native American and Alaskan tribes. The IAC has become recognized as the most respected voice within the American Indian community and government circles on agricultural policies and programs in American Indian country.
Year round, many individuals have greatly contributed to agriculture. As you shop, work, eat or watch TV, think about those throughout history who have given of themselves and practiced the 4-H Pledge while making a difference in the agricultural world.
Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events.
Upcoming Events:
Feb. 21 – Eating More Heart-Healthy with Fat, Putnam Extension Facebook page, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 – Midwest Women in Ag conference - virtual - $40, register at https://tinyurl.com/2021MWIA
Feb. 28 – Eating More Heart-Healthy cooking demo, Putnam Extension Facebook page, 7:30 p.m.
March 15 – Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options - virtual series - $25, register at https://tinyurl.com/2021APKnow