PHASE II CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE Dan Taylor

Volume 13, Issue 1 – June 2014 Bayer Museum of Agriculture Deluxe Edition

President PHASE II CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE Dan Taylor

Vice President Patti Jones

Secretary Curtis Griffith

Treasurer

Waylon Carroll Hurst Jay by Photo Just under 12 months after breaking ground meetings for Liberty and Idalou Co-op Gins. Executive on Phase II construction, museum staff received The museum will continue to host events Director the keys to the new addition. Phase II includes while exhibits are being built and added to the Plains Cotton Growers Conference Center the main exhibit hall. These exhibits include Lacee Hoelting with seating for 300, the main exhibit hall with an interactive major crops exhibit, a cotton gift shop and front desk, the stripper simulator, an Board of catering kitchen, the outdoor irrigation exhibit, and an Directors patio, additional office space, exhibit by Bayer Crop Alton Brazell storage and a volunteer break Science on the science of Ron Chandler room. agriculture with a focus While the exhibit hall is on cotton production. Vic Coker not yet open to the public, The Bayer Museum Don Harris the Plains Cotton Growers of Agriculture Mitchell Harris Conference Center had aims to open Pat Jones over 2,000 visitors attending the new Lee Ruth Krieg different events during the month of April. exhibit hall sometime this The first event in the new facility was the summer. In Steve Moffett Texas Cotton Ginners the meantime, Clint Robinson Association member guests are Dale Swinburn reception on April encouraged to Brett Underwood 2. On April 3, the walk through the new addition Tommy Woolam museum hosted part to see the restored crop duster of a progressive dinner and look at the new space. for 200 museum Interns Top to Bottom: Kirby Kennedy professionals from Drone photo Texas and New Mexico taken during Tad Menefee in conjunction with Hurst event, the Texas Association of Museums Conference. Soon-to-be Main entrance, April 4-5 brought several hundred people for the Ambrosia grand unveiling of the new John Deere CS690 Catering is the cotton stripper and round module builder. first group to use the new kitchen, TCGA reception Additional events that month included Hurst breaks in the new building, TAM members enjoy a Farm Supply’s equipment showcase, and gin reception in the new conference center. Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 1 A Word from the Board NEW MEMBERS & RENEWALS BMA Board Member - Lee Ruth Krieg * denotes new membership I am not a Her sister, Dana, works for Ernst & SOD BUSTER native West Texan, Young in Dallas. Ronnie Aston* but I got here as While we’ve been in Lubbock, I’ve Buster’s Gin, LLC Matt & Diane Farmer soon as I could. I worked with the Girl Scouts and served Steve & Delores Greer grew up on a farm on the Caprock Council board of Anita Hancock in Central Texas. directors. I was a parent volunteer and a Lone Star State Bank While my substitute teacher in the Lubbock ISD. I McWhorter’s Ltd. dad farmed, his was a Grant Committee member for the New Home Co-op Gin Owen’s Co-op Gin primary vocation LISD Foundation for Excellence. While TTU - College of was that of Dana attended Texas A&M, I was a Agricultural Sciences & builder. My mom member and officer of Aggie Moms. Natural Resources taught first grade Currently I am a member of Altrusa West Texas Running Club for most of her International of Lubbock, a women’s career. service organization, and I serve on the CREW BOSS state board of directors of Lutheran Glasscock County Co-op I graduated from Rice University in Horizon Builders May 1965 and married Daniel Krieg Social Services of the South. NAMMCO Machine, LLC* in December. We spent several days of Being involved with the museum has George Sides our honeymoon snowed in in Lubbock. been an exhilarating experience. Board James & Jackie Smith Little did we realize that we would soon members are committed to telling the South Plains Electric Co-op story of agriculture in a first-class facility Darrell Taylor become Lubbock Residents in 1970. Texas Star Co-op Gin Daniel received his Ph. D. in Plant that all of us can be proud of. One of Tule Creek Gin Physiology from Texas A&M in January the most rewarding moments for me 1970 and became a Texas Tech faculty is watching the reaction of a first-time TOP HAND member in March. visitor. I believe we’re a success! 6S Land & Cattle Company Both of our daughters were born in Terry & Sherri Adcock Joe F. Anthony Lubbock. Andrea, our older daughter, Sincerely, James Becton* is working on her Ph.D. at Texas Tech. Lee Ruth Krieg William Bennett Bozeman Machinery State FFA Officers Visit Museum Eric Englund* Mike & Felicia Fillingim As part of a series of spent several minutes Harold & Melva Flournoy business and industry exchanging FFA stories Harvey & Joyce Garrison Benny & Judy Gray tours, two of the Texas with Alton Brazell, a Mitchell & Pat Harris FFA officers spent the former state officer and Paul & Melissa Hunter day in Lubbock. member of the 1948 Terry & Sherri Hurst State President, National FFA officer Wanda James Ryon Cox from Mt. team. Alton assured Patti Jones Don & Carolyn Kimbrell* Pleasant and State 1st Ryon and Shelby that Dan & Lee Ruth Krieg Vice President, the jackets Melvin & Tina Macha Shelby Eckhardt hadn’t changed Travis & Kay Mires from Seguin, all that much. Rekerdres & Sons Insurance started their day The Bayer Agency Charles & Jerry Beth with a tour of Museum of Shannon CEV Multimedia, Agriculture Jack Sides followed by would like to South Plains Roofing & lunch at City thank Ryon Remodeling Bank with bank and Shelby for Dale & Debbie Taylor Dan & Linda Wall representatives stopping by. and Bayer We wish them FAMILY Museum of Agriculture staff and board the best of luck as they pass on the torch Albert “Shorty” & Wanda president, Dan Taylor. Curtis Griffith, to a new set of officers at the Texas FFA Agnew* Chairman of City Bank and chair of the Convention, July 15-18 in Fort Worth, Bob & Donna Albin museum’s Capital Campaign, hosted Texas. Gary & Cynthia Bell the lunch. Scotty & Carla Bessent The last stop on their tour was the Top: Current & Past FFA Officers catch up Tony Bishop* Bayer Museum of Agriculture. Dan and Bottom: Dan Taylor takes a photo with the officers. Kenneth & Shirley Braden Lacee showed them the sights and they Dan also serves on the Texas FFA Foundation Board Bob & Elena Brown Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 2 Chili Feed Gives Members First Look at Phase II FAMILY CONTINUED Around 130 people attended the Kevin Buxkemper annual chili feed on January 25 Daniel & Zada Cave and got their first look at Phase II Marvin & Tommye construction. Cepica Gary Chesnutt Following the meal, Dan Taylor Steve Claus* and Lacee Hoelting led people through Ben & Jauana Colburn the new exhibit hall and meeting Don Crump room. They also pointed out where Jimmie Davis the catering kitchen, director’s office, Chris Deberry volunteer break room and storage area Bob Durham Bennie & Carole Edwards would be. Lacee pointed out where the Jim & Sue Faulkner agricultural literacy wing would eventually John Ford* connect once money is raised for Phase III Don & Jody Foreman construction. Kim Fulks* Chili was prepared by Jerry Spruill James & Meghan Gandy* of Ag Texas Farm Credit and Dan and Jim Gerlt* Lee Ruth Krieg brought tamales to James & Kathy Gilbreath, Jr. go with the chili. Waylon Carroll Top Left: Jim Johnson Bob & Sue Graham handled the rest of the meal. & Joe Embry present Bob & Marianna Graves The highlight of the event was a donation ot museum, Cole & Kyla Hamilton check presentation to the museum Topt Right: Alton Brazell Hayden & Emily does quality control. Hargrave for $7,000.00, from the South Middle:The Forget- Plains Antique Tractor Association, Me-Nots pose with Don & Barbara Harris Lacee, Bottom: Museum Sammy & Marilyn Harris proceeds from their annual tractor Phil & Shirley Harrist show and raffle. members take a tour of new construction. Lynn & Cindy Harrist Charles & Peggy Hastings Lynda Heinrich “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward Robert & Henri Henson Farris and Monica you are likely to see.” Hightower - Winston Churchill Shyrle & K.W. Hill Arlen Hilton Edsel & Georgia Huie Rex & Nancy Isom Arwin & Cookee Johnson John Johnson Bobby & Jeanna Kauffman* Thursday, June 26, 2014 Don Kimbrell* Ice Cream Social from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Phillip & Juaneal Krambeck @ the museum, 1121 Canyon Lake Drive Harold, Billie & Randy Landrum Mr. & Mrs. Joe Langston Saturday, August 16, 2014 Robert & Kim Loveless BMA Annual Membership Meeting Donnie & Ronda Maines* Jett & Lynette Major @ the museum, 1121 Canyon Lake Drive Ray & Celia Mason Bill & Karin McCay Heath & Julie McGehee* Gary McKenzie Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Walter & Tracy Menzer Lon & Gertrude Miller A Night for the Museum featuring James and Sylvia Mitchell Bob Phillips, The Texas Country Reporter Wendell & Peggy Morrow Sally Murray @ the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Todd Oliver Jimmy & Cherry Pitcock* Bobby & Anne Richey Red & Patricia Rivers Bonnie Schwarzentraub Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 3 FAMILY CONTINUED Frank & Margaret Sehon Henry & Sellie Shine* Lee Leonard Jerry & Linda Singleton Born and raised 1980, Anderson Clayton Carolyn Sowell in Spade, Texas, our sold its seed division Bo & Sheila Stephens* spotlight volunteer to Cargill, making Lee Jim & Doris Stewart Jerry & LeNora Stockton certainly has an an employee of Cargill. Wayne & Wanda Swart impressive and In 1985, Lee moved to Joe Tarber* diversified background Portland, Texas, and set Dean & Gloria Taylor in agriculture. up a research station for Keith Weid* Lee Leonard cotton and grain sorghum. described his childhood In 1986, Lee switched to INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS David Appling* on the farm as “learning full-time grain sorghum Bobby Brock* to cut his teeth on a hoe research and breeding. Lee Paul & Ellen Carlson handle.” Lee’s family moved to Plainview, Texas, Ron & Donita Harkey* farmed grain sorghum, and continued his research Lynn Lewis* wheat, cotton, and had from there and in 1997, Charles Mason Thomas Musser a few head of livestock. became the director of Dwight and Sandra Roye In high school, Lee grain sorghum research for Arlin Ryals exhibited pigs and crops Cargill. Caleb Truax* for FFA projects and received his In 2000, Cargill’s seed divisions sold Shirley White & Carolyn Lone Star Farmer’s Degree. to Dow Chemical and Lee retired from Culver Lee graduated high school and there in 2001. Lee then went to work QUARTERLY attended Texas Tech as an agriculture in logistics for Bayer Crop Science. Lee VOLUNTEERS education major and went to work retired from Bayer in 2013. Bill Adams for the Soil Conservation Service after Lee married his wife, Ginger, in 1967 Joe Anthony graduation. Lee then went back to and they have three children: Michael, Alton Brazell school and received his master’s degree Rebecca, and Emily. Michael is a Waylon Carroll in agronomy and worked at the Texas computer technician, Rebecca is a social Ron Chandler Vic Coker A&M Experiment Station. worker, and Emily is a news anchor. J.T. Drake After receiving his master’s Lee and Ginger have two grandchildren Felicia Fillingim degree, Lee took a job as a small who are 12 years old and 6 months old. Jason Gandy grains breeder for Anderson Clayton Lee and Ginger have lived in Lubbock Bob Graham Company. In 1970, Lee moved to since 2003 and Lee has been a museum Sue Graham Curtis Griffith Leoti, Kansas and remained there for volunteer for a year. Don Harris eight years doing testing and research “I enjoy working here, and especially A.D. Hughes on grain sorghum, corn, and alfalfa. doing research on the exhibits,” Lee David Jones Additionally, Lee set up a sunflower said. Lee’s extensive background in Pat Jones nursery during his time in Kansas. seed and grain research makes him a Patti Jones Linda King In 1978, Lee and his wife, Ginger, unique and valued addition to our crew Phil Krambeck moved to Temple, Texas, and worked of volunteers at the Bayer Museum of Lee Ruth Krieg on developing hybrid cotton for Agriculture. Lee, thank you for all you Harold Landrum Anderson Clayton (Paymaster). In do. Lee Leonard Photo & Story by Kirby Kennedy Tina Macha Doyle McFerrin Tad Menefee Remember BMA for Next Year’s Field Trip Walter Menzer Thank you to Abernathy ISD, Frenship’s Westwind Elementary and Ropesville ISD for Weldon Menzer Steve Moffett their recent visits to our museum. We hope you come back and see us again. C. Don Rhodes Red Rivers Clint Robinson Leonard Schmidt Jerry Spruill Wayne Swart Wanda Swart Dale Swinburn Dan Taylor Preston Upshaw Dale Winders Tommy Woolam Larry Work Stanley Young Left to Right: 1st graders pump water, Kirby reads Dr. Seuss, one of the Abernathy classes stops for a picture with the Titan Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 4 A Restoration Story When Lacee Hoelting forwarded an email about a potential donation to Steve Moffett, she never imagined it his pilot’s license and a keen interest in aeronautics. She would result in a feature exhibit at the Bayer Museum of thought Steve could look into the plane further, but in less Agriculture. than three months, he had gone above and beyond. The email discussed a crop duster in storage at Texas With the help of several volunteers, Steve hauled the State Technical College in Waco, Texas that needed a new plane to Lubbock. He got a paint job and new decals home. Lacee had donated and repairs made to the wings. He went in search always envisioned a of and found a spray boom, pump, and pump propeller to crop duster hanging complete the plane. Once word got out about the project, from the ceiling of everything just seemed to fall into place. the new museum “I was given a budget of zero,” Steve says jokingly, “and and excitedly sent I was determined to stick to it.” the email to Steve; The plane, a 1958 Grumman Ag Cat, was installed the a board member last week of March, just as construction was being finished. who she knew had In the month of April, just over 2,000 visitors saw the plane as they attended various events in the new Plains Cotton Growers Conference Center. The Ag Cat Story Future plans for this exhibit include development of a reader rail telling the history of the Ag Cat. The reader rail As taken from, “Grumman/ will include a touchscreen monitor with a series of videos Schweizer AG-CAT,” written by documenting the museum’s story of acquiring, restoring, Nick Pocock. and suspending the plane at The ancestry of the Ag-Cat the museum. The video is includes a series of muscular currently being produced by warplanes produced by Grumman Iron Works. It first Ramar Communications. flew in 1957 following in the paw-prints of the Wildcat, The Bayer Museum of Hellcat, Bearcat and Tigercat fighters of World War II. Agriculture is extremely Though the fighters had been monoplanes, the Ag- grateful for the efforts of so Cat returned to the biplane tradition of the pre-war many to bring this unique Grummans. This layout had the rugged strength and artifact to our new facility. other desirable qualities required for work as an ag- plane...which is an aircraft used in agriculture to dust, spray or seed crops. At the time, most “dusters” as they were called, were modified Stearman Kaydet biplanes- which were WWII trainers. The Ag-Cat was the first plane built from the ground up specifically for agricultural use. After the creation of two prototypes, the X1and X2, and a tour of the southern states, where the prototypes were tested by actual spray pilots, the first commercially available Grumman Ag-Cats were built by Schweizer Aircraft Corporation in Elmira, New York in 1959. The Bayer Museum of Agriculture has a Grumman Ag-Cat G164, which was the actual X2 prototype referenced in Pocock’s book. Photos by Lacee Hoelting Project Manager Research Steve Moffett - Lubbock Electric Co. Midtown Printing - John Frullo

Plane Donation Provided Equipment/Parts Texas State Technical College in Waco Larry Neal, Terry Johnson, Vic Coker ASCO Equipment - Brax Wright & Mark Price Plane Transport & Storage CMH Manufacturing - Charles Hall G&G Avionics - Enrique Saa Hall Hangar - Charles Hall Videography/Production Lubbock Aero - Richard Casler Ramar Communications - Brad Moran, Charlie Whisner, Judy Stout, Ryan Detwiler Paint Job Prescision Body Works- Joey Brewer & Tony Brewer Donated Time, Labor & Expertise John Boatwright, Butch Boyd, Tony Brown, Kevin Decals and Fabric Wing Repair Condren, Jon Fleming, Lynn Hughes, Alfred Mata,

THANK YOU Signs on the Go - Gary Tucker & Terry Brown Domingo Mireles, Phuong Tran Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 5 Photo by Lacee Hoelting Photos by C. Don Rhodes

Top Left: Jerry Spruill and Lee Ruth Krieg prepare the chili, Bottom Left: Tommy & Lynda Woolam at Party on the Prairie, Right: Guests enjoy the patio at the John Deere event in April.

Top: Over 400 people came to farm bill meeting hosted by National Cotton Council at the museum, Left: Joe Barbour uses the Texas Farm Bureau mobile learning barn to educate first graders at the museum, Bottom: Dale and Cheryl Swinburn take a picture with their grandson at Party on the Prairie. Photo by Lacee Hoelting

Drawings submitted by Abernathy First Grade

Students Rhodes C. Don by Photo

Top: John Deere CS690 on display at John Deere Event, Right: Troy and Morgan Pickering enjoying their first event at the museum, chili feed, Bottom: A.D. Hughes, Lee Leonard and James Pendergrass help set up the conference center for a meeting. Photo by C. Don Rhodes C. Don by Photo

Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 6 Round Cotton Bale by Kirby Kennedy The round bale is a significant piece of cotton interest in Fiber Brite, ginning history, which has been rarely seen since a moteplant located in the beginning of World War II. German textile Wilson, Texas. mills were the main user of round bales so when He works World War II broke out, the need for the round alongside his son bale became obsolete. (Rick Thompson) The round bale measured 35 inches in height and grandson (Kerry and 22 inches in diameter. With a density of 28 Thompson) making it pounds per cubic foot, the round bale was half a true family business. the weight of a square bale at around 250 pounds. Regardless of the This round bale, donated by Frank Thompson, was ginned in 1929 and is believed to be the last remaining round bale in the United States. At that time, Frank’s Granddad (W.M. Marley) owned one of the largest gins in the world. The gin, located in Mart, Texas, consisted of 15 gin stands, three flat bale presses and three round bale presses. Frank started working at the gin when he was many positions a young boy, and has continued in the cotton Frank has held business to this day. In 1949, he started buying in the cotton cottonseed for Brazos Valley Cotton Oil located industry the in Waco, Texas. In 1962, Frank moved to West one thing that has remained a constant is his Texas to start Levelland Vegetable Oil. For the next enjoyment of calling on the cotton gin managers 30 plus years Frank continued to buy cottonseed and owners, which he counts as his best friends. for the oil mill. Frank currently owns a majority Above: Round Bale on display in the Alton Brazell Exhibit Hall Bottom: From Left to Right, Kerry, Frank and Rick Thompson Sponsors and Volunteers make Party on the Prairie a Huge Success Every April, museum members and guests attend Slaton. Ag Texas Farm Credit grilled delicious steaks, Party on the Prairie hosted by Dan and Linda Taylor. which were accompanied by potatoes from Jeana’s The Taylors open their barns for a wonderful meal Feedbag and Stanley Young and Waylon Caroll and barn dance, and thanks to our sponsors and prepared the rest of the food including appetizers. volunteers, everyone had a lovely evening. Toes were tapping as soon as the meal was Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed old- finished and guests headed to the east barn for music fashion horse and surrey rides around the parking lot and dancing provided by the Hot Texas Band of and grounds courtesy of Greg and Leon Pinkert of Levelland. Before the night ended, several attendees took the opportunity to tour Dan Taylor’s personal cotton ginning museum, while other visitors fellowshipped around a campfire. With 180 people in attendance, the event raised just under $5,000 for the museum. BMA would like to Felicia Fillingim and Tina Macha for handling all of the event decorations, James Pendergrass and Clint Robinson for helping haul tables and chairs to Thank you to the Top Left: Surrey Rides, Top Right: Dan Ropesville, and we would & Linda Taylor enjoying the evening, following sponsors: Middle : David and Ronda Langston especially like to thank Dan and Linda Taylor for Ag Texas opening up their home in Steaks & Bottled Water support of the museum. Becknell Wholesale Bottom Left: Buzz Varedeman Wine & Bob Graham visit. Bottom Right: Ag Texas cooks up Capital Farm Credit delicious steaks for the event. All Photos by C. Don Rhodes Band Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 7 Remembering Those Special To Us a unique way to honor or remember someone special Memorial and honorarium donation forms are available to print online. www.agriculturehistory.org/membership.php Forms can be found in the top, right-hand corner under the heading Forms/Downloads. Send your completed form and payment to Bayer Museum of Agriculture PO Box 505 Lubbock, TX 79408 Special Thanks In Memory of... Ruby Peter Amonett by Billy & Francisco “Pancho” Cavazos Jr. by Bass Lasater by Sparenberg Gin Inc. Sandy Fortenberry Sammy & Marilyn Harris Richard Lawson by Larry and B. L. Anderson Jr. by Kristofer Paul Eugene Cornelius by Hurst Linda King Verett Farm Supply Nancy Lee by Glen & Velda Owen Barron by Sparenberg Gin Inc. Noel Debman by Sparenberg Gin Inc. Phipps Eugene Becknell By Jim & Sue James Doughty II by Hurst Farm James Logan by Jimmy & Rita Faulkner Supply Clark Eugene Becknell by Idalou Co-op Gin LuCille Garrison by Dan & Linda James Logan by Chad & Jill Eugene Becknell by Dan & Lee Taylor Whitley & Family Ruth Krieg LuCille Garrison by Hurst Farm James Logan by Micky & Randee Eugene Becknell by Dan & Linda Supply Allen & Family Taylor Norman Gentry by Hurst Farm Janie Lee McAfee by Hurst Farm Coy Biggs by Alton Brazell Supply Supply Coy & Johnette Biggs by Norine Norman Gentry by Norine Patschke Pauline McGee by Hurst Farm Patschke & Family & Family Supply Billy “Bill” Brown by Hurst Farm James Hamilton by Hurst Farm Ralph McLaughlin by Verett Farms Supply Supply Lucille Miller by Hurst Farm Morris Bryan by Bob & Sue Eugene Heath by Dan & Lee Ruth Supply Graham Krieg D. J. Moses by Heath Verett Morris Bryan by Grace Ann Bryan Therese Heinrich by the Vardeman Jackie Mull by Farmers Morris Bryan by Margaret Family Cooperative Compress Cammack Therese Heinrich by Plains Cotton Jackie Mull by Stoney & Doris Morris Bryan by Waylon Carroll Growers Jackson Morris Bryan by Janette Dickerson Therese Heinrich by Hurst Farm Joyce Neill by Glen & Velda Morris Bryan by Dr. & Mrs. Lee Supply Phipps Dickerson Cliff Hilbers by Idalou Coop Gin Co. Al O’Brien by Hurst Farm Supply Morris Bryan by Bill & Sue Hall Bennie Bob Hobgood by Hurst Don Opheim by Norine Patschke Morris Bryan by Duane & Nan Farm Supply & Family Howell B. B. Hobgood by Dan & Linda Aaron Tate Osborn by Ray & Morris Bryan by Ernesteen Kelly Taylor Celia Mason & Family Morris Bryan by Lee Lewis Vera Holloway by Waylon Carroll Dora Pinkert by Buster’s Gin Construction Jacques Hopkins by Dan and Dora Pinkert by Hurst Farm Morris Bryan by Livingston Hearing Linda Taylor Supply Aid Center Darvin Huddleston by Mullin, Dora Pinkert by Dan & Linda Taylor Morris Bryan by Raye Morris Hoard & Brown, LLP Melvin Powell by Hurst Farm Morris Bryan by Nelda Rollins Hazel James by Billy & Sandy Supply Morris Bryan by Mary Lou Fortenberry Ginny Riggs by Dan & Lee Ruth Scheideman Hazel James by Hurst Farm Supply Krieg Morris Bryan by Dan & Linda Taylor Hazel James by Norine Patschke & Ginny Riggs by Dan & Linda Rick Burns by Bill Mason Family Taylor Rick Burns by Dan & Linda Taylor Hazel James by Dan and Linda Taylor Ginny Riggs by W. B. Waters Sidney Ray Burrow by Hurst Farm Jim Jenkins by Larry and Linda King Jo Eddy Riley by Hurst Farm Supply Supply John Jones by Hurst Farm Supply Jack & Johnnie Robertson by Steve John Jones by Idalou Co-op Gin & Patricia Verett Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 8 Southwest Collections Showcases AAM in New Exhibit

From March through mid-June, the Southwest Collection (SWC) at Texas Tech University is exhibiting their American Agricultural Movement (AAM) records in an exhibit entitled Tractorcade! It commemorates the 35th anniversary of the AAM’s last great Tractorcade in 1979. Bringing together a host of oral histories, photographs, newspaper articles, and artifacts, SWC curators attempt to tell this unique story of authentic American grassroots activism. The AAM formed in Campo, Colorado, during 1977. Above: Chancellor Kent Hance Wanting the U.S. Government to address their concept addresses crowd at exhibit opening of “Parity”—defined loosely as economic balance between Right: Flag on display at SWC agriculture, other industries, and the U.S. government— Below: Tractorcade image from the AAM attempted to organize a farmer’s strike. Although the collection of Dan Taylor. widespread strikes didn’t take off immediately, later that year around 5,000 farmers held a tractor rally in Lincoln, Nebraska. Farmers in other states soon followed with their own rallies, and in In January 1978, around 3,000 farmers drove their tractors to Washington D.C., the first of two tractorcades to the Capitol. Today, AAM serves as a watchdog for farmers as well as providing information useful to both elected and appointed officials who are responsible for forming farm policies. In June 2013, members from the AAM held a reunion in Lubbock, Texas, to discuss their shared history. The SWC worked with AAM members to collect oral histories, photographs, scrapbooks, and artifacts to be preserved at the SWC. These materials are now available for research. At the close of the SWC exhibit in mid-June, the artifacts and information will be on temporary exhibit at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture. Written by SWC Staff Special Thanks Continued from page 8 James Allen Ross by Hurst Farm Betty Smith by Jimmy & Rita Clark In Honor of... Supply & Family Ronnie & Suanne Alexander by The Honorable William Shaver by Roy Smith by Farmers Cooperative Larry and Linda King Mr. & Mrs. Don Langston Compress Waylon Carroll by Joe Anthony The Honorable William Shaver by David Stafford by Gary McKenzie Kim Fulk by Bobby & Jeana Mr. Ellis Lee Langston Jerry Don Sutterfield by Hurst Kauffman The Honorable William Shaver by Farm Supply Ann McLaughlin Orr by Verett Mr. & Mrs. James A. Ruppel Bill Taylor by Larry & Linda King Farms The Honorable William Shaver Kenny Thiel by Dan & Lee Ruth Barbara Payton by Doyle & Cindy by Ellenor Wilkison & Kelley Krieg Buxkemper, Drury & Tara L. Owens Walker & Pauline Watkins by Steve Buxkemper, & Cybil, Jeremy & The Honorable William Shaver by & Patricia Verett Garett Contreas Robert Pope by Mr & Mrs. Joe O. Langston Dewey & Maggie Wells by Verett Larry & Linda King The Honorable William Shaver by Farms Bart & Tami Roye by Verett Farms David R. Langston Otis Bill Wheeler by Hurst Farm Dan & Linda Taylor by Carlton & Jerry Lee Silhan by Hurst Farm Supply Janis Buesing & Family Supply Inc. Vernon White by Joe Anthony Betty & Bob Wideman by Heath Bobby Sisk by Idalou Co-op Gin Dan Wilbanks by Dan & Lee Ruth Verett Betty Smith by Bob & Sue Graham Krieg Jim Willis by Dunn Crop Insurance Betty Smith by Billy Fortenberry Bill Willis by Gary McKenzie Family Embry Williams, Jr., by Mullin, Betty Smith by Plains Cotton Hoard, & Brown, LLP Growers Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 9 Bayer Museum of Agriculture PO Box 505 Lubbock, TX 79408

HOURS The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Special tours are available upon request.

E-mail: amadirector@ agriculturehistory.org

Website: www.agriculturehistory.org

Held at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture Bring the family and a freezer of your best homemade ice cream. Prizes will be awarded to the top three ice cream entries. Judging starts at 7:15, socializing to follow.

Bayer Museum of Agriculture Page 10