The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-07-14
Dean IDDINGS and
IDAHO AGRICULTURE
A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HEAD OF
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
BY AN IDAHO FARMER

recent issue of The Idaho Farmer
, contains a story from the pen of J.
.. e. Nordby, well known Genesee stock
man, under the caption, Dean Id
dings and Better Agriculture" The
article portrays briefly some of the
fine characteristics of Dean e. j.
Iddings, and rehearses, also briefly,
the development of Dean Iddings and
the development of agriculture.
Through his work and influence, in
Idaho. The article is deserved trib-
ute and is herewith reproduced.
Personal Experiences With theDean
A few days ago the following mess
age ives delivered at the office of the
president, University of Idaho: "The
Colorado Agricultural college takes
great pleasure in comforting upon
Dean E. ]. Iddings the honorary
masters degree in recognition of his
great service to the general science
of agriculture" A message of this
nature, very naturally brought much
pleasure to his friends upon the camp
us and much satisfaction and joy to
the deans broad circle of admirers
in and out of the state of Idaho.
The Idaho Farmer has asked me to
write personal story of my expert
ences with Dean Iddings, and it is
with great pleasure that 1 do SO.
In the rapid progress that has been
made in the development of better
agriculture for Idaho we are some
what inclined to feel too busy to
tarry for even a moment to look
backward and view the past that was
concerned with pioneering with res
pect to the newer" things about
farming that were emanating from
our agricultural college and from the
- 1or-ir,o tot,
1t was in those trying days that AssIs-
! tant Professor E. j. Iddings was plac-
ed in charge of the school of prac-
tical agricultural in the University Of
Idaho, an institution that was new,
brand new, for Idaho. At that time
it was an experiment, inasmuch as
only one other state had ever attempt
ed such a school. The fact that it
was brand new was no obstacle; the
additional fact that the newer agri
i culture in Idaho was pioneering was
no handicap to the custodian Of the
school of practical agriculture, for its
growth has been a steady and sub
stantial one from only handful Of
students to dimensions that puzzle the
university authorities in working out
accommodations for classroom for the
increasing attendance.
l did not have the pleasure of meet
ing Professor Iddings in those days.
But it was about this time that the
custom was established at the univer-
sity of planning an s'enjoyable holiday
recess" for the 'prOfS' in the college
of agriculture recess that would
afford them much needed rest and re-
creation (?), so they might go back to
their duties after two weeks of en-
joyment in the country better pre-
pared to carry on their daily routine.
without exception every 'ag. prof.
had to arrange for booster spect-
men" from his department, be they
horses, cattle, sheep, apples, dairy
products, poultry, balanced rations,''
or what not, and together charter
special train that would carry them 10
about rs towns and hamletS during the
two weeks and demonstrate for the
farmers some of the newer facts about
the science of new agriculture
The Professor and the Mare
The demonstration train stopped
for some time in a Palouse town and
proceeded with the usual schedule.
The multitudes were listening in,''
and as l happened to be standing
fairly well toward the rear of the
assembly it was difficult for me to
imbibe much from what was being
said in a speech on Preserving Fruit
by Sealing" The next speaker was
Professor Iddings, who appeared with
a grand champion Percheron mare,
and in his own words: "A Percheron
mare that was the grand champion of
America, as demonstrated at the Chi
cago International, almost a perfect
specimen of draftiness, which was so
vigorously displayed in the massive
form style, action, conformation and
quality throughout" The assembly
came to life, for it was in this talk
that the speaker so successfully in
troduced himself as a useful citizen
for the great future that stood wait
ing for the agricultural development
of our great commonwealth.
From assistant he was promoted TO
associate professor in animal hus-
bandry, thence to professor of animal
husbandry, and in rapid succession 70
the deanship of the college of agricul-
ture and in few years also to the
of the experiment sta
tions. 1t was my pleasure TO study
with Professor Iddings for three years
and it is possible that these three years
will mean much more to me than to
him However, it was during just
these three years that the dean was
with unusual effort, making
every effort count, in the classroom
and in the extension field. His un
firing efforts won for him grand
that convinced the
power to be- that he was the logical
candidate for the deanship. His per-
sonal interest in every student was
and this never failed. Some
now( whether it was blue Monday"
)r days of brighter hue the atmos
phere that characterized his presence
was extraordinary and very pleasant
It is not within tho scope of this
paper to discuss in detail all the ac-