The midland journal., 1946-04-19

ItGlAh, Ouui EIdlIiG, WIS., u. -. IN~~
Gee, Morgan, Ca; Thomas ]. Pear
sail, Rocky Mount, N. c.; and cam
era-shy William Gehring, Rensse-
laer, Ind. (Ed. Note: No induce
ment proved sufficient to Farmer
Bill, to secure his consent to pose
for photography
The nominations for this award
are made by farm leaders and elect
ed by CT AS membership of agri-
cultural authorities-the awards are
presented by Firestone, which CO
operated in the founding of the as
sociation in 1887.
Camera-shy William Gehring, who
wouldn't have his picture taken,
won his place by helping greatly
to bring the rich muck lands OF
northern Indiana into heavy produc-
ton through the application of prop
er fertilizer, irrigation, crop diver
sification and highly mechanical
farming. On his farm at Rensse-
laer, Ind, his production of mint, Of
which he sold more than $500, 900
worth last year, has proven the
financial possibilities Of this crop.
He also grows potatoes, sweet corn,
and onions on his farm of 1900 acres.
Prior to 1881 he worked in fac
tory. Without farm experience he
went to the muck lands to overcome
their production problems and set
an example to others.
A Veteran Farmer.
William Renk is a veteran farmer
who has consistently followed a pro-
gressive policy. He emphasizes eff
flciency in every phase of farming,
with the aid Of three super-helpers,
his sons. They are pioneers in arch
type construction of farm buildings,
and their machine shop is credit
to their ability. Seven tractors, self
feeders, hay slides-and their abil-
ity to produce quality seed corn
hybrid-marks them as real pro-
gressive farmers. The Renks have
developed a direct sales demand
for their hybrid seed.
J. D. MCGEE started in 1928 on q
small farm-purchased with bor-
rowed capital. Last year his peanut
crop was worth $4,000. Soil con-
servation plays an important part
on his farm, as they must on any
farm that succeeds. He is direc-
tor of the Georgia-Florida-A Alabama
Peanut Growers association, and
an authority on the economic prob
lens of the industry. Congress has
heard with interest his facts and
figures on peanut production and
possibilities.
Speed Richards" call Will
liam Richards. This not only ap-
plies to his farm operations but to
his former record as a racing car
driver. He started out by leasing a
tract near Providence, r. I. Later
Richards purchased his present
farm from earnings from the leased
tract-tenant farming may pay
well. He launched an extensive and
costly fertilizing program-essential
for this type of farming. A major
innovation was a large irrigation
| system drawing on lake as wa
ter source.
In Many Organizations.
Speed Richards takes an active
part in farm organizations. He is
member of the governors advi-
sorry council on agriculture, the Bos-
ton Market Garden association,
Town Finance committee, Extension
Vegetable committee and Farm Bu-
reau. At SO he has three daughters,
one son and a modern successful
highly mechanical farm.
Thomas j. Pearsall believes in
progressive plantation policies
which have attracted national at
tention. He is not farm owner,
but he manages the famous Bras
well farms at Rocky Mount, N. c.,
containing $4,000 acres. Starting 10
years ago, he was considered "rev-
olutionary," because he was
strong supporter of education among
his Negro tenants and sharecrop-
pers. The result-labor turnover
greatly reduced and crop yields in
creased. He installed mechanical
and technical innovations, such as
terracing and strip cropping. A
state representative and president
of the Agricultural Foundation, Inc,
he is now raising two million dol
lars for the farm research program
at North Carolina State college.
Tom has a wife and two sons to
aid him.
It is particularly noticeable that
the section of the United States in
which farmer lives has little to do
with his ability to be champion"
These five farmers come from New
England, the Mississippi valley, the
North and the South. The Amer
lean farmer can do his job in any
state, or climate, when he sets him