Creating Abundance: Visionary Entrepreneurs of Agriculture

by Hiram Drache

Overview

In the book’s forward, Ray Goldberg, Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business emeritus, Harvard University, writes, "It is impossible to do justice to the unique contribution of the entrepreneurs of agriculture whose accomplishments Dr. Drache recounts in Creating Abundance. These leaders, together with their extended families, are continuing to change the structure of the U.S. agribusiness system from genetic inputs to sophisticated, healthy, and nutritious food products to the development of functional food, nutriceuticals, pharmaceuticals, fiber, and energy."

"As did the vision before them, these entrepreneurs of the new century are providing ways to assure the consumer of consistency, quality, and safety using expertise that can trace animals and crops from the gene to the final product…(they) keep the U.S. agribusiness/agriceutical system competitive in a global marketplace."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813432083
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2004
Pages:	404
Product dimensions:	6.32(w) x 9.31(h) x 1.03(d)

About the Author

After serving in the Air Force as a combat navigator on bombing missions in the European Theater of Operations of World War II, Hiram Drache earned degrees at Gustavus Adolphus College, the Unversity of Minnesota, and the University of North Dakota. During his college years he worked in the family truck line and other businesses and later taught high school. He married Ada Nelson in 1948 and in 1950 the couple purchased their first farm. They were involved in farming until 1981 when the home farm was sold and the others were leased out. He started his career at Concordia College in 1952 and in 1991 became Historian-in-Residence. He has written fifteen books and has contributed to eight others. He has also written more than fifty articles chiefly on contemporary agriculture and/or agricultural history. That writing lead to a speaking career with over 1,000 engagements in thirty-six states, the District of Columbia, six provinces in Canada, plus Australia, Germany and Norway.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	vii
	Preface	ix
	Acknowledgments	xi
	About the Author	xiii
	The Baileys: Beautifying the nation with flowers, shrubs, and trees	1
	A. Duda & Sons, Inc.: The number one grower of celery and lots more	41
	W. D. Farr and Paul F. Engler: A feedlot pioneer and the king of cattle feeders	81
	Jack and John Harris: Prime beef, 33 crops, and a place to enjoy them	111
	The Kreiders: Milk and eggs and 28 kinds of ice cream	137
	Louis E. "Red" Larson: From 1 calf to 12,500 cows	161
	Wendell H. Murphy: He industrialized the swine industry	187
	Napi (Navajo Agricultural Products Industry): Can a tribal council compete with entrepreneurs?	211
	Joe, Mike, and Sue Naumes: A million pear trees but no partridge	231
	Leonard Odde: He "retired" by farming 40,000 acres	257
	R. D. Offutt: How many french fries come from 68,000 acres?	271
	Earl B. Olson: Turkey for dinner 12 months a year	301
	J. R. Simplot: The world's largest potato processor and lots more	329
	Keith and Richard Walden: Three careers: cotton to lettuce to pecans	357
	Index	383

Editorial Reviews

A prolific writer about the American agriculture industry, Drache (Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota) profiles the 14 largest farmers in a five-state area to investigate why they are successful when so many others are failing. He reports that they are leaders in adopting technology, maximize the benefits of government programs, take risks, and believe in the capitalist system. Color adorns every page. Only names are indexed, in sections relating to the chapters. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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