Borlaug honored at barn dedication

rural CRESCO - About 150 individuals attended the barn dedication at the Borlaug birth place on Saturday, Sept. 22 to pay tribute to Dr. Norman Borlaug, the man who saved a billion lives.

The barn was recently restored thanks to a matching grant from the Iowa Barn Foundation and a fund-raising campaign that started early in 2017 by the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation. Within a year, the funds were raised, and the barn was restored!

The dedication began with the Sopha Sisters —Adeline, Josephine, Ella and Gwenyth — performing, with the crowd joining in for the songs they knew.

President of the NBHF Laura Schmauss gave a review of project. In addition, she said, “The barn is not only a structural icon here on the farm, but the foundation envisions the barn as a visitor and educational center. Every fall and spring, we have hundreds of children from northeast Iowa schools come and visit the farm and learn about Dr. Borlaug. It would be great to have a permanent educational facility. Phase 2 of the barn renovation will be forthcoming.”

Kurt Meyer, president of the Iowa Barn Foundation, is from St. Ansgar. It was fortunate the fall all-state barn tour took place the same weekend as the Borlaug barn dedication. It allowed members of the tour to experience a historic event.

Meyer stated, “The Iowa Barn Foundation is very pleased to support this project. We are especially pleased to have this be the first example, and I trust there will be more, the very first example of the Foundation making a gift to another non-profit organization.”

He also gave his thoughts on “What is the barn?,” accompanying this article.

Scott Thomson of CUSB Bank stated, “In July 2000, a committee of Norman’s nephew, Ted Behrens; Henry Elwood; Steve Johnson, then director of Vesterheim Norwegian Museum; [Don Arendt — Extension Director]; Ken Becker of the Times Plain Dealer; and my father, Jack Thomson, formed the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation.

“Their goal, and not an easy one, was to show and inspire the world with the boyhood story of what molded Norman Borlaug into the man who saved more lives than any person in the world.”

He continued, “At my father’s eulogy, I stated that Norman was one of my father’s mentors, who by his actions showed that everyone needed to play a part on some level in making their communities and the world a better place.

“CUSB Bank and Thomson Charitable Foundation feel fortunate to be able to give back to the communities we serve and are honored to support the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation.”

It was then time for Borlaug’s daughter, Jeanie Borlaug Laube, to address the crowd. “I want to thank the Heritage Foundation for all the work they’ve done over the years to keep my father’s legacy alive. 

“It’s funny, but my brother and I were asked one time, ‘When did you know your father was famous?’ We said, ‘When he got the Nobel Peace Prize!’” Just like most people, he was just Daddy to them!

“My Dad got his moral and ethical start right here. I’ll be back next year for this event,” she concluded.

Laube’s grandson, Luke, told the crowd, “We’ve had a great time. Thank you for keeping my great-grandfather’s tradition.”

Other guests of honor included Lil Miss Cresco Emma Drees, Miss Congeniality Ella Dennler and Howard County Fair Princess Karissa Stika.

In addition to the dedication at the birthplace, Dr. Borlaug’s medals — Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, National Academy of Sciences Medal and Congressional Gold Medal — were on display; a draft horse plowing event took place; lunch was served by Lynch BBQ; and memorabilia was available for purchase.

Tours also took place at the boyhood home, a mile northwest of the birthplace.