SEGMENT: HOLIDAYS, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES & NON-FARM WORK
Roger Brown>LPL Interviews A-M>LPL Interviews A-J, Segment 5
| <-Previous Segment | Next Segment-> |
- HOLIDAYS
- Thanksgiving was a time when harvest and field work were complete. It was a time of sharing, they would have a large family dinner. Christmas was very special, they continue to get the family together for Christmas. Easter was an important religious holiday. He was raised to treat Sundays as a holy day and continues to do so.
- AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- Was active in FFA, received State Farmer degree as a senior in high school. FFA taught leadership skills and gave him confidence. His parents grew up in the Great Depression when work was very important. They didn't want him to do sports because it would take him away from work. He feels he learned a lot by staying home.
- COLLEGE EDUCATION
- Roger's uncle, Dr. Brown, was a math professor at ISU. He was very influential at ISU, and he kept all the stats for boys and girls basketball and girls volleyball. Roger says his decision to go to ISU was a "given."
- NON-FARM WORK
- When Roger graduated he went to Reddick, IL to teach high school. He got his degree in 1969. He taught for three years as the vocational ag teacher. The district was disbanded seven or eight years after he left. He taught at the beginning of the change of agriculture because of the Smith-Hughes Act. He taught Ag 1 and Ag 2, as well as masonry, carpentry, and other similar classes. His second year he also began teaching consumer education. The curriculum was up to him, so he subscribed to a consumer magazine. They covered basic life skills like writing checks. He had 11 month contracts. He was also the advisor for FFA, where he would help students on their projects over the summer. He did no coaching.
