Earl Butz-“Adapt or Die”
Former Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz died last week. He is gone, but NOT forgotten. Earl Butz is arguably the most revered Secretary of Agriculture in modern time. He served as the Cabinet member from 1971 to 1976 under Presidents Nixon and Ford. As a new agricultural broadcaster, fresh out of the University of Illinois in 1973, I had the honor of conducting a one-on-one interview with Secretary Butz when he came to Delavan to speak at the Bank’s annual agricultural meeting. It was one of the most treacherous weather days on record, but Earl Butz not only braved the conditions, but stayed after his speech to do the sit-down interview. He was crusty and quick, and intimidating to this novice broadcaster. Yet he granted me the time, and when the interview was completed, I realized his daunting manner had welled up a confidence in me that I sometimes questioned. He of course didn’t know that, and now over 30 years later, he never will. But I will remember it forever and be grateful for the opportunity and the challenge.
But how do others remember Earl Butz? Sara Wyant, the editor of AgriPulse devoted an entire special edition to the Secretary’s legendary life. Sara said:
“For a lot of today’s “Baby Boomers,” President John F. Kennedy
symbolized the hopes and dreams for those lucky enough to live in
America in the early 1960’s. A few years later, Earl Butz became a
cabinet member and delivered a similar sense of promise and
optimism for those wanting to make a living off of the land.”
Other quotes Wyant included in her AgriPulse tribute include:
“He made us proud to be producing food for the
world.”
“He gave us pride and hope and a vision of what we could be.”
“Butz’s belief in the free market, rather than government intervention,
that was his strong suit, as well as his legacy.”
Time here does not allow for an adequate tribute to Earl Butz, memorializing his pride in his beloved Purdue University and his zeal for teaching there when he was well in to his 90’s. His famous loaf of bread speech, stressing the meager amount of money received by the farmer who produced it, is still referenced around the agricultural world. Earl Butz will also be remembered for his sense of humor and the unfortunate overheard expression that lead to his resignation. But that was in 1976 and this is 2008! In between Earl Butz returned to academia, became a much-demanded speaker and continued his “joking” in private life, living up to what Sara Wyant quoted:
(“But) I suppose if I have a saying I'm known for, it would be "Adapt or die".
He’s now done both. But it took him 98 years to make his own epitaph complete. That’s Colleen’s Comment, and I’ll see you again soon, the Lord and weather willing.
Quotes and References from:
Memories of Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz
By Sara Wyant
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