|
 FORWARD
The
book 50 Years of Service
- A History of Seed
Certification in Illinois
1922-1972 was written by
University of Illinois (U of
I) Professor Alvin Lang. In
my early years at the
Illinois Crop Improvement
Association (ICIA), I had
the pleasure of having both
Al Lang and U of I Professor
W. O. Scott around as
mentors. Both Al and Scotty
were book writers and record
photographers. They taught
me the importance of
recording history and events
with words and photos. I
cherished my time with them.
They were first class
gentlemen in every sense and
were a daily example of “how
to be.” The book, 50 Years
of Service, talked about the
pioneers of the Illinois
seed industry who gave
unselfishly of their time to
organize ICIA so that a crop
improvement association
could exist to help improve
the quality of seed produced
in Illinois. That book also
talked about the enabling
legislation, by-laws, and
incorporation that allowed
ICIA to function officially.
This book will not rehash
the important achievements
of the first 50 years.
Instead, HONORING AN ERA
talks about THE PEOPLE. The
Illinois seed industry was,
and is, a family based
industry including people
that have worked together as
neighbors and competitors to
make seed produced in
Illinois meaningful. This
book remembers them, the
ICIA staff, and many U of I
professors and allied
organizations that helped
ICIA excel.
The years from 1973-97 were
such a special time. It saw
the PEAK of public certified
seed acres in Illinois and
the GREATEST YEARS OF THE
FAMILY SEED COMPANIES.
The book will recount four
GAME CHANGERS for ICIA:
-
THE ADVENT OF
PRIVATE
NON-CERTIFIED
VARIETIES
-
THE BOLD STEPS
INTO THE SEED
SERVICE ERA
-
THE DAWN OF OECD
CERTIFICATION IN
ILLINOIS
-
THE ARRIVAL OF
BIOTECHNOLGY
MODIFIED SEED
Games Changers are events or
circumstances that can cause
a marked decrease or
increase in a business
compared to current
operations.
It is said that history
often repeats itself; as
such, it not only tells us
where we have been but
points to where we might be
going. For those reasons, it
is important to slow down
once in a while and spend a
little time reflecting back
on the people, time and
events that have made an era
in Illinois agricultural
history 1973-97.
I hope you enjoy HONORING AN
ERA.
Jim Shearl
jshearl@mchsi.com |
