Bill Waldo maintained a record of excellence in agricultural leadership. He served as a county Extension agent and later returned to farming where he maintained a record of unequalled performance in the Duroc hog business. He served as a State Senator, on many College of Agriculture committees, was active in every livestock movement in the state and was a member of the State Board of Education.
Tonight, we honor a man who believes in agriculture, in citizenship, and in service to his community and state.
It would be most difficult to select a man and his family who have contributed so much to livestock and crop development along with the wholesome, human unselfish devotion to making their community and state a great place in which to live.
Bill grew up near DeWitt, strayed away for a while and then returned to the home farm. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1934 - taught Vo-Ag at Stapleton - became a county Extension Agent in Franklin and Cass counties before going back to the farm in the late 40's.
I've always respected his judgment. I guess that started when he talked Beulah into becoming Mrs. Waldo.
There are three offspring of this union; Arley is on the Agricultural Economics staff at the University of Minnesota. Willa married a County Extension agent, George Cammack, and he is part of the family group operation, and another is his son Max. He too exercised good judgment in selecting a Butler County girl as his wife.
This group, along with the grandchildren make up a family unit operating a family farm.
Those farm operations include certified seed production, a Duroc herd that goes back to 1895, purebred Hampshire sheep, milking Short-horns and in more recent years have added Angus beef cattle. (They also went to the dogs for a while – terriers, I believe).
It's a busy farm - their goals are high - performance is geared to a motto familiar to all of us – "Make the best better". Their records as 4-H members and leaders attest to this.
Bill Waldo never asks a man to do something he won't do himself. He does much more than he asks others to do.
The Waldo's have given generously of their time to the betterment of their community and Nebraska.
Take look at the record – Bill's activities over the years include: State Senator, President-Livestock Breeders and Feeders Association, Board member and all offices in the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, early participant in the S.P.F. program and present State Chairman, Chairman of the Nebraska Hog Cholera Control Committee, Chairman Nebraska Brucellosis Committee, Vice-President National Science Disease Research Foundation, Honorary member – Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, Honorary member of Future Farms of America. Member – Dean's Advisory Committee, member – State Board of Education; Gage County Outstanding Farmer Citizen; NU Block and Bridle Club Honoree; Nebraska Honor Farm Family; Director – United Duroc Record Association; Chairman – Nebraska Farmers Home Administration; Ak-Sar-Ben Agricultural Achievement Award and the Agricultural Honorary Organizations – Alpha Zeta, and Gamma Sigma Delta and President, Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.
Right around home he has served on the Gage County Fair Board, President of the DeWitt Civic Circle, Secretary of the Local School Board and Board member of the DeWitt Methodist Church.
If time permitted, I'm sure there are many other activities that could be listed and I might add, the family members are continuing in the tradition.
The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Maintains a tradition of honoring those who believe in agriculture and this great agricultural state. There are those who built the early history and set the patterns and goals. Then there are those who keep this tradition advancing.
Bill Waldo believes in Nebraska. He believes in agriculture. He believes in the family farm tradition. He believes in his community, he believes in citizenship. This he has demonstrated.
Nebraska is a better state today and will be in the future because Bill Waldo helps make it so.
