Max distinguished himself through his commitment and service to the pork industry and to agricultural and civic organizations in his community and region, statewide, nationally and internationally. Ax served selflessly demonstrating his desire for fairness and opportunity for young and smaller producer operations. He displayed an intense interest in competitive markets and concern over how producers were treated in price discrimination and market access.
Thank you, President Williamson.
Distinguished guests and friends it is my honor and privilege to present the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement tribute to Max L. Waldo. This honor is dear to me since although I have not told him this, Max has been one of my mentors.
Since this organizations beginning in 1916, individuals representing many varying fields in agriculture have received this recognition. Max has distinguished himself through his commitment and service to not only the pork industry but also agricultural and civic organizations in his local community and region, statewide, nationally, and internationally.
The Waldo family has been a part of Nebraska and agriculture since the 1860's but the family's history offers more. Cornelius Waldo first settled in America in 1647 making Max an 11th generation Waldo in the U.S. Max's great grandfather Harmon came to the settlement called Lincoln where he started its first blacksmith shop in 1868. Max's mother, Beulah (Plucknett)'s family homesteaded in 1863 just south of DeWitt near Waldo Farms present headquarters.
Harmon Waldo moved his family to DeWitt in 1871 and was deeded a 26- acre farm in 1882. One week after Harm's death his youngest of four sons, also named Harmon was born and their mother died seven years later leaving the children as orphans. Like many of today's farmers they took off farm jobs to survive on their farm on the edge of DeWitt, the four boys operated horse, livery, dray, and other businesses. In 1895, they purchased their first Duroc sow and she farrowed 51 pigs and raised 36 in her first three litters. The Waldo family has been in the red pig business ever since.
The Waldo's have exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair every year since 1903. Max's father, Willard, came up to me at the state fair in 2001 and said, "87". I asked, "87 what?" Willard responded, "87 years." I asked, "What is 87 years?" He responded, "I have been to the state fair 87 years!" He continued, "We have been to every one accept when they didn't have a fair during the World War." Folks I don't know that he was there every day of every year but 10 days times 87 years is 870 days of attendance at the state fair. I tell you this to demonstrate how commitment can be handed down to children by example and this perhaps is part of Max's commitment to serve. That same day I also had the opportunity to see a unique situation. As Willard and I stood beside the show ring at the state fair we were watching three of four present generations of Waldo's show Duroc hog's in competition with grandpa Max helping the grandkids better understand showmanship.
Max L. Waldo was born in 1939 at Franklin, NE. His father was an extension agent and moved to Weeping Water until 1941 when they bought their 80-acre farm and moved back to DeWitt. Max graduated from high school at DeWitt and went to the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.
At that time, he moved back to the farm and became a full partner with his father in Waldo Farms. Their enterprises included purebred hogs, sheep, and cattle as well as certified crops and certified seed production.
Max became involved in civic duties by serving the Nebraska Farm Bureau County Board and State Committee beginning in the 1960's. He served as Grange Master and State Officer spanning 25 years.
Upon returning to the farm Willard and Max decided that Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) swine was a move in a positive direction for their operation. Added to the performance testing started in 1937, this new science and use of technology launched Waldo Farms into exciting new ventures such as exporting superior genetics to Korea, Mexico, and Canada. Since 1970, Waldo's have had the world's oldest and largest registered Duroc herd. In 1974 they expanded their business to include Yorkshire, Landrace, and Hampshire allowing them to hold the title of the nation's largest purebred recorder since 1976.
In addition to business interests Max served 12 years as school board member, as well as teaching Sunday School, Board Chairman of the United Methodist Church, building chair for church and community buildings, Methodist Building Committee, International Board CFOI Christian Organization, Historical Society Board, Master Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and the Shrine.
Max has actively participated in the US Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Governor's Agricultural Round Table, Governor's Environmental Advisory Committee, Nebraska LB 730 Agricultural Structure Assessment Task Force, and participated with trade teams to Mexico, China, Brazil, and Chile.
He has been a member of or served the Nebraska Animal Care Coalition as swine representative, Nebraska Ag Builders, Nebraska AgRelations Council, Nebraska Hall of Ag Achievement, Livestock Export Association, and the Center for Rural Affairs Environmental Committee. He is a founding member and served on the board of the Organization for Competitive Markets and currently serves on the Nebraska Ag Leadership Council the board that oversees the Nebraska LEAD Program.
His service includes the University of Nebraska Ag Advisory, University President Advisory, University of Nebraska Ag Alumni board, University of Nebraska School of Technical Ag Advisory, Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Advisory, and the University Foundation Chancellor's Club.
All of these roles are very significant in the importance to his community, the state, and to agriculture yet we have not really touched his primary business and substantial contribution to swine production.
Max might agree with President Harry Truman when the President said, "No man should be allowed to be President who does not understand hogs."
Max had several honors bestowed upon him including Builders Award from the Nebraska Pork Producers, Pork All American, Seed Stock Producer from the Nebraska SPF, Seed Stock Producer of the Year from the National Swine Improvement Federation, United Duroc Association Zed Hardin Award - 5 years, National Hog Farmer Service Award, Master Purebred Seed Stock Producer 2001, Nebraska Grange Young Couple of the Year, Lincoln Journal-Star Farm Family, Newcomen Society of the United States, Agricultural Public Service Award from the Nebraska Agribusiness Club, Block and Bridle Honoree of the year 1996, and UNL Agricultural Alumnus of the year. Max has even been named as an Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska twice.
He has to be one of the most heavily engaged Nebraskan's in pork organizations. Beginning at the local level as a member of the Blue Valley Association and Board, member of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado Pork Producers Associations and serving on the National Pork Producers Council, Federation Council, and Board. In Nebraska Max served on the Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Committee, Federation Council, Environmental, Marketing, and Policy Committees plus the Market Access Task Force. Of over 40 committees from the National Pork Producers Council, I think Max has served on 12 of them. I know of those he most enjoyed the committees like Science, Animal Welfare, Swine Health, Bio Security, and Odor Solutions Initiative. He also served on the National Pork Board Environmental and Air Quality Committee. Max is someone that likes to participate in committee's that get traction and accomplish things.
He has told me that, "In the business of hog farming you don't make a lot of money, but you make a lot of friends, and that is what it is all about".
As Vice President and Manager of Waldo Farms, Max has developed a remarkable business through an era of tremendous change. Perhaps the change is best exemplified by noting that in the peak years of Seed Stock producers in the 1970's, the DeWitt area had 11 Duroc Breeders locally. Today you will be pressed to find 11 Duroc breeders in Com Belt. Waldo Farms have sold breeding stock in 49 states and over 25 foreign countries.
I would like to comment on how Max serves. Max serves SELFLESSLY not selfishly and demonstrates his desire for a sense fairness and opportunity for young and smaller producer operations. He has shown an intense interest in competitive markets and concern over how producers are treated in areas of price discrimination and market access working extensively with the USDA Grain Inspectors and Packers & Stockyards.
Max has pointed out the importance of his father being a state senator and the opportunity to meet and see many leaders such as Governors and Senators.
In serving on boards, committees, and task forces with Max - something that was always appreciated was his approach. Max is a thinker and one who asks many questions. He doesn't confront others as much as he makes one contemplate other outcomes by asking questions from many perspectives. As someone who has been on the other end of his questions, this process makes you do your homework and actually reinforces your convictions. It makes you consider and reconsider, are you pursuing the best solution. He serves this important role as someone who helps prepare leaders and allows the best solutions to come forward.
Amazing is the commitment not just by Max, but his family. He is constantly on the road or in the air going to meetings and serving. Having said that, his family is always in his thoughts and conversations. Willard and Beulah, Max and Tryka and their family own Waldo Farms. Their three children, Leslie and her husband Rod, Lee and his wife Joni, and Linda Gibbs are also involved in the operation. Max and Tryka have 7 grandchildren.
A former employer once told me that in business it is important to get one's priorities in line. You can put them in any order, but his suggestion was spiritual, family, and then work. Max Waldo appears to keep a good balance.
Service and commitment seem somehow related to faith. Max's strong faith is evident in how he approaches issues and more importantly how he deals with people. So, what is faith about? Perhaps it is best described using the closing lines of the poem chosen by the Royal Family for reading at the recent funeral of the Queen Mother in England. "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"' "So, I went forth and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night."
Max has told me that some of the most rewarding opportunities to serve were in his local community. This is contrary to what you hear from many that serve on local school boards and declare it is a thankless job. This positive attitude is what I appreciate so much about Max. When I asked him why he felt it was rewarding his comment was, "It was an opportunity to work with really nice people, we didn't always agree but we worked through issues in a friendly manner!" He went on to comment that often serving on a board and being in business was a social engagement. I know he feels he has been blessed to work with good people around the world. The balance of that is that the mirror of life reflects that you Max are a good Christian man to work with.
Perhaps tonight is about saying congratulations for your accomplishments, but to me tonight is about saying thank you. Thank you for your commitment and dedicated service to Nebraska Agriculture and pork production. Because you have and are making a difference, it is well deserved and appropriate that you are honored tonight by being inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.
To you Max and your family, we say thank you.
