Honor Ochsner’s interest in education at all levels was intense. He was committed to the philosophy that one’s intellect should be developed to the highest possible potential. Known as the personification of the ‘solid citizen’, Honor was a completely unselfish and tireless worker in Extension education and organization, crop improvement, soil conservation, and agricultural finance. He served youth and was a leader in the early organization of 4-H in Madison county.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this ceremony honoring a great Nebraskan - the late Honor M. Ochsner of Madison, Nebraska. Mrs. Ochsner and the family honored me in asking me to pay this brief tribute to a fine friend, a gentleman, and a great benefactor of Nebraska Agriculture.
The Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement Board of Trustees wisely approved the honoring of Mr. Ochsner and the late Stanley A. Matzke - two great giants in the development of Nebraska agriculture. Their paths of progress often crossed in their intense desire to better the lot of others. They both served their communities, their state and nation well.
I will forego listing all of the vital statistics so often found in such a tribute as this one. I am sure those facts will be found elsewhere in the archives of the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. My tribute is a personal one - but I am sure my thoughts reflect the same appreciation of thousands of other Nebraskans who fortunately came under the influence of Honor M. Ochsner.
Few other Nebraskans served agriculture so well as Mr. Ochsner. He served, as you know, as president of the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association and he was a long-time and faithful member of the Nebraska Livestock Feeders and Breeders Association. He served with distinction as chairman of the Nebraska ASC Committee. He was active in the original corn-hog program which preceded the present farm program.
Honors were many which came to Mr. Ochsner. He was the Premier Seed Producer of the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association in 1955. He was awarded the Ak-Sar-Ben Achievement Award in 1956. He was a diligent and faithful member of the University’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics advisory council. He was a 4-H club leader for 33 years.
If my memory serves me correctly, it was through his efforts in certified seed production and in 4-H club work that I first became acquainted with Mr. Ochsner. Well do I remember the visits that the late Bill MacDonald, farm broadcaster, and I made to the Ochsner family farm near Madison. The hospitality was warm and wholesome. Our visits developed for us a personally life-long admiration for the character of Honor Ochsner - and admiration for his entire family to whom he was deeply devoted. His interest in education at all levels was intense. He was committed to the philosophy that one’s intellect should be developed to the highest possible potential.
Mr. Ochsner’s character was respected by all. In preparing this tribute, I sought out the opinions and thoughts of others who knew Mr. Ochsner well. One of his friends in Madison said, “Honor was the personification of the ‘solid citizen’, a man whose given name may have influenced and directed his every move, a man of unquestioned integrity, devoted to his family, friends, neighbors, church and community - and yes, his state and nation. He was an active and busy man, but never to the point of not lending a friendly and guiding hand to anyone or any project or program he felt for the common good.
“Mr. Ochsner was a leader in the early organization of 4-H work in Madison county. Honor was a pioneer completely unselfish and a tireless worker in Extension education and organization, crop improvement, soil conservation, agricultural finance and many, many others. Few men leave a record of unselfish service and devotion equal to that of Honor Ochsner. Honor was unassuming, and the single instance his greatest contribution to the welfare and betterment of this community, could easily be the least known. Perhaps the guidance, counsel and inspiration that accompanied his work with the young people, should be placed near the top of that long list. His entire lifetime spent in this community has made it a much better place for all of us to live.”
These remarks coming from a fellow citizen in his home community symbolize the affection of all of us for our honored citizen.
I turned then to two friends here at the University for their observations. Said one: “Honor Ochsner was a builder in his community and in the State of Nebraska. He had a special ability for recognizing the new ideas that would fit the important needs on the farms of his community. The high respect in which his neighbors and seedmen of the state held him made him extremely effective in guiding improved crop production practices both in his local area and across eastern Nebraska. He was well informed, a thinker and planner, a respected leader, and a friend. Maybe his record serves as a pattern and challenge to young Nebraska agriculturists who wish to make a significant contribution to life in their communities and the state of Nebraska.”
Still another of Mr. Ochsner’s close friends here at the University recalled that both he and Mrs. Ochsner were loyal supporters of activities for youth in their own community. They led clubs, their own families participated, and they always were able to find time to help youth locally, statewide or in any other area for the improvement of their community and the citizenship of the state. Honor applied sound practical principles in his service to the state. He helped carry many organizations through real trying experiences. Nebraska is a better agricultural state as a result of his efforts.”
These and other comments from friends, I think, reflect the true character of Honor M. Ochsner. They reveal that he was dedicated to his family, his community, his state, and nation. They reveal a ma who was humble and one who was always striving to go over the mountain to see what was on the other side.
During his lifetime - radical changes in farming operations came about. Changes in which he had a big part to play. Just think for a moment about those changes. Farms have been electrified . . . . the old lantern which was used for doing chores disappeared long ago. Corn pegs and hooks were relegated to the museums. Tractors have replaced horses as source of far power. The old dirt and muddy roads, for the most part, have given way to hard surfaced highways. Hybrid corn with yields of 125 to 170 bushels to the acre have replaced the 20 bushel or so yields that were common not long ago. Thousands of acres of fertile Nebraska land are irrigated. The days of slopping the hogs have departed, as well they might. Twenty- and 30-inch rows of plantings of corn and milo are rapidly expanding, minimum tillage . . . certified . . . electronic farm accounting . . . disease free hogs . . . artificial breeding of dairy and beef cattle . . . grassed waterways and bench terraces . . . IFY’s . . . vitamins of all sorts . . . amino acids and a host of chemicals and herbicides and insecticides have come into popular use.
Yes, these and many other developments came about during the lifetime of Honor Ochsner. And many of those developments were a part and parcel of his life.
But aside from his contributions to technical advances, Mr. Ochsner’s great achievements were in the field of human resources. He served youth and the middle-aged group and the aged. Nebraska indeed and his family have a right to be proud of his record. Today - the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement honors his memory as one who was a gentleman . . . a doer of good deeds . . . for his humility . . . for his honesty and his unlimited faith in the land and in farm life, known only by those who live close to the soil.
In closing, let me quote from a verse, the author unknown, which I think typifies the career of Honor Ochsner and indicates how all Nebraska regarded him:
Honor a man for what he is . . .
But honor him more for what he does . . .
Honor not a man for his possessions alone . . .
Honor him most for the use he makes of them . . .
When a man departs from this world,
Neither silver or gold or precious stones
Accompany him.
He is remembered only for his love of learning and his good deeds.
