William Brokaw was a pioneer in adult education and service to Nebraska farmers through the Agricultural Extension Service. He was appointed Director of the Agricultural Extension Service in 1919 serving until retirement in 1948. The steady growth and general acceptance of the Agricultural Extension Service during his tenure was a tribute to his leadership. His integrity, enthusiasm and devotion left an indelible impact on Nebraska Agriculture.
What is a pioneer?
The term pioneer is one which can and does have different meanings for different people. Perhaps the most popular image is that of the pioneer of the American Frontier, who blazed his way westward, first across the Appalachians and later across the continent. More recently, we have heard of pioneers in various fields of endeavor, including those who pioneer in new ideas and techniques in science, technology, and across the spectrum of human learning.
True pioneers, whether associated with physical, mental, or spiritual achievements, are honored by grateful beneficiaries for their courageous and untiring efforts. As in the case of many other terms, the word pioneer may in a sense have lost some of its original meaning as it is applied too often and too leniently in our age -- one in which stereotypes are common in mass public opinion.
But we are gathered here tonight to honor a TRUE PIONEER -- a pioneer in the development of many of the concepts, programs, and ideas which have become the heart of sinew of our Nebraska agriculture.
W.H. Brokaw, as the principal architect of the Nebraska Agricultural Extension Service, and a prime mover in the establishment of soil conservation work and the 4-H Club Program in Nebraska, among other enduring achievements, meets in full measure the test of the term “pioneer.”
One of the several definitions the dictionary offers for the term “pioneer” in my way of thinking fits so well the man we honor tonight. It reads simply “one who goes before to remove obstacles and prepare the way for others.”
W.H. Brokaw, Director Emeritus of the Nebraska Agricultural Extension Service, ‘ an agricultural educator of great vision - a tireless worker for the betterment of the state’s agriculture and the home life of rural people, and a son of the soil in his own right, has indeed prepared the way for others. The “others” are the people of our great state who are reaping the fruits of a productive agriculture that ranks high among the major food-producing states of the country. And the foundation for a sound and productive agriculture was chiseled out of an area included in a vast expanse which historians once wrote off as “the Great American Desert.”
Perhaps more than once during the lifetime of Director Brokaw this ill-conceived label seemed to be appropriate, for he has seen the native sod broken in our state, grasshoppers and dust storms ravage the denuded land, the slow, painful climb back to top productivity, and finally, having come full circle, the return of many thousands of acres to grasses.
Born on a Seward County farm near Milford on September 27, 1877, Mr. Brokaw’s lifelong devotion to agriculture began to take root at an early age. He was brought up under rigorous conditions encountered by the early settler, and reared to take his place as a tiller of Nebraska soil. His father had come to Nebraska from Illinois.
While wanting to stay on the farm as a young man, Brokaw found a definite need to supplement his farm income, and turned to teaching. He scraped together what funds he could to buy and feed cattle and other livestock, which he tended during off-hours from his teaching duties. He was, in fact, one of the first “moonlight” farmers of his time. He soon became torn between these two callings, and decided it best to “go one way or the other,” and ultimately chose to become an agricultural educator.
It was while living on a farm in Seward County in the early 1890’s that Brokaw became acquainted with E.C. Bishop, the school teacher at District 22. During his tenure at District 22, Bishop introduced the background for what was to become the boys and girls 4-H Club Program in Nebraska. As a part of his experimentation in correlating school work with the home life of his pupils, Bishop organized weekly meetings where not only students but school patrons engaged in parliamentary procedure and debate. Brokaw participated in these meetings, and began what proved to be a significant association with Bishop.
In 1896-97, both Bishop and Brokaw attended Lincoln Normal School. Brokaw taught school several years, became Seward County Superintendent in 1909. He had enrolled in a college of agriculture short course in 1908. During this time, Bishop had become York County Superintendent, and in this capacity visited Brokaw in 1902 to discuss organizing corn clubs. Brokaw approved of Bishop’s plans which involved the gathering of good ears of corn from central Nebraska farmers, and offering a free ear of corn to boys and girls who turned out to hear a lecture on how to grow corn. Brokaw helped promote the project by getting businessmen to provide money for prizes and ribbons. In 1904 and 1905 corn shows were held, with boys and girls from “Corn Clubs” bringing in 10 ears of corn they had raised. This was the beginning of 4-H work in Nebraska, which now boasts nearly 35,000 active club members!
One day a local farmer said the county ought to have someone to take over youth work. Brokaw agreed and they started contacting persons in the county for money to hire a county agent. While busy with the activity, he managed to squeeze in a session of summer school at the Ag College in 1912.
In 1913, the Seward County Farm Management Association was formed -- the second of its type in Nebraska. Brokaw served as the first president of the association and A.H. “Andy” Beckhoff was hired as the first county agent.
Until Beckhoff got on the job, Brokaw and a man by the name of Anderson rode over the county in a two-seated motorcycle giving personal advice, stating demonstrations, and holding meetings. Their main goal was to get a few people to believe that extension work was worthwhile. Sceptics of the program said “those white collar guys couldn’t learn them how to farm.” Brokaw and Beckoff received national support in 1914 when the Smith-Lever Act was passed establishing the Agricultural Extension Service.
Brokaw recalls that pocket gopher control and vaccination of pigs to prevent hog cholera were the most important problems in the early days of extension work in Seward County.
As a county agent supervisor, Brokaw’s instructions were to “give special attention to extension meetings in agriculture and home economics as an advisor to county agents in planning such activities. To have charge of county fair exhibits and assist county farm bureaus in planning their yearly program of work.” His salary was $2,000 per year.
From this post, Brokaw moved swiftly to the position of Director of Agricultural Extension Service in 1919, serving until 1947 when he retired.
During this long tenure, he guided the Extension Service through its growing stages and kept his finger on changes in agriculture which have challenged the informal educational arm of the USDA and land grant colleges since its beginning.
Not an individual to sit on the sidelines or shy away from responsibility, Brokaw lived with and helped Nebraska agriculture through some of its most trying times. He saw boom times, the great crash and crippling drought, the grasshopper plagues, and the “Farm Holiday” incident.
His first great challenge thrust upon him immediately with his appointment as director, was to help the extension service meet its charge of mobilizing agricultural production for World War I.
When World War I was over, many counties dismissed their county agents, believing they were no longer needed. As a result, the number of agents in Nebraska dropped from 60 to 30. It became Brokaw’s job to rebuild extension work in many counties of the state. As a result, he spent most of the time out over the state working with local people.
During his tenure, Brokaw accomplished the mission of revitalizing extension and convincing people of its worth as evidenced by the fact that the number of counties organized to carry on this work rose from 30 to 80. His keen interest in people and their problems aided in the development of extension work.
When the drought and depression of the 30’s came along, Brokaw was charged with organizing the agricultural adjustment administration (Triple A) program in Nebraska, in what is known familiarly to older farmers as corn-hog days.
Rules and regulations promulgated by others often handicapped a program or plan Mr. Brokaw wished to put into operation. He never fought red tape openly. As much as it irked him, he always found a way to wind the tape to fit his needs without breaking it.
Back in the early AAA days, he, along with a couple of specialists on the staff, encouraged me to take a civil service examination and qualify as an emergency agent in one of the Nebraska counties that did not have a regular agent at the time. I passed the examination but was turned down because I was not old enough. The age requirement was 24 and I was 23. When Mr. Brokaw found out about this, his assurance was, “don’t worry, we’ll make a supervisor out of you.”
So, as a result, I had the distinction of being a supervisor of agents before I had had the experience of being an agent!
One of his greatest assets is his tolerance. His patience may have been worn then many times, but it was a rare occasion when he vented his feelings forcefully.
On the other hand, he has demonstrated many times as a good administrator the need for efficiency by workers in the organization. My own personal experience taught me a principle along this line that has never been forgotten. It was quite possible to explain a mistake to him once, but don’t make the same mistake the second time!
Brokaw earned a national reputation for honesty, sincerity, and dedication to extension work. He served on the National Extension Committee on organization policy during an extremely critical period in the financial history of extension work. Among legislative leaders in Nebraska and Washington, he had a patient way of visiting with them so that they could understand the situation. Twice he was called upon to report on the agricultural situation in Nebraska to the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He served as a member of the President’s Committee on Farm Tenancy, and helped develop the Farm Security Administration’s Tenant Purchase Program.
In the conduct of separate government farm programs which have come into being, beginning with the emergency crop-livestock programs in the drought period, he has ever stood for close coordination since all the programs relate to the individual on the farm.
In the yearbook of Epsilon Sigma Phi, Professional Extension Honorary of which Mr. Brokaw is a member, the philosophy of our honoree is well stated:
“. . . He never loses sight of the farm home and knows its betterment is the aim of all extension work. He is first a farmer, then a teacher who desires to lead the farm family into a broader and better life.
“During widespread economic distress in Nebraska, his office door has ever swung wide to those who would seek for help or encouragement. Director Brokaw is motivated by an overwhelming sincerity. In this lies his strength as it is communicated to all who come within the reach of his personality.”
Mr. Brokaw married Jessie Riley of Rosemont. They had two sons - Austin, who lives in Lincoln, and Marvin living in Everett, Washington. Jessie Riley Brokaw passed away in 1944. Mr. Brokaw married Bertha Grimes Gaylord in 1954 and they live here in Lincoln at 2914 North 53rd Street. There are six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mr. Brokaw has continued an active life until very recently. He now finds it necessary to give up some of the many activities he has enjoyed over the years. He is a member of the First Methodist Church of Lincoln.
In 1960 Mr. Brokaw was honored by the Nebraska County Agricultural Agents Association for his outstanding contributions as an agricultural educator.
In concluding this account of our honoree’s life and his enduring contributions to Nebraska, its agriculture, its university, the Extension Service, and the people, one recalls a song written by one of his neighbors in Seward County which probably best describes Director Brokaw’s feelings about his native state . . . you all know the song. The words of the first verse are as follows:
“My Nebraska, dear Nebraska, state I love the best . . .
Where pioneers first led the way, now lives a people blest.
And though the sun shines hot in summer . .
Or cold winter winds may blow:
It’s always fair weather in Nebraska . . .
Where real folks grow.”
Mr. Brokaw is truly one of our real folks! ! ! !
