Wayland Magee was an experienced farmer, attorney, ranch hand, geologist, farm manager, banker, and world traveler residing on a farm in Douglas County since 1910. An outstanding supporter of progressive farming, he was active in farmers’ organizations and was a leader in getting them started. Wayland’s record represented a lifetime devoted to serving fellow farmers at the local, state and national levels.
Tonight we are honoring Wayland W. Magee for his achievements in the field of Agriculture. He is also eligible for recognition in other fields, such as ranching, geology, law, finance, world travel, and a steadfast interest in progressive education in ranching, and a sound philosophy toward rural living.
I shall try to briefly give you the facts which substantiate this statement and you may verify what I will say, by checking in WHO’S WHO, or in the records of Agriculture, and our own organization.
Mr. Magee was born in Chicago in 1881. Although nearly eighty years of age, I challenge you to keep up with him today in his rambling over a farm or in climbing over mountains in his hobby of geology research. Wayland attended public grade schools in Chicago and then attended the South Side Academy near Chicago University. His university attendance reads something like this:
University of Chicago - B.S. degree in 1905, with a major in Geology
The Ogden Graduate School of Science (Geology)
The Harvard Law School (Law)
The University of Bonn, Germany (Botany and Geology)
The Nebraska University, College of Agriculture (Special courses)
The Iowa State College (Special courses in Agriculture and Engineering)
Admission to practice law in Illinois, Nebraska, and the Federal Courts of the United States
And then to round out this formal education he spent two years going around the world on what he describes as a “well worn shoestring”, where he learned many things not taught in books and schools. A large bound volume has he compiled, with many pictures, shows his first hand, and in some cases “hard handed” experiences of this two year trip.
Interspersed with this schooling was time spent on the family owned F. and P. Ranch in West Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming, where Wayland learned the work of a ranch hand. Even today he can twirl a mean lariat and catch a calf neatly around the neck or by a hind leg, as the occasion may require.
The call of the land came to Mr. Magee in 1910 when, as executor of the estate of the late Col. James H. Pratt, his pioneer grandfather, he took over the operation and management of two sections of rolling upland about four miles southwest of Bennington, in Douglas County, Nebraska. It was on this farm property that his family of four children have been raised, and the Magee’s still call it home. Here began fifty years of activity in Agriculture and related activities which I will try to briefly summarize . . . .
It is believed that Mr. Magee bought the first farm tractor for use on a farm in Douglas County. Wayland drove this wide-wheeled Case tractor from North Omaha, out the old Military Highway. Its rumbling scared many a horse team as he popped his way over some fifteen miles to the farm.
During World War 1, when the slogan “Food Will Win the War” prevailed, Wayland threw his energy into food production, growing annually as many as 50,000 bushels of corn, with horse power, and with as many as fifteen men helping to hand pick the crop, with peg and hood, and unloading with scoops.
Many cattle and hogs were also fed out; however, the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement does not give recognition merely for mass production. Let’s look briefly into Wayland’s contributions to Agriculture as an industry. Wayland helped to organize the Douglas County Farm Bureau, now known as the County Extension Service, and as a board member helped to hire Earl Maxwell, the first county agent in Douglas County. For the years of 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930 and 1931 he served as president of this organization and was personally responsible for hiring the first Home Agent in his county, Miss Clara Noyes.
G.E. Scheidt, who served as County Agent in Douglas County from 1930 until 1944, recently said: “Mr. Magee was always alert to new ideas and procedures in Agriculture and frequently suggested projects for the betterment of farming and farm life.”
Over the years Wayland took part in the work of these organizations, not merely as a member but in the active direction and planning of activities:
1. The AK-SAR-BEN Livestock Show
2. The Nebraska Crop Improvement Assn. (President 1927-1931)
3. The Nebraska Dairy Development Society
4. The Nebraska Society of Agricultural Engineers
5. The Better Sires demonstration trains that covered Nebraska
6. The Better Wheat trains that demonstrated over Nebraska during two summers.
Wayland was also a member of the Farmers Union, the Farm Bureau Federation, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and American Society of Farm Managers and Appraisers. He participated in county activities of the Soil Conservation Service, the Rural Electrification movement and the Tree Planting and Home Landscaping programs.
During World War 1 Mr. Magee was a member of the County Draft Board, he served on the Food Administration Board, and Red Cross and on various war-time boards.
Not the least of Wayland’s contributions was his service on the board of the Omaha branch of Federal Reserve Board, and later on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Climaxing this contribution in the field of finance was his appointment by President Herbert Hoover to represent Agriculture on the important Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C.
In 1933 Mr. and Mrs. Magee returned to Nebraska. Wayland busied himself in the planning and erecting a new farmstead on a portion of the land he had been farming for many years. With the aid of agricultural engineers he built a farmstead, advanced in efficiency for saving labor in farm and home operation. This new farmstead was landscaped and is today an attractive farm home. Here their son Wayland Jr., from his own home, operates the farm as a joint venture with his father.
Those of us who are retired or approaching that situation may well envy Wayland for his hobby in Geology. With a truck fully equipped for travel and camping, Wayland annually takes off on his summer trip over the mountains of the United States and into Alaska in his search for and study of radioactive rocks. He has built a special display room in his home for his large collection and he will, at a moment’s notice, give you a most interesting demonstration of, and lecture on, this material. He has supplied many small schools and colleges with material and has kept in touch with developments over the United States and Canada. Truly, although retired from active farm work, there is never a dull moment in Wayland’s life.
I have told you of some of Wayland’s contributions to Agriculture. There is more I could have said. This report would not be complete without mentioning the two daughters and two sons who are successful in their life’s work. Mrs. Magee deserves a great deal of credit for her inspiration and encouragement to Wayland in all of these activities and accomplishments.
I visited Summerhill Farm for the first time in 1920 with County Extension Agent Earl Maxwell. I can well recall Wayland’s enthusiasm in all matters relative to Agriculture. Last week, some forty years later, I again visited the farm. And it seems to me that not the least of Wayland’s accomplishments is the fact . . . after fifty years of farming . . . the land he has operated is today making higher yields than it did fifty years ago. The soil has been well conserved. Wayland Jr. is carrying on, doing today with modern ideas and equipment, what three or four men did fifty years ago.
To you, Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Magee, go our congratulations for real agricultural accomplishments!
