Born on a southern Illinois hog farm in 1937, Dr. Allen Barker earned degrees from the University of Illinois (B.S., 1958) and Cornell University (M.S., 1959; Ph.D. 1962) before taking a position as professor in the UMass Amherst Department of Plant and Soil Science in 1964. He has published dozens of agricultural research articles, and has taught hundreds of UMass students about organic farming, hydroponics, soil science, and plant nutrition. In this interview, Dr. Barker reflects on his teaching experiences, administrative changes in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and the influence of shifts in the Massachusetts farming industry upon agricultural education at UMass. Dr. Barker also speaks about his experiences as an outspoken Republican on a predominantly Democratic campus.
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