Special Section: Celebrating the Borlaug Centennial
March 28, 2014
This week, the State of Iowa honored one of its greatest heroes: agricultural scientist, humanitarian,
and founder of the World Food Prize, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Dr. Borlaug’s statue was installed at the
U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 25th, at a ceremony including the leadership of the
United States Congress, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Iowa Governor Terry E.
Branstad, and Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, who chaired the Borlaug Statue Committee.
Every state in the United States is permitted two statues of notable citizens to represent it in the
nation’s capitol building; Iowa leaders voted to return another statue and add Dr. Borlaug. The date of
the ceremony was especially fitting as March 25th was National Agriculture Day and would have been
Dr. Borlaug’s 100th birthday.
Iowans and hunger fighters around the world can read more about this week’s celebration of Dr.
Borlaug and of Iowa’s agricultural and humanitarian heritage, see photos or watch video footage of
the ceremony, and share their own work fighting hunger at www.worldfoodprize.org/norm.
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