Knowledge is generational. What does this mean? In simple terms each generation of agricultural educators may have a different body of knowledge.
The current generation of agricultural educators are familiar with (or should be) with SAE for All, keep SAE records in the online Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET), our professional organizations are the NAAE and the ACTE, we use the Internet to find information for lessons, the National FFA headquarters are in Indianapolis, Travis Park is the National FFA advisor, and the leadership for agricultural education comes from the National Council for Agricultural Education.
My generation of agricultural educators used the term SOE to describe the experience program for our students, each state had vastly different paper record books where students kept their SOE records, our professional organizations were the NVATA and AVA, we went to the bookcase to find information for our lessons, the National FFA Headquarters were in Alexandria, Virginia, Neville Hunsicker was the national FFA advisor, and the national leadership or agricultural came from the U.S. Department of Education.
It is highly probable that the current generation of agricultural educators do not know the subject of this Footnote – Jerry Litton of Missouri. My generation does.
Jerry Litton
Jerry Litton was a rising star in American politics and in agricultural circles during the 1970s. Known for his charisma, intelligence, and dedication to public service, Litton’s life was tragically cut short, leaving many to wonder what he might have achieved had fate been kinder.
Jolley (n.d.) tells us about the early life of Jerry:
Jerry Lon Litton was born May 12, 1937, in Lock Springs, Missouri. His parents, Charley and Mildred Litton, were farmers, and the family lived in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing. Jerry, an only child, attended school in Lock Springs through the eighth grade and went to high school in Chillicothe.
Weller (1963, p. 38) writes:
When Jerry entered Chillicothe High School as a freshman in vo-ag back in 1951, he was probably, by his own admission, one of the most backward boys ever to come from a farm. His powerful fear of strangers was openly apparent.
His inadequacy for meeting people resulted in a strong devotion to livestock, and by his sophomore year he was borrowing $2,000 a year to build a livestock program. The first big break for Jerry came when his parents prodded him into entering an FFA public speaking contest. “I knew I couldn’t let them down.”‘ Jerry explained later.
He entered FFA and American Legion oratory contests and began to win. “Most of my speeches were written while I sat on the tractor in the fields,” the baritone-voiced Litton explained.
“He used to wear out the floor pacing the night before a speech,” his mother recalled. “It was never easy for him.”
As a high school senior, Jerry became farm editor for a local radio station, and a national recording company distributed one of his speeches to high school libraries across the nation. His growing speaking ability was gaining national attention, and a year later when Agriculture Secretary Benson was forced to cancel a speaking engagement before the Virginia Beef Convention, Jerry was called to handle the assignment. He was 19.
Jerry was elected President of his local FFA chapter (1954-55) then became president of the Missouri FFA Association in 1955-56. He was a runner up in the National FFA Public Speaking contest in 1955 and served as the National FFA Secretary in 1956-57.
Figure 1. In 1957, Jerry Litton had the honor of visiting with Harry S. Truman to extend an invitation to the former president to speak at the FFA convention. Truman encouraged Jerry to pursue a political career. [Jerry L. Litton Papers (C3730)]. Photo from the State Historical Society of Missouri.
While in high school Jerry leased land for his cattle operation and had saved $15,000 by the time he graduated. He married Sharon Summerville in 1959. In 1961 Jerry graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in agricultural journalism. In 1961 he also bought a 300 acre ranch 12 miles from his childhood home. He stocked it with 150 head of Charolais cattle. He sold breeding stock around the world and had a show string on the road four months a year.
Figure 2. Jerry Litton and his wife Sherri in 1963. Photo from the National Future Farmer.
He sold breeding stock around the world and had a show string on the road four months a year. In 1972 the National Future Farmer magazine featured the “Breeding Value Analysis” system developed by Jerry (Miller, 1972). This computerized program rates the traits of both sire and dam and predicts the performance of unborn offspring. Jerry was using this system on his Charolais herd of 300 cows.
Jolley (N.D.) informs us:
Public service, however, continued to pull at Litton, and he ran as a Democrat for Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District seat in 1972 to advocate for the cattle industry, rural communities, tax reform, and the middle class. Litton said, “There comes a time in everyone’s life when he must stand up and be counted. Being for or against something is not enough. Writing your Congressman may not be enough.” Once in office, he created the Sixth District Congressional Club as a way to connect with his constituents.
As a freshman congressman, Litton coauthored the Litton-Weicker bill, which restricted how the government could use private information collected on its citizens. He served on the House Committee on Agriculture and was also responsible for the Farm Summit meeting, which took place June 18, 1973. This meeting brought all farm organizations together in Washington to discuss how to better communicate to the consumer what farmers do. Future Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill said of the young representative, “I’ve been in Congress 22 years and I have never yet met a freshman member of Congress that could equal Jerry Litton.”
In 1974 Litton won reelection to his House seat, receiving 79 percent of the vote. At this time he decided to sell his Charolais business to avoid any potential conflicts of interest as a congressman.
Figure 3. Jerry Litton campaign flyer for his 1972 run for Congress. [Jerry L. Litton Papers (C3730)]. State Historical Society of Missouri. Photo from the State Historical Society of Missouri.
In 1976 Litton ran for the U.S. Senate. In the Democratic primary he received 45% of the vote beating a former governor (Warren Hearnes) and an incumbent U.S. representative (James Symington). On August 3, 1976 Jerry and his family were flying to Kansas City by private plane to celebrate his primary victory when it crashed leaving the Chillicothe Municipal Airport, killing him and his entire family.
Concluding Remarks
Figure 4. Jerry Litton in Congress, 1972. [Jerry L. Litton Papers (CA6128). Photo from the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Jerry Litton attributed much of his success to the FFA. He said (Miller, 1972, p. 39):
Any success I may have attained was encouraged mostly by the FFA. My farming program was started in the FFA. I learned to speak before audiences through FFA, and any work I have been able to put forth in the community was inspired through my activities as a state and national officer in the FFA.
Many people, including Jimmy Carter, believed Jerry would one day be the President of the United States. It is too bad his life was cut short.
Is it possible that the next Jerry Litton is in one of your classes? We can never tell what impact we may have on our students or know what they may accomplish.
Figure 5. Litton memorial in the Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, MO.
References
Jolley, Laura (n.d.). Jerry L. Litton. Historic Missourians. State Historical Society of Missouri. https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/jerry-l-litton/
Miller, Ron (1972 April May). Beef Breeding Evaluation. The National Future Farmer. Volume 20, Number 4.
Weller, Paul (1963, April-May). Jerry Litton, Farmer-Orator. The National Future Farmer. Volume 11, Number 4.