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It can
also help with the bottom line which is the same in agriculture as it is
on Wall Street.
More than
a dozen smaller research centers are scattered throughout the state, but
the Smith facility is so large, it could just about gobble up all the
others combined.
Studies
at the E.V. Smith Research Center might involve weed control, tillage
systems, soybean production, dairy developments or cotton treatment.
With 35
employees to supervise and dozens of research projects underway in one
form or another, Pate’s days are varied and very busy.
One of
his major projects involves grass-fed systems for cattle. For years,
calves would be weaned and then sent to the Midwest where they were
fattened up on grain and returned to Alabama.
"The
future could mean keeping them in Alabama to live off of grass instead
of being sent to the Midwest for grain fattening," Pate said.
In
addition to studies at the Research Center, Pate said an advisory
committee comprised of farmers, industrialists and researchers is
looking into the needs of grass-fed systems.
After
years of decline in Alabama, due in part to 22 percent interest rates in
the early 1980s, soybean production is making a comeback. It has been
spurred on by a chemical that’s not needed to produce them, Pate said.
"Nitrogen
costs are so high when it comes to corn and cotton," he said.
"Well, we don’t need nitrogen for soybeans and that can make a
big difference in producing them."
He said
AU agriculture students help with studies at the Research Center and get
credit for their efforts.
The
research going on today at this wide spot in the road between Montgomery
and Auburn is a far cry from how Smith found it so many years ago.
Research
was just one of many areas of concern for Smith who became the first
native Alabamian and first Auburn graduate to serve as Dean of the
College of Agriculture.
His
complete name was Edwin Virginius Smith, but he preferred "E.V."
over Edwin or Ed. He also had a reputation as a penny-pinching
administrator and that must have delighted his superiors at the
University.
Yeager
and Stevenson write that Smith became Dean of the College of Agriculture
at a time when student enrollment had dropped sharply during the early
1950s. The problem was mirrored across the country at that time as
agricultural studies became unpopular. Smith set to work immediately to
reverse that trend at Auburn and, while it took several years, he was
successful.
The
authors said Smith "successfully resisted" a nationwide trend
toward downgrading agriculture "by changing names to School of
Biological Sciences or other nonagricultural designations." He just
wouldn’t do it.
"As
a result," they wrote, "when demand for agricultural
curriculums finally brought Auburn’s enrollment back to its 1949
level, the School of Agriculture was ready to take advantage of
opportunities as they arose."
Smith’s
students quickly learned a penny saved, indeed, was a penny earned and
their dean proved to be quite an inspiration for them.
A good
example was the time he wrote to a hotel requesting an economy rate for
a conference in North Carolina. Smith was informed the room would cost
more and he was anything but pleased.
In a
letter to hotel officials, he wrote: "I asked you to reserve a
minimum priced single room for the nights of Dec. 2 and 3. You confirmed
a $13.50 room, whereas the North Carolina Policy Institute had indicated
the minimum rate of $12."
He
finished his letter by asking that a room be set aside for Auburn
University "at the lower rate per night."
Yeager
and Stevenson said Smith was as tight with his personal assets as he was
with the University’s.
"He
usually had no change in his pockets, so he would often say: ‘If you’ve
got a dime, we’ll go get a cup of coffee.’"
If Smith
was short on cash at times, he tended to be long-winded, especially
during departmental meetings and his colleagues quickly learned to be
ready for his extended commentary.
"He
was slow and deliberate and tended to drag things out," said
Yeager. "One time when he went on and on, one of his fishing
buddies got up and left the room, saying: ‘I’ve had all I can take
of this.’"
Guthrie
said Smith was a major player at Auburn during the "glory period of
strong leaders" and the University is better off today because of
him.
"He
was a fine administrator and a hard-working conservative leader,"
said Guthrie. "He came along at just the right time for
Auburn."
Pate, who
grew up in the Sand Mountain region of Alabama, couldn’t agree more.
He may not have been around when Smith was helping to build the AU
Agriculture program into one of the best in the country, but he
appreciates what he accomplished.
"Dean
Smith laid the groundwork for what we have here today," said Pate.
"I know I’m proud to work at a place that is named for him."
So, if
you’re headed to or returning from Auburn’s game against the
Arkansas Razorbacks on Oct. 11, take a gander at those billboards on
I-85.
You may
never have heard of E.V. Smith, but his contributions to Auburn
University are on display every day at the research facility named for
him.
Alvin
Benn is a freelance writer from Selma. |
