When you eat beef, pork, or poultry, you can thank the Holden Family of Almira Township, Benzie County. Perry, the son of Dennison and Helen Wilson Holden, conducted research on corn at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC), earning a Bachelor's and then a Master of Science (M.S.) there. He went on to earn an M.S. in Pedagogy from Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). He taught at MAC, taught science at Benzonia College, and became Superintendent of Benzie County schools. He took a position as Professor of Soil Physics and then Agronomy at the University of Illinois. He famously taught farmers throughout the Midwest, promoting hybrid seed corn for increased yield and vigor. Abundant corn made for greater livestock production.

Presenter: Dr. Roberta Dow

Dr. Roberta Dow was raised in the Holden Family home in Almira Township. She returned to the family farm after a varied career, which included research at the United States Department of Agriculture, serving as the Plant Pathologist of Bermuda, and then Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Parks of Bermuda. She taught at Cameron State University (OK), Christopher Newport College (VA), and Michigan State University. She was the Northern District Agent for the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program at MSU Extension.
She loves living in Benzie Co. and being able to xc ski, downhill ski, kayak, play tennis, swim, fish, and hike regularly. She’s not so sure about her farming.

This presentation is part of the Benzie Area Historical Society’s Benzonia Academy Lecture Series, held on the second Thursday of each month. Admission is by donation, with a recommended $5 donation.

To learn more about the September 10th lecture, visit the Benzie Area Historical Society’s website, benziemuseum.org, Instagram, or Facebook page; call the Museum at (231) 882-5539; or email info@benziemuseum.org.