This leads to the further reflection, that no other human occupation opens so wide a field for the profitable and agreeable combination of labor with cultivated thought, as agriculture. I know of nothing so pleasant to the mind, as the discovery of anything which is at once new and valuable — nothing which so lightens and sweetens toil, as the hopeful pursuit of such discovery. And how vast, and how varied a field is agriculture, for such discovery. The mind, already trained to thought, in the country school, or higher school, cannot fail to find there an exhaustless source of profitable enjoyment.
-AbrahamLincoln, Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, September 30, 1859
Lincoln’s Boyhood Home
Putting aside the language of the 19th century, Lincoln’s words sound so fresh and alive to us! Lincoln, the creator of the United States Department of Agriculture, the signer of the Homestead Act and the Morrill Act, was a man with a keen sense of the importance of taking the seemingly mundane in life and applying research, education, imagination – and making life easier and more fascinating and, yes, finding enjoyment! At the time of Lincoln’s speech agricultural societies all across the land were pushing for action by the Federal government in support of agriculture. They had been promoting research and discussion of the emerging scientific advances in farming. Lincoln, a consummate politician, seized the opportunity to trumpet their cause. With the politician’s eye he saw that this cause would also combine the interests of the toiling workman with those of the intellectuals and scientists, while providing for the needs of all citizens at lower cost. Now, there’s a cause worth running a campaign on! Is that not true today – even more than in Lincoln’s day? Americans in all walks of life are now asking where their food comes from, what is our diet doing for health and how are our farmers faring? Agricultural research goes begging while we are on the very verge of monumental advances that will feed more people, at lower costs, with less environmental damage, while improving the lot of farmers here, and around the world. Lincoln, I believe, would say, “Expand research and get our best – and most practical – minds to work on agriculture!”
That’s what we’re about at William Penn High School. Our Penn Farm Project seeks to fire the imagination of students – and prod their natural curiosity and desire to learn about what captures their interest. As Lincoln said of agriculture, “The mind, already trained to thought, in the country school, or higher school, cannot fail to find there an exhaustless source of profitable enjoyment.”
Profitable enjoyment – that sounds like fun!
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
