Norman Borlaug
By Andrew Holmes
My Famous Iowan
Norman Borlaug was born on a 106-acre farm in Cresco, Iowa on March 25th, 1914 and died on September 12th, 2009 at the age of 95. He is considered a famous Iowan for many reasons. He received the Nobel Peace Prize and helped three other developing countries with food production including Mexico, Pakistan and India. He was born to Clara Borlaug and Henry Oliver. His great grandparents were Norwegian immigrants that came to the U.S in 1854. He grew up with three younger sisters named Palma Lillian, Charlotte and Helen. Later on in college he met his future wife, Margaret Gibson. Together they had three kids named Norma Jean Laube, Scotty and William.
Famous Quotes
- "Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world"
- " Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it without an adequate food supply"
- "Almost certainly, however, the first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind"
Questions
- How big was the farm that Borlaug grew up on?
- Name 3 countries that Borlaug impacted.
- Who was Borlaug married to?
- How many kids did he have?
- Where did his great grandparents immigrate from?
Fun Facts
- Norman Borlaug has saved more lives that any other person in the world.
- He failed the entrance exam into the University of Minnesota.
- He wrestled in high school and that was part of the reason he went to college at Minnesota.
IB Traits
Caring
I chose caring because Borlaug helped thousands of people around the world by helping with the food that is being produced there. He has also saved more lives than any other person in the world.
Thinker
I chose the trait thinker because he was creative and came up with several good ideas on food production.
What I'm Still Wondering
- Did his wife and family travel with him while he went around the world?
- How long did he have to go to college to get his degree?
- Did he ever move out of Iowa in his lifetime.