By Carrie Muehling
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new exhibit opening July 1 at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History will take a fresh look at agriculture and its contributions to America.
“One of the big economic sectors that we think is really key is agriculture. Now in many other museums, agriculture is done as a separate exhibition. A little area, almost like a cousin. But we want to put agriculture in that central story of the nation. That agriculture is the founding of the country and continues to be incredibly important,” said Peter Liebhold, chair of the division of work and industry at the museum.
Liebhold said it’s important for people to understand that modern agriculturists have to know finance, communications, marketing and manufacturing to be successful.
“I think it’s a much more sophisticated look at agriculture and really gives the respect and honor that it deserves,” said Liebhold.
The “American Enterprise” exhibit will tell the story of America through business. The museum has partnered with groups like the United Soybean Board to help get the story of agriculture right.
“As you can imagine, I’ve read a lot of articles, done a lot of research, but it’s also important to have that experience of riding a tractor, sitting in the buddy seat of a combine at harvest time and really seeing it for yourself, because it looks different when you’re out there than when you’re in your office reading a book. So, that kind of partnership. Being able to have friends that actually are farmers and ranchers that I can call up and check out details, and get the story accurate, is really important,” said Liebhold.
Liebhold said the exhibit looks at history while also representing the modern agricultural era, including one of the first experimental gene guns used to develop technology leading to the development of Roundup Ready soybeans. One of the first GPS units for tractor guidance is another feature.
“One of our most important interactives – probably our most expensive interactive in the exhibit – is called ‘The Farming Challenge.’ And it looks a lot like the tractor cab. You sit down inside of it and as you sit there at the wheel, you see video material in front of you, voices talk to you, and what we’re trying to teach people is that to be successful in farming and ranching is like being the COO of a business. That you have to process a lot of information, you have to make choices, you have to look far up field. You have to be good at growing things and raising animals, but you also have to make business decisions,” said Liebhold.
The exhibit will cover 8,000 square feet with more than 600 artifacts. It’s set to open July 1, 2015.
Carrie Muehling can be reached at carrie@wjbc.com.
