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NormanBorlaugHeritageFoundation2015AnnualReport

“FatheroftheGreenRevolution”

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MessagefromThePresident

On behalf of the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation (NBHF) , it is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation and the Norman Borlaug Boyhood Birthplace and Boyhood Farms. The mission of NBHF is to preserve and to educate the legacy created by a great human being, Norman Borlaug. Norm's humble beginnings and curiosity about the world around him are easy to understand upon visiting the farms. Borlaug was passionate about making sure farmers and scientists were able to collaborate and work toward making agriculture better and solving problems.

“Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.”

Since 2000, the NBHF has had the privilege of preserving both the boyhood birthplace and boyhood farms so that future generations of “Norman’s “ can walk and learn on these sacred grounds. Where Norm once played and learned about agriculture firsthand, growing up on this Norwegian farmstead in scenic NE Iowa, twelve miles south of Cresco. Education is the second focus for the NBHF and we hold annual education events each spring and fall for school children, host tours for FFA and Community groups and most recently adult education days. This education, and the responsibility of preparing students for their future, is our priority. The foundation is committed to providing a learning environment that has many unique opportunities. We have summer internships, volunteers, history day projects, FFA groups, church groups and area youth whom we guide and support as they learn at the farms. You can see and tour his one room schoolhouse he attended as a child, boyhood home and farm buildings. You can use QR codes on signs and walk the trails to learn about Norm's life.

Norman said, “I grew up on the land, on a small farm in NE Iowa. Life was not always easy. I experienced the economic depressions of the 1930s, and from the experience, I felt that families on the land needed help from scientists, and I dedicated my life to science, and especially to food production.”

It is my sincere hope that ultimately we will INSPIRE in each of you the unshakable conviction that there is no greater calling than to serve humanity. As a board member and officer for the past decade, I believe that you will quickly realize that the NBHF are a dedicated, close-knit, and supportive family comprised of remarkably caring people from around the state. All are here to make a difference: to share Norman Borlaug’s story and legacy. We wish to INSPIRE you to do great things and to see the need to continue to preserve and educate so that we can have the next generation of problem solvers to help feed the world.

Sincerely,

Barb Schwamman NBHF 2007- current President

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AboutUsTheNormanBorlaugHeritageFoundationisanon-profitcorporationwithanall-volunteerboarddedicatedtothepreservationoftheBirthplaceandBoyhoodhomeofDr.NormanE.Borlaug(1914-2009),whereheestablishedhisvaluesandworkethic.TheNormanBorlaugHeritageFoundationiscommittedtopreservingtheboyhoodfarmandpromotingDr.Borlaug'slifetimeachievementsandphilosophybywelcomingadiversityoflocal,national,andinternationalvisitorstothefarm,througheducationprogramssuchastheFallandSpringInspireEducationDaysandtheEducationResidencyProgram,andbyhostingagricultural,environmentalandhumanitarianeventsontheBorlaugfarmstead.Foroverahalfcentury,thescientificandhumanitarianachievementsofDr.NormanBorlaug(NobelPeacePrizelaureate,winneroftheCongressionalGoldMedalandPresidentialMedalofFreedom,andrecipientofover50honoraryDoctorateDegrees)keptstarvationatbayformillionsofpeopleinthirdworldcountries.GreggEasterbrookwroteofBorlaug"Thoughbarelyknowninthecountryofhisbirth,elsewhereintheworldNormanBorlaugiswidelyconsideredtobeamongtheleadingAmericansofourage.”

WelcomingVisitorstotheFarm

OverthelastdecadetheFoundationhasrestoredandpreservedtheoriginalstructureslocatedatthe“BoyhoodFarm”andadjoining“Birthplace”propertiesofDr.Borlaug,inhopesofattractingvisitorsandlearnersofallagestotheruralIowafarmstead.Structuresatthepropertiescurrentlyincludethehouses,barns,amachineshed,chickencoop,andeventheone-roomschoolhouseDr.Borlaughadattendedin

hisyouth.VisitorswillfindeverythingfromasetoftreesonceplantedbytheyoungBorlaughimself;towildprairieflowersinthesummertime;toinformationalsignage,completewithQRcodes,thatwasaddedinrecentyearsalongsidethewalkingpaththatinterweavestheproperties.InthepastyearmanyvisitorstraveledtotheBorlaugfarmstead.ThepresidentsfromtwoofIowa’sstateuniversitiespaidavisit.Dr.RuudpresidentofUNIandStevenLeathpresidentofIowaStateUniversityalongwithhisfamilyandDeanWendyWintersteenofthecollegeofLifeScienceandAgspenttimeatthefarm.Awidespectrumofvisitors–fromstudentsandeducators,toagriculturalistsandlegislators–traversedtheNortheastIowacountrysidetoexperiencetheBorlaugfarmstead.

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EducationPrograms TheFoundationcontinuestohosttwoInspireEducationDayseachyear,bringingasmanyareafifthgradersaspossibleandevengroupsofhighschoolstudentstotheBorlaugfarmsteadfromschoolswithinabouta45-mileradius.AtInspireEducationDay,educatorsincorporateinterdisciplinarycomponentsofeducation–rangingfromscience,toglobalstudies,tomath,andevenmusic.StudentsalsospendtimelearningaboutDr.Borlaug’slifeandaccomplishments.

Fortenyears,FallInspireEducationDayhastakenplaceinSeptembertocoincidewithNormanBorlaugHarvestFestinthenearbycountyseatofCresco,Iowa,andhaseachyearfeaturedastrongpartnershipwitheducatorsandstudentsfromIowaStateUniversity.ThispastyeartheUniversityofIowajoinedthepartnership.Fiveyearsago,theFoundationaddedaSpringInspireEducationDayaswell,whichtakesplaceinMayandfeaturesastrongpartnershipwithLutherCollegeeducatorsandstudents.Foundationmemberscollaboratewiththecollegetoprovideaformativeexperienceforthosewhowillbeginstudentteachingcomefall,whilealsokeepingthespiritandeducationallegacyofDr.Borlaugaliveforevenmoreyouth.

TheFoundationalsohostsBorlaug-ThompsonInternseachsummerinpartnershipwiththeCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciencesatIowaStateUniversity.TheBorlaug-ThompsonInternshipandScholarshipisoneofthemostprestigiousinternshipsofferedbythecollege,enablingundergraduatestudentstoserveasinformalambassadorstoNortheastIowa,developprojectsandcurriculatopromotethelegacyandvaluesofDr.NormanBorlaug,andmakeprofessionalrecommendationstotheFoundationboard,theISUExtension,andtheDeanoftheCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences.

HostingAgricultural,Environmental,andHumanitarianEvents

InAugust2015,theFoundationhostedtheirsecondannualSustainableFarmInstitute,whichalsodrewmanyvisitorstoDr.Borlaug’sBoyhoodFarmandBirthplace.Numerousagriculturalistsattendedtheevent,somefromasfarawayasWashington,tolearnmoreabouthowtheymightusecovercropsintheirrotationstoreducesoilerosionandtoimprovesoilhealth.

September2015markedthesecondtimeareastudentsattheBorlaugfarmsteadforFallInspireEducationDaypackagedmealsthroughthenon-profitMealsfromtheHeartlandorganization.Thestudentspackagedover6,000meals.Whilemanyofthesepre-packagedmealsstayinIowa,theyarealsosenttoplaceslikeSouthAfrica,Haiti,andthePhilippines,aswellasNewMexico,tosupportaNavajonation.

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IncreasedCommunityInvolvementTheNormanBorlaugHeritageFoundationisproudtoreportageneralincreaseinvolunteerism,aswellasournewmemberscurrentlyservingontheFoundation’sall-volunteerBoardofDirectors.

TheFoundation,nowcommemoratingtheir16thyear,isalsoproudtoreportanincreaseincollaborationwithotherexistingentities,including:

• IowaStateUniversity• LutherCollege• UniversityofIowa• TheNormanBorlaugHarvestFest• Howard-WinneshiekCommunitySchoolDistrict• MealsfromtheHeartland• WorldFoodPrizeFoundation• MidwestBibleMission

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ResourcesandFinancialManagementFinancialReportforNBHFfor2015INCOMECRP $12,781Contributions** $3,762Grant $3,000OtherIncome/Fundraisers $3,079_______________________________________________________Total $22,622(Otherincomeincludesbooksales,fundraisers-wheat&t-shirts)EXPENSESInsurance,Taxes $6,981OperatingExpense $5,178Supplies/Maintenance/Misc. $6,678_______________________________________________________Total $18,837ProjectedBudget*forNBHFfor2016INCOME:CRP $12,781Grant $3,000Contributions** $2,500OtherIncome $1,000_____________________________________Total $19,281EXPENSES:InsuranceandTaxes $7,000OperatingExpenses $5,500Supplies/Maintenance$6,500___________________________________Total $19,000*BudgetsdonotincludetheFarmInstituteIncomeandExpenses**ContributionsincludeMemorialsandDonations

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LookingForwardFinance:Ifnomajorexpensescomeforward,weshouldbeapproximately$3,000inthepositive.Programs:WeanticipatecontinuedgrowthinthenumbersofpeoplevisitingtheBorlaugboyhoodfarm,andareimplementingamorerigorousattendancetrackingsystemtokeepupwiththisincrease.Welookforwardtowelcomingour2016Borlaug-Thomsonintern,RebeccaNellis,tothefarminMay.NotableUpcomingEvents:TheSpringandFallInspireDaysforelementaryschoolstudentsarescheduledforMayandSeptember.TheFallInspireDaywillagaininvolvestudentsinalleviatinghungerthroughOutreach.PlansareunderwayforaThirdAnnualSustainabilityInstituteinAugust.AmealpackagingeventwithOutreachforareastudentsisscheduledincorrelationwiththeFallInspireDay.Grantmoneyhasbeenreceivedtorestorethechickenbarnonthebirthplacefarm.Renovationstobeginsummerof2016.

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BorlaugLearning&EducationalCenter:

TheFoundationboardenvisionsaBorlaugEducationOutreachCenter,tobebuilton10acresreservedfordevelopmentonDr.Borlaug’s103acreboyhoodfarm.TheCenterwouldconsistofanexhibitionhalltodisplayresidencyworkandBorlaugarchives,aboardroomandoffices,classroom,learninglab,andsmalllibrary/studyforstudentsandeducationresidencyparticipants,studio,livingquarters,kitchenanddiningfacilitiesforevents,publicrestrooms,andapresentation/multimediaroom.

TheCenterwouldserveasapermanenthomefortheFoundationanditseducationprograms.TheFoundationiscurrentlyworkingonthelogisticsofacapitalcampaigntoraisefundsforthisimportantproject.TheFoundationisalsoworkingoncreatingtheabilityforkidstoconnectviaInternetattheruralNortheastIowafarm.

ThisWorkNeedsYourHelp

MakeADonation:TheFoundationboardhassetthelongtermendowmentgoalat$7,000,000.Interestearnedonthisgoalwouldfundafull-timeBorlaugEducationResidencyProgram,BorlaugFarmPreservationandMaintenancePrograminperpetuity.

PleasecontactCrescoChamberat563-547-3434,1012ndAveSW,Cresco,IAoremailnbhf@normanborlaug.org,tomakeadonationinsupportofthisimportantwork.

Allcontributionsareappreciated;contributorsof$1000ormorewillreceiveanartistsignedlimitededitionprintofDr.Borlaug'sBoyhoodFarm.

Volunteer:TheworkoftheFoundationismadepossiblebythededicationofhundredsofvolunteers.Whetheryourpassionisyardwork,guidingtours,accounting,law,graphicdesign,webdesignandsocialmedia,orpublicrelations,wehaveaneedforyou.

PleasecontactTomSpindlerat563-379-7683tofindoutmoreaboutvolunteeropportunitiesthroughouttheyear.

WishListsTheBorlaugBoyhoodFarmhasaproudhistoryofworkingwiththeBoyScoutsofAmericaasapartneronEagleScoutprojects,includingtheinstallationofabridgeoverawetlandswaleontheproperty.

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ThankYoutoOurSupporters

Donors

VolunteersTheFoundationisgratefulfortheannualassistancewereceivefromnumerousorganizationsandindividualswhovolunteertheirtimeandtalentstoprotectandpromotethelegacyofDr.NormanBorlaug.

GovernanceFoundingBoardofDirectors:DonaldArendt,KenBecker,TedBehrens,SteveJohnson,RexKleckner,LoriMoore,John(Jack)Thomson,TonyTremmel,andJoyceVagts.FoundationAdvisors:TedBehrens,BillBorlaug,HenryElwood,andJeanieBorlaugLaube.CurrentBoardofDirectors:BarbSchwamman(President),LauraSchmauss(VicePresident),TomSpindler(PastPresident),KenBecker(Secretary),John(Jack)ThomsonandGaryGassett(Co-Treasurers),VickieGrube,MarkJohnson,ToddKnobloch,MauryKramer,JoanneLane,BillReedandDaleVagts.