Background Information
Agricultural
Heroes
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1. |
Definition of a Hero | |
| A. | Dictionary: An important figure in myth or legend
and is usually especially strong and able. The word "hero"
is also used to mean the main character in a literacy or dramatic
work. (Hirsch, E.D. A First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy.) |
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| 2. | Webster's Third International Dictionary: | |
| A. | A mythological or legendary figure endowed with great strength, courage or ability. | |
| B. | A person of courage and nobility famed for his military achievements: an illustrious warrior. | |
| C. | A person admired for their achievement and noble qualities and considered a model or ideal. | |
| D. | The principal character in drama, novel, or narrative poem: protagonist. | |
| E. | The central figure in an event, action, or period. |
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| 3. | The following people contributed to the agricultural industry either through inventions, scientific research or important innovations. Have your students research one or more. The Internet has a wealth of information to aid in the research. | |
| Cyrus Hall McCormick - Invented the first mechanical reaper | ||
| Eli Whitney - Invented the cotton gin | ||
| George Washington Carver - many agricultural discoveries, including over 300 uses of the peanut. | ||
| John Deere - Invented the steel plow. | ||
| Louis Pasteur - Discovered heat treatment of food, called pasteurization, that slowed down food spoilage. | ||
| Rudolf Diesel - Developed an internal combustion engine widely used today. | ||
| Jethro Tull - Invented mechanical drill for planting, in addition to other agricultural innovations. | ||
| Joseph Glidden - Patented barbed wire. | ||
| Benjamin Holt - Invented the "Caterpillar" tractor. | ||
| Clarence Birdseye - Developed "quick freezing" process for preserving food. | ||
| Gail Borden, Jr. - Developed a process for condensing and canning milk. | ||
