Interview with C. Oran Little, November 6, 2001

Interview Summary

In this interview, C. Oran Little continues talking about his experiences as a professor and an administrator in UK's College of Agriculture. Little states that he finds research and teaching very compatible, and talks about the differences between extension professors and teaching professors. He states that extension professors had a more difficult job since they had to create their own audiences. Little thinks of agricultural research as mission oriented, and explains that the emphasis of the College of Agriculture should be serving the taxpayers. Little discusses his relationship with extension agents. He states that he gained a deeper appreciation of the work of the county agents while he was an administrator. Little explains that he established an incentive program for county agents while he was an administrator with the UK College of Agriculture to entice the agents to pursue higher education. He talks about working with Dean Charles Barnhart. As an Associate Dean under Barnhart, Little was able to administer the research program independently. Little describes program in the graduate program in Animal Sciences at UK, and talks about attracting good graduate students. Little states that he enjoyed seeing young faculty and students develop during his tenure as an administrator. Yet, Little explains how the restructuring of the university during the 1960s hurt the College of Agriculture. Little describes working with the USDA and other groups in Washington. He recalls his relationship with Congressman Bill Natcher who was a member of the Agriculture Appropriation Committee. Little talks about working with Earl Butz, the Secretary of Agriculture under Nixon. He states that during the 1960s, Kentucky probably had the largest percentage of agriculture exported than any other state. Little also mentions John Sherman Cooper and Senator Marlow Cook.

Interview LC Subject

Little, C. Oran (Charles Oran), 1935- Little, C. Oran (Charles Oran), 1935- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture

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