Interview with Steven Graham, July 26, 2023

Interview Summary

Steven M. Graham served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin, West Africa, from 1973-1976 and worked in Peace Corps agricultural programs specializing in grain storage and animal traction. Steven grew up during the time of John F. Kennedy’s presidency and the creation of the Peace Corps. While in college at Western Illinois University, he responded to JFK’s challenge as to what he could do for his country. Steven was a Business Administration major and heard from a campus recruiter of volunteer opportunities. He registered during his last quarter at WIU. Contacted by PC during the summer after graduation, he went to Denver in July for two days of interviews with PC staff. They discussed programs in Benin, West Africa, involving grain preservation, silo construction, and animal traction. A week later, he learned of his acceptance into the program. He went to New York City in late September and flew to Benin to start his volunteer work. In Benin, Steven landed at Cotonou and went to the capital of Porto Novo for training in language (French) and cultural awareness. Only a few instructors spoke English and training was in French, which was an initial concern. He, along with 25-28 others, was housed at a school in Porto Novo and a month later at an Ag Research Center in Sekou. All volunteers were taught by college-aged students in cross-cultural learning and French from October to December. In addition, at Sekou, ag volunteers were taught about Tropical Agriculture and how to construct grain silos and dryers or to do Animal Traction. Teachers and health volunteers also received their specialized training at Sekou. This was the first time PC was conducting a training course in the host country rather than in the U.S. or on a remote island. Thus, some mistakes were made. For example, the volunteers were immediately given local African foods, which did not agree with many, and some immediately left the Corps. After only one week in the country and with no knowledge of French, the local currency or customs, the new volunteers were sent out one by one to visit the villages of longer-term volunteers. Taxi drivers were a great help, were cooperative and accepted French Francs or dollars as payment. Some new volunteers never arrived at the correct villages, and many returned sick and promptly left. Attrition from the training course was above average. In the future, the training courses were improved and went much better. After training, Steven went to his location in the village of Cove, which was two hours inland from the coast of southern Benin. He stayed in a home rented from a local school principal. It was suggested to all volunteers at that time to secure the services of a cook or houseperson to handle preparations of corn, beans, vegetables, fish, and meat as well as to do the laundry and house cleaning. His house was well made of cement block walls with tin roofing. He also had a patio, a cistern for water, an outhouse, a two-burner gas stove/oven, and a kerosene refrigerator. Steven slept on a mat on the floor, until he could save money and have a bed constructed. There was no electricity but there was running water from a water tower at his residence. He was issued a motorbike to get around to all the farms where he was working. Although his cook was trained in French cooking, Steven requested his food be African. In the field, Steven worked with the local agricultural extension service and was the first volunteer in that province who specialized in grain storage processes and techniques. He assisted and gave advice to the locals about grain storage and drying techniques. The first year his work was slow and some days he had little to do. He spent time getting to know the village people and especially his landlord, the school principal. He felt that the people were receptive to him although he was stared at often. A large river cut through his province, and, during his second year, Steven spent some of his time on the east side of the river for his volunteer activities. He also worked in the two neighboring provinces to the west and was very busy in his second year as a volunteer. Steven was asked and accepted a third-year extension in Benin as a volunteer. He took the place of a volunteer who had been the grain storage program coordinator at the PC office in Cotonou. He worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and the U.S. Embassy, while spending much time with administrative activities and travel to visit the grain storage volunteers and farmers they served. Steven did not return to the United States directly after completing his extended tour of duty but worked on a grain storage training course for East African Extension workers in Tanzania. Then, he and one of his brothers traveled in Africa and Europe before returning home. After a year at home to reconnect with his family, Steven took a graduate student position at Kansas State University and pursued a Master’s degree in the Department of Grain Science and Industry, a unique program at KSU. After graduation, he worked as the Administrator of the Kansas Wheat Commission for fifteen years. Then he returned to Kansas State University as Assistant to the Dean of Agriculture/Director of K-State Research and Extension. At K-State, Steven worked with the PC recruiter and spoke to students often about the benefits of applying to the PC. Steven credits his Peace Corps experience for laying a solid foundation for his life-long and very exciting career in the agricultural field.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (US) Country of Service: Benin Dates of Service: 1973-1976 Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Agriculture Peace Corps (US): 1970-1980 Language: French Language Training: Cotonous, Sekar, Cove Cultural Training: Cotonous, Sekar, Cove

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