Interview with Charles E. Barnhart, September 16, 1997

Interview Summary

In this session, Dr. Charles E. Barnhart remembers the topic of bond issues for capital projects in Kentucky (1960's) was being discussed at the same time the land grant university meetings were being held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He recalls a meeting with agricultural leaders to discuss asking Governor Louis B. Nunn for more money for the new agricultural building when the bidding fell short. He notes that without these crucial improvements of overhauling the physical facilities, it would become increasingly difficult to attract top faculty candidates to the department, and talks about the criteria for choosing faculty. He describes the controversy which surrounded the re-combining of the Animal, Dairy, and Poultry departments before moving to the new facility.

Barnhart discusses the transfer of responsibility for the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Laboratory from the State Department of Agriculture to the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture in January, 1978 and talks about the responsibilities of a diagnostic laboratory and recalls that the western Kentucky facility in Hopkinsville was assigned to Murray State University. Barnhart remembers the pressure to start a veterinary school in Kentucky, and notes that many undergraduate students came to U.K. for the biological and animal science programs before going on to veterinary schools at other southern land grant universities. He mentions the Kentucky-Auburn program, where students sign a commitment to come back to U.K. and practice veterinary medicine. Barnhart recalls the vaccine for Equine Viral Arteritis (E.V.A.) was actually developed at U.K. in the 1960's before the horse industry experienced an outbreak in the late 1970's, and also mentions the research work done by U.K. regarding the contagious equine metritis (C.E.M.) virus.

Barnhart discusses the formation of rural electric cooperatives and the relationship of the College of Agricultural to the "co-ops" in terms of its extension educational programs and rural development. He talks about U.K.'s policy not to become involved in specialty debates, and mentions the Kentucky 31 fescue (a type of forage) debate as an example of the issue regarding the relationship of modern agriculture and public policy debates. Barnhart remembers how the Extension program in Kentucky was reorganized from the county system to the area system and talks about the Kentucky Extension Council. Barnhart states this council was the foundation for political support in Frankfort. He talks about the funding controversy for the Agricultural Engineering building. He mentions the State Home Economics Association and their lobbying efforts nation-wide during the Nixon administration to receive funding for extension programs.

Interview LC Subject

Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Agriculture

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