University of Minnesota hosts exhibit on Ukrainians' contributions to U.S. agriculture (02/08/98)

University of Minnesota hosts exhibit on Ukrainians' contributions to U.S. agriculture

Dr. Michael J. Kozak

ST. PAUL, Minn. - For many decades, because of foreign occupation, political, religious and economic freedoms were denied Ukrainians in their homeland. Therefore, many of them were forced to look for a better life elsewhere. The United States and Canada, with their liberties and opportunities, were most appealing.

During the last century, over 500,000 Ukrainians immigrated to the United States. They have contributed much to this nation. They worked in factories and on farms, on the railroads and in the mines. Ukrainian Americans succeeded in a variety of occupations, professions and businesses. Many areas of American life have profited from the hard work of immigrants and their descendants.

Unfortunately, for many years very little was known about these achievements and contributions, primarily because Ukraine did not exist on the political map of Europe. Only with the fall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the independent Ukrainian state is more interest being shown in Ukraine and Ukrainians, including their descendants scattered around the globe.

An important step in this direction is being taken by the Embassy of Ukraine. Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, and his staff can pride themselves on representing and promoting the cause of Ukrainian people.

Among the ambassador's many efforts is an exhibit titled, "Contributions of Ukrainian Americans to the Agriculture of the United States." In collaboration with the National Agricultural Library of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota - or more precisely its Immigration History Research Center and Friends of the IHRC - and the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, this exhibit was shown at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, on December 7 and 8, 1997. Exhibit sponsors were: the Monsanto Co., Washington; John Deere, Inc., Moline, Ill.; and Friends of Agricultural Research, Beltsville, Md.

Many materials for the exhibit were obtained from the USDA's National Agricultural Library, the largest agricultural library in the world. Within its collections may be found many publications documenting the contributions of Ukrainians in such areas as wheat production, veterinary medicine, parasitology, forestry, sugar beet production, plant genetics, plant protection and many other topics.

The presentation of this exhibit in the Twin Cities became a reality thanks to the efforts and hard work of well-known Ukrainian community activist Halyna Myroniuk, who serves as assistant curator at the Immigration History Research Center.

The exhibit stressed the contributions of those Ukrainian Americans who, with their talent and ingenuity, helped develop one of the most important areas of the U.S. economy: agriculture. Some of these individuals worked on farms where they developed more practical and economic farm procedures. Others worked at universities and research institutions in fields such as plant and animal genetics, zoology, botany, entomology, soil science and veterinary medicine.

Ambassador Shcherbak arrived from Washington to view the exhibit, accompanied by the consul general of Ukraine in Chicago, Victor A. Kyryk and Volodymyr I. Vlassov, counselor/agribusiness corporation at the Embassy of Ukraine to the U.S.

Since this event was held on a Sunday, the feast day of St. Katherine, the guests attended a liturgy and luncheon at the recently completed Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arden Hills, Minn., where the Rev. Hryhorij Podhorec is pastor.

The exhibit opened later that afternoon. Dr. Walter Anastas, a local attorney and community activist, served as master of ceremonies. After brief remarks, he introduced Dr. Gerald Miller, associate dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Since 1989 Dr. Miller has been leading an agricultural exchange and development program with various Eastern European countries. He has visited Ukraine five times with various agricultural and humanitarian projects. He also administers the Minnesota Agricultural Trainee program (MAST International), which annually brings over 300 students to the University of Minnesota for educational and work experience on farms and businesses across the United States.

In his remarks, Dr. Miller stressed the significant contributions of Ukrainian Americans to the agricultural development of the United States, and the importance of the present partnership between the people of the United States and Ukraine.

Following Dr. Miller's remarks, Dr. Anastas introduced the event's distinguished guest ambassador Shcherbak, who expressed his pleasure at being able to attend this important exhibit, and pointed to the importance of close cooperation between the United States and Ukraine. He then went on to enumerate the contributions of the Ukrainian Americans, who in various ways helped the growth of agriculture in the United States.

Since the exhibit was held in Minnesota, the ambassador focused his remarks on two prominent Minnesota Ukrainians, Dr. Alexander Granovsky (1887-1976) and Dr. Mykola Haydak (1898-1971).

Dr. Granovsky was a renowned entomologist and biologist. He was considered to be a worldwide authority on aphids (plant lice). Two aphids were given his name by fellow scientists: Calophis Granovskyi and Drephanothis Granovskyi. His research led to procedures protecting plant life.

Dr. Haydak was a world-renowned authority on beekeeping. He wrote more than 200 papers and a textbook dealing with this subject.

Final remarks were delivered by Dr. Rudolf Vecoli, a history professor and director of the Immigration History Research Center. Dr. Vecoli is well known and highly respected among the ethnic groups of Minnesota. He, too, praised the many contributions of Ukrainian Americans to American life. He cited Dr. Granovsky's contribution to the founding of the Ukrainian collection at the IHRC, adding that his personal library formed the basis of this collection.

The program closed with entertainment provided by Yevshan Zilla, an all-female singing ensemble under the direction of Kira Tsarehradsky.

Those in attendance had a chance to view the exhibit and learn about Ukrainians who through their knowledge, dedication and hard work made significant contributions to the agricultural development of the United States.

The next day, the exhibit was viewed mostly by University of Minnesota faculty members and students. Welcoming remarks were made by Dr. Mike Martin, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Shcherbak spoke about Ukraine's past, present and future contributions to agriculture, while Joel Wurl, curator of the Immigration History Research Center, further enumerated the contributions of Ukrainian American scientists.

Dean Armstrong, the grandson of Dr. Granovsky, also spoke about the contributions of his grandfather to the field of entomology.

Finally, Volodymyr Kucherenko, an exchange student from Ukraine, delivered a short presentation titled "The Perspective of a Ukrainian MAST Student on Ukraine and U.S. Agriculture."

The visit to the Twin Cities by the three representatives from Ukraine also included a visit to the Immigration History Research Center, and a business meeting with representatives of Cargill Inc., a giant agribusiness whose marketing expertise is needed in Ukraine. In addition, they attended a luncheon at the Minnesota World Trade Center, where the ambassador addressed the state's business representatives.

That evening, Ambassador Shcherbak and Consul Kyryk spoke at the Ukrainian Community Center. Dr. Anatol Lysyj served as moderator.

Dr. Shcherbak pointed out the many positive achievements of Ukraine, and the meeting was concluded with remarks by Mr. Kyryk, who also answered many questions regarding travel to and from Ukraine, immigration and other topics.

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