National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
Overview
The Agricultural Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding national or international contributions to the establishment, development, advancement, or improvement of agriculture.Contact Information
630 Hall of Fame DriveBonner Springs, Kansas 66012
United States
Description
Agriculture touches the lives of every living person. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the way of life that developed the values, economy, and culture of our nation all find root in agriculture. Yet, today, few people understand or appreciate agriculture as the dynamic and pervasive force that has shaped our nation's past and that will shape the world's future. To awaken people to the importance of agriculture and help them understand and appreciate its influence, agribusiness leaders of the 1950's, in Kansas City and throughout the country, envisioned the creation of the nation's premier center for agriculture. To this end, the focus of the proposed institution would be the American farmer and farming and would include not only the rural heritage which has been so influential in shaping America, but also the science and technology of farming that are shaping our world of tomorrow. The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, or the Ag Center as it is more commonly known, became a reality when it was issued a federal charter by an act of the 86th Congress and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on August 31, 1960. This rare federal charter, an historic beginning the institution shares with organizations like the American Red Cross, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Future Farmers of America, charged the Ag Center to serve as the "national" museum of agriculture and a memorial to farming leaders. Although the museum was created by federal action, it receives no appropriation from local, state, or federal government. The Center is entirely funded by private and corporate donations, and revenue generated by admissions, memberships, special events, and facility rental.