Farm Horizons
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Aug. 8, 2016
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Page 29
Retired Watertown-Mayer
educator enters FFA Hall of Fame
neous speaking, public speaking, livestock
BY MARIE ZIMMERMAN
judging, and swine.
When Vernon Richter began teaching
In the early 1970s, Richter helped the
agricultural education at WatertownWatertown-Mayer FFA Chapter start a solid
Mayer High School (WMHS), he inherwaste recycling center in Watertown. It won
ited an FFA chapter little more than a
the state Building Our American Commudecade old and quite small.
nities project award and went on to win the
By his retirement 37 years later, he
Governor’s Citation and the Top Youth Enhad built a legacy of successful students,
vironmental Group nationally.
state officers, district officers, winning
Internationally, Richter supervised a Peoteams, and respect in the community.
ple to People Tour in 1974, visiting Russia,
In honor of his contributions, Richter
Denmark, Germany, England, and Sweden.
was inducted into the Minnesota FFA
Richter received an Honorary American
Hall of Fame during the 87th MinnesoDegree in 1975, and volunteered his time as
ta FFA Convention earlier this year. He
an FFA district advisor and as president of
joins 176 individuals inducted since the
the Minnesota Association of Agricultural
hall of fame was established in 2004.
Educators (now Minnesota Vocational Ag“The Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame is
riculture Instructors Association).
an elite group of individuals who have
Community involvement was a hallmark
given a life of service to the FFA and
of Richter’s tenure. Agriculture education
ag education in Minnesota, and we are
for adults was launched under his direction,
really proud that Vern was recognized
with evening programs to help both estabfor his service,” said Jim Burns, who is
lished farmers and young farmers improve
a Watertown-Mayer FFA Alumni past
their operations. There were field trips to expresident, and helped write Richter’s
perimental plots, as well as evening classes
nomination for the honor.
in the winter.
FFA was not offered at the St. Paul
Submitted photo
“I got to know the farmers better that
high school Richter attended, but agriculture was always part of his life. He Former Watertown-Mayer High way,” Richter said.
He actively recruited bank presidents,
grew up on a vegetable farm in rural School FFA Advisor Vernon Richter
Rose Township — now the bustling was inducted into the Minnesota loan officers, business owners, and other
community leaders to chaperone trips to
suburb of Roseville. Richter’s vegeta- FFA Hall of Fame earlier this year.
the national FFA conventions. School board
bles were marketed throughout St. Paul,
members, superintendents, principals, and
including at the St. Paul Farmers Marother school faculty members were asked to be contest judges
ket.
and convention chaperones to help them see the bigger picAfter high school, Richter served three and a half years in
ture of the tremendous value vocational agriculture and FFA
the Army, helping liberate the Philippines during World War
brought to the school district and community.
II. When he arrived back on American soil, he attended the
“You want to make sure the community and the parents
University of Minnesota on the GI Bill. Degree in hand, he
support what you’re trying to do,” Richter said.
set off for Watertown, which boasted good farmland and a lot
In 1987, Richter felt that 37 years on the job was enough
of opportunities in 1951.
and “it was time to do something else.”
“I figured I’d stay (in Watertown) for five years, then go to
During retirement, he pursued leadership and volunteer
a larger school,” Richter said, but he never left, raising two
roles in the community, including serving on township and
sons there with his wife.
school boards, and started growing and selling vegetables
“I enjoyed the people and the community,” he said, recogand sweet corn from his farm. His roadside stand is a favornizing the “cooperation I got from the parents and the wonite of many Watertown residents.
derful students I got to work with.”
Richter continues to champion agricultural education and
Larry Enter, who was WMHS principal during part of
support FFA, faithfully attending the annual banquet he had
Richter’s career, remembers him as an en