Norman Ernest Borlaug is the University’s most celebrated alumnus. During his lifetime Norman Borlaug was inducted into the collegiate National Wrestling Hall of Fame, received the Nobel Peace Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Congressional Gold Medal, and the National Medal of Science. He helped introduce High School Wrestling to Minnesota and Little League Baseball to Mexico. He established the World Food Prize in 1986 and is the only scientist in National Statuary Hall in Washington DC. 

Campaigns Against Hunger - by E.C. Stakman, Richard Bradfield and Paul C. Mangelsdorf, 1967. Harvard University Press.

Facing Starvation: Norman Borlaug and the Fight Against Hunger - by Lennard Bickel, 1974. Readers Digest Press. 

E.C. Stakman, Statesman of Science - by C.M. Christensen, 1984. The American Phytopathologial Society.

The Man Who Fed The World - by Leon Hesser, 2006. Durban House Publishing Co. Inc.

Borlaug the Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People ( Vol. 1, Right off the Farm, 1914-1944) - by Noel Vietmeyer, 2008. Bracing Books.

The Man Who Defused the Population Bomb
The Wall Street Journal

Norman Borlaug: Plant Pathologist/Humanitarian
American Phytopathological Society

Norman Borlaug had a vision to change the world one day and one innovation at a time. His hard work and determination lead him to achieve that vision and to save millions of lives. Today, his legacy still lives on, and he is still inspiring our students to achieve greatness to innovate, communicate and inspire. There have been several funds in the name of Norman Borlaug that our students have the opportunity to receive throughout their collegiate careers. Please consider reading more about each of these funds and how you can help extend the Borlaug legacy.

As a student Norman Borlaug knew adversity. He had decided to go to Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls Iowa; however, after some urging he rode to Minnesota with a former Cresco athlete George Champlin, a football player for the University of Minnesota. Norman, however, had worked on farms for a year after high school and that time away from studies dulled his academic sharpness. Upon arrival he flunked the 1933 University of Minnesota entrance exam. Greatly embarrassed and dejected Norman prepared to hitchhike home, in disgrace.

Birth and Heritage

On March 25, 1914 Norman Ernest Borlaug is born in his grandfather’s farm house to Henry and Clara (Vaala) Borlaug. It is located in northeast Iowa near the Norwegian-American hamlet of Saude and in the New Oregon Township of Howard County. The nearest town with a railroad line is the Howard County seat of Cresco, about 12 miles from the farm. Norman is a descendant of the Borlaug, Vaala, Swenumson, and Landsverk families who immigrated to the United States from Norway in the mid-1800s…and after some moving about, eventually settled on farms near Saude.

Norman Borlaug came to the University of Minnesota in 1933 as a 19 year-old farm boy. He had never before traveled beyond the state of Iowa. In 9 years he earned a Baccalaureate degree in Forestry, and a Master’s and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Plant Pathology. His educational, scientific and philosophical roots run deep in the University of Minnesota. His ties to University of Minnesota alumni, mentors such as Professor Elvin C. Stakman and Dr. Jacob G. “Dutch” Harrar and his many Minnesota friends lasted a lifetime.