Posted on August 21, 2023 at 1:14 PM by Emily Saveraid
Harlen Persinger was a longtime 4-H and FFA member in Grundy County, where he grew up with his parents and two sisters on the family farm outside of Grundy Center. He was a nine year member of the Palermo Money Makers 4-H club. In 1961 his family hosted an International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) from Italy for a month which opened up another world of 4-H that changed his knowledge of people from other countries and their perspective of global agriculture. He attended Iowa State University and majored in Dairy Science and Agricultural Journalism. After graduating from college Harlen served in the US Army, ending with a tour in Vietnam. Harlen was then selected as an IFYE representative from Iowa to Norway where he spent six months with five farm families and gained an understanding of daily life in another land. This experience provided the momentum for a very successful 40 year professional career in agriculture public relations and confidence in working as a freelance photojournalist.
Mr. Persinger is a world renowned agricultural journalist and has traveled across the world for assignments. His work has been published in farm periodicals such as Successful Farming, Farm Industry News and the Wisconsin Agriculturist.
The 4-H Motto: “To Make the Best Better”, has truly been a springboard for Harlen. Participating in 4-H helped him establish and fulfill particular goals in his life. Because of this, Harlen has supported Grundy County youth through the development a scholarship and also continues to promote 4-H to anyone he meets.
