fall 2004 backup 0815 205pm - Austin Peay State University

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fall 2005 9/19/05 11:02 AM Page 16 weeks earlier, UK’s AGR president invited Jackson to speak at a chapter meeting, but, within days, fraternity officials notified him there was a problem. Perplexed, Jackson e-mailed his friend, former agriculture instructor and AGR mentor, Dr. Gaines Hunt (‘66), dean of APSU’s College of Science and Mathematics: “I accepted an invitation to speak to the AGR chapter here. Of course, they checked the records. The information said the (APSU) chapter was initiated in 1983. I thought we initiated the chapter there in 1973.” Hunt quickly responded: “Both you and the AGR chapter are partially correct. Austin Peay established a ‘colony’ of AGR in 1973. In 1983, it was granted ‘chapter’ status.” Although colony brothers could be initiated into AGR at the chartering ceremony in 1983, Jackson—busy with the work involved in becoming a tenured college prof—did not participate. Because it was important to him to make his membership official, Jackson returned to APSU in March 2005 and, along with the newly selected members, was initiated. “I was happy to be a part of the initiation,” he says. “The officers and members were supportive of my going through initiation at my age and offered me their warm hospitality.” His age and timing were a bit out of sync, but Jackson is used to swimming upstream. Over the years, pushing against the current has made him stronger, focused and resilient. Good morning, Vietnam After an aborted start in 1967, Jackson began his “serious” college career at APSU in 1972—as an Air Force veteran. The only son of Edith and the late James Sr., Jackson and his four sisters grew up on the family’s busy dairy farm in Todd County, Ky. From the get-go, this Jackson Five knew their parents’ expectations of them included college. “Dad felt farming was going to become more difficult, so he told us to get an education and then farm as a hobby,” Jackson says. All five heeded his advice: Susie Riley enrolled at Western Kentucky University. Like their brother, the other sisters—Brenda Todd (‘78), Woodbridge, Va.; Donna Bailey Widely respected for his leadership in extension work, Dr. James Jackson shares a light moment with Doug Wilson during the FFA Livestock-Judging Competition at the Kentucky State Fair. (‘84), St, Mary’s, Ga., and Renee Moyd (‘79), Jacksonville, Fla.—are APSU alums. After a year at APSU, Jackson joined the U.S. Air Force. “The military had a lot to offer a young person, who was immature and without direction,” he says. “I was trained as an aerospace ground equipment repairman—a fancy name for mechanic. But I enjoyed working on the flight line and watching the planes take off and land. We were responsible for maintaining all the equipment that supported the aircraft while it was on the ground.” After technical training at Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, Ill., he was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. While there, he received a temporary assignment to Korea. But his last 12 months were spent in Vietnam at Cameron Bay. He was to remain there until July 1972, but the draw down of U.S. troops began in January, and Jackson returned home in April. In retrospect, his most valuable educational experience likely was his stint in the Air Force. “Growing up in Small Town USA made me appreciate the military experience,” he says. “Before then, my cosmos was limited. In the military, I was exposed to different people and varied ideas. “Although I had seen pictures of starving kids with potbellies on TV, seeing the images of poverty first hand in Korea and Vietnam made me appreciate what we take for granted in the United States. I matured and developed a sense of discipline.” When he took his GI Bill money and reenrolled at APSU in 1972, he returned, as he says, “a dedicated student, as opposed to the haphazard person I was before. “In 1967 when Dad and Mom were paying for my education, my GPA was about a 1.9. After maturing a bit, I was able to raise my overall GPA to 3.75 before graduation.” In 1975, Jackson earned two bachelor’s degrees—in distributive agriculture and biology. Again, Hunt influenced the path he would take. Hunt encouraged him to enter graduate school at UK. He did and earned a master’s degree and, eventually, a doctorate in animal sciences. After completing his master’s degree, Jackson returned to the Todd County farm for two years, but 1977 brought a major drought to Western Kentucky. The tobacco he had planted—his cash crop—was gone. His dad had been right—farming was getting more difficult. Although Jackson still owns a 120-acre farm in Todd County, he leases it out. Why hold onto it? Who knows, he says? In the future, one of his children might want to move back. As for him, he left the farm for good in 1982 and joined the faculty in the UK College of Animal Sciences as assistant professor, quickly attaining the rank of associate professor. Over the years, his primary area of research has been dairy cattle and issues affecting them. If you consider “animal sciences” to be lessons for a bygone era, just remember: “Got milk?”—the national campaign that proved phenomenally successful because milk and the good health its consumption presumes are relevant to everyone. Got milk? Yes, thanks to research by such scientists as Jackson—research that’s resulted in healthier cows, increased milk production and safer dairy products for today’s consumer. With high honors In 2001, Jackson hit a career peak, receiving two highly coveted honors—the Gamma Sigma Master Teacher Award and the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award. Austin Peay/Fall 2005 14 PEAY Alum FACT: Neil Revlett (’01) is event coordinator for the Nashville Sounds.
fall 2005 9/19/05 11:02 AM Page 17 Dr. James Jackson’s wife, Elda, and their youngest son, Joey, 14, stop by Broadbent Arena to check on preparations for the FFA Livestock-Judging Competition. The family shares Jackson’s interest in animal sciences, especially Elda who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences from the University of Kentucky. So has Jackson begun slipping quietly toward retirement? Ha! Rather than slowing down, his duties expanded significantly in March 2005—to his delight. His new responsibilities mean a return to an old love—4-H and extension work. By and large, if you grew up on a farm in Western Kentucky in the ’50s and ’60s, 4-H was a part of life. For the young Jackson, 4- H meant hours of fun in the Tractor Club. He also raised cattle and pigs for exhibit, and participated in 4-H speech, dancing and, yes, sewing contests. “Whether you are responsible for an animal or preparing for a speech contest, 4-H teaches leadership skills,” he says. “As a young man, I was shy; 4-H helped me become more outgoing.” As an adult, he continues to serve as a 4- H leader. In 2004-05, he was vice president and then president of both the Mercer County 4-H Council and the Fort Harrod Area 4-H Council. In 2003 and 2004, he also was Mercer County Cattlemen’s Association president. Last year’s untimely death of a colleague, who was responsible for extension work, created an opening, which Jackson filled. “The college allowed me to divide my time—60 percent extension, 30 percent teaching and 10 percent research.” Thrown head first into a massive project after accepting the new duties, he’s charged with planning and implementing a statewide livestock-judging contest to be held at UK in June 2005. “After we wrap up this competition, I’ll be responsible for training the top eight people to compete in livestockjudging events nationwide. In November, the top four will compete in the National Livestock Judging Contest at the North American Livestock Center in Louisville,” he says. “The Kentucky team always has been competitive in the contest, so I’m excited about it.” One reason Jackson enjoys his new duties is that they provide the chance for him to load his family in a car and travel together to competitions in which all have an interest. For the Jacksons, it’s a family tradition, except for son Jerry, born 36 years ago to Jackson and his first wife. “Jerry is stationed with the Air Force in South Carolina and may have to go to Iraq this summer,” his father says. “But I’m praying that won’t happen.” Green acres and happy hearts Although Jackson works in Metro Lexington, he remains a country boy at heart. He, his wife Elda and their three sons live on an 80-acre farm in nearby Mercer County. There they raise cattle, do a little farming, enjoy life and, most importantly, enjoy each other. And as they say, the apples didn’t fall far from the tree. Twin sons Josh and Justin, 20, are UK sophomores—Josh in animal science and Justin in agricultural engineering. “Our youngest son, Joey, 14, plans to do something with computer or medical engineering. The little guy got a 29 on his ACT on the first try, a 34 in reading,” Jackson says, with pride. These young men are an advertisement for home-schooling. Homeschooled throughout most of their pre-collegiate years, all are intelligent, well rounded and fully grounded. For this, Jackson gives most of the credit to Elda, a UK graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal sciences. Jackson lights up when he talks about her. The two, who met at UK, clicked instantly, and the Austin Peay/Fall 2005 connection is stronger than ever. “Elda and I share a love of animals and the land,” he says. “We’re so similar, we think alike.” Has their biracial marriage posed any problems for them? “We’ve not hit any real roadblocks,” Jackson says. “I guess I’d say we did face a ‘stumbling block’ when we were looking for places to live.” Jackson calmly recounts how the realtor told him—on the phone—that she had the perfect house for them. When they showed up to tour the house, they were told it had been sold. “Just a stumbling block,” he says again, with emphasis. “Not a roadblock.” That stumbling block turned into a launching pad, propelling the couple into buying their beloved Mercer County farm, where they’ve lived happily for 20 years. “We go to church there; we’re involved in various activities there,” he says. “It’s a warm and welcoming community.” Any other “stumbling blocks?” He laughs and, with some hesitation, says, “Well, when we attended Elda’s high school class reunion in Oldham County, near Louisville, everyone was great, and we had a ball. When we went to my high school reunion, we … well, it was not pleasant.” Enough said. This is a man who, throughout his life, never allowed other people or events to define who he is and who he is not. His e-mail reflects this determination. Pre-set to appear at the end of each e-mail he sends is a short but powerful quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. 15
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fall 2004 backup 0815 205pm - Austin Peay State University

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