Jerry Perkins went on to join the Peace Corps, volunteering in Panama and Nicaragua



At the time, his trainer told him he would learn how to farm the way people did in the 17th century — and that would put him 300 years ahead of the Third World farmers he would be working with. (The trainer was right.)

Jerry Perkins went on to join the Peace Corps, volunteering in Panama and Nicaragua

Meet The Register's farm project staff

July 17, 2005

Farm Editor Jerry Perkins, 57, grew up in Des Moines, but visited the farms of his uncles often.

Perkins' father was the fourth of five sons raised on a Hardin County farm, and the only one who didn’t go into farming. Perkins went on to join the Peace Corps, volunteering in Panama and Nicaragua.

At the time, his trainer told him he would learn how to farm the way people did in the 17th century — and that would put him 300 years ahead of the Third World farmers he would be working with. (The trainer was right.)

Perkins later learned it was easier to write about modern-day farming than to practice it. He earned what he calls his master's degree in rural living while working for two years as news editor of the Guthrie Center Newspapers.

He became a farm writer for the Register in 1982. After a five-year stint as public affairs director for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, he was named the Register's farm editor in 1993.

When this story was posted in July 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

---

---

American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

---

July 2, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Jim Bullington writes: Food Crisis in Niger 1 Jul Bobby Shriver helps organize Philadelphia Live 8 show 2 Jul Divinity school to start Moyers Scholar program 2 Jul Chic Dambach is President of Operation Respect 1 Jul Julian Dendy assesses Palau plant and insect diversity 1 Jul George Packer writes “The Home Front” about Iraq 1 Jul Mike Honda works to preserve WWII internment camps 1 Jul Jim Walsh supports increased benefits for veterans 1 Jul RPCVs discuss Peace Corps on VOA 1 Jul Jimmey Iszler brings international visitors to ND 30 Jun Chris Shays' bill prohibits anti-gay discrimination 30 Jun Mae Jemison to visit China 30 Jun Bob Taft praises Lake Erie on ‘Fish Ohio Day’ 30 Jun Jim Doyle announces Wisconsin budget surplus 30 Jun Al Kamen says Rehnquist may stay on with Nike 29 Jun Richard Celeste co-chairs report on Indo-US cooperation 29 Jun Director Vasquez in Caribbean to assess programs 29 Jun Thomas Gouttierre says militants desperate to interfere 29 Jun James Mayers teaches business in Bulgaria 28 Jun Prosecutor says Ex-coach stalling in RPCV assault 28 Jun Robert Tesh tests effects of West Nile virus 27 Jun

---

June 26, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Mark Schneider says "Time running out in Haiti" 23 Jun Austin Merrill reviews the Rwandan story 26 Jun Elaine Chao named most underrated cabinet member 26 Jun Erik Martini headed to India in Foreign Service 25 Jun Franklin Williams Awards honors Community Leaders 24 Jun Trip Mackintosh's firm to represent Gitmo prisoners 24 Jun Tom Murphy applauds eminent domain decision 24 Jun DRI has furnished over $30 million in direct aid 24 Jun Doyle may receive challenge in his own party 24 Jun Dr. E. Jackson Allison joins fight against HIV/AIDS 23 Jun WTOL asks: Should Governor Bob Taft Resign? 23 Jun Donald A. Camp in Kathmandu for State Dept visit 22 Jun Al Kamen says Hyde finishing last budget 22 Jun Alice Rabson, 84, has been an activist her entire life 21 Jun Peace Corps Receives $1 Million for Tsunami efforts 21 Jun Gaddi Vasquez is no-nonsense guy 20 Jun NPCA announces Nine New Directors 20 Jun American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy 20 Jun

---

June 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Al Kamen says hard to start new agency - Charlie Peters disagrees 19 Jun Kera Carpenter opens "W Domku" restaurant in DC 19 Jun Savannah Thomas Arrigo wins Peace Corps lottery 18 Jun Mark Gearan honored for service to the community 18 Jun Chris Dodd pushes credit card legislation 18 Jun Shalala says to learn from England's Health Service 17 Jun An Interview with Tony Hall 17 Jun House committee approves only $325 Million for PC 16 Jun Sam Farr joins New “Out-of-Iraq Congressional Caucus” 16 Jun Tom Weisner proposes whistleblower protection ordinance 16 Jun Issues, Not Race, elected Phil Hardberger 16 Jun Peace Corps honors Father's Day 16 Jun Heather O'Neal fell in love with Nepal 15 Jun UPI honored for reporting on Lariam 13 Jun RPCVs announce "Haiti Innovation" 12 Jun Gary Presthus says circuitous path can lead to success 10 Jun Chris Matthews interviews Bill Moyers 10 Jun Holly Neill driven to improve water quality 9 Jun Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn marks PC's 44th anniversary 4 Jun Joy Teiken's eveningwear design will walk down runway 1 Jun Reed Hastings says competitors don’t get business model 26 May

---

June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

---

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

Read the stories and leave your comments.