Laurence Graber “Mr. Alfalfa” Class of 1906

Laurence+Graber+Mr.+Alfalfa+Class+of+1906

Laurence Graber grew up on a farm outside of Mineral Point and graduated from Mineral Point High School in 1906.  He then went to the University of Wisconsin earning his undergraduate degree in 1910 and his M.S. degree from Wisconsin in 1912.  He later joined the Wisconsin faculty.

Before the work of Laurence Graber, farmers were reluctant to use alfalfa due to things like diseases, not being able to survive the winter, and it just did not always grow well.  Graber then developed varieties of alfalfa that could withstand Wisconsin’s harsh winters which helped earn him the nickname Mr. Alfalfa.

information obtained from:  http://www.allwaysforward.org.>did-you-know-iowa-county-graber