USDA Seal

By an Act of Congress, approved August 8, 1894, the Secretary of Agriculture was authorized and directed to procure a proper seal to be known as the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture. By an order dated June 21, 1895, Honorable J. Sterling Morton, at that time Secretary of Agriculture, proclaimed the adoption of an Official Seal for the Department of Agriculture. Records indicate that the design for the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture was drawn by A. H. Baldwin, an artist in the employ of the Department. The importance of the plow can be summarized by Daniel Webster, who in 1836 said: "When I have hold of the handles of my big plow in such a field as this, with 4 yoke of oxen to pull it through, and hear the roots crack and see the stumps all go under the furrow out of sight, and observe the clean, mellowed surface of the plowed land, I feel more enthusiasm over my achievements than come from my encounters in public life in Washington".

Some years ago, I'm quite sure that it was son Jon who game me this little model plow. I'm sure he was aware of the symbolism of it in the USDA seal. Since his career in the Department has exceeded mine, it seemed a very meaningful gift.  Somewhere along the way, it fell off the shelf and broke a handle. We moved it up to Brookdale and again attempted to glue it back together. It didn't take so we wrapped Scotch Tape around it. We had friends drop by who volunteered to take it and see if they could get it attached. They even came back with "Nail polish remover" to help get the glue off our fingers. Great Friends or What!!