Purdue News

April 13, 2001 Plaque to recognize Purdue's contributions to grain aeration WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering will honor pioneering accomplishments in the agricultural engineering profession with a plaque recognizing the significance of grain aeration. The plaque, which designates grain aeration as an historic landmark, recognizes the efforts of United States Department of Agriculture engineers George H. Foster and Robert N. Robinson. The two engineers worked many years at Purdue and in 1949-50 demonstrated the effectiveness of aeration in large, horizontal grain storage. The plaque states that "grain aeration is essential to maintaining an adequate year-round supply of quality grain to feed the world's people." The plaque was presented to Purdue by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and will eventually be installed outside the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building. The plaque will be unveiled at a ceremony from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday (4/19) in Room 116, Whistler Hall of Agricultural Research. The ceremony will be in conjunction with a Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering reception to honor outstanding alumni and those who have provided service to the department. This plaque is the first historic agricultural engineering landmark received by Purdue. It joins 38 other ASAE historic plaques recognizing achievements such as Cyrus McCormick's development of the grain reaper and Eli Whitney's cotton gin. CONTACT: Dirk Maier, (765) 494-1175; maier@purdue.edu.   Compiled by Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page