The authors of "Mr. Wheat: A Biography of U.S. Senator Milton R. Young" will be at Myra Museum at 2 p.m. Sunday for the first event in the "Entertaining History" winter lecture series sponsored by the Grand Forks County Historical Society.
Andrea Winkjer Collin and Richard E. Collin are longtime North Dakota journalists and writers. She is editor of the state magazine, North Dakota Horizons, and he is the communications and education director for the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Joining them will be Allan C. Young, Grand Forks, who also contributed to the book.
Young served in the U.S. Senate for 35 years, nine months and 22 days, the longest of any North Dakota senator. He was the last member of Congress born in the 19th century.
Young was appointed to the Senate Agriculture Committee immediately upon taking office and, when he retired in 1981 was its longest-serving member. He gained his nickname, "Mr. Wheat," for looking out for the best interests of wheat farmers in the Upper Midwest, and he formed a strong alliance with Southern Democrats on the Agriculture Committee to do so.
The book will be available for purchase at the event, and the authors will sign copies after the presentation. Admission is free. Info: Grand Forks County Historical Society, (701) 775-2216.
