Bio: Dopp, Arv (Farm Progress Secretary 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dopp

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (14 July 1983)

NEILLSVILLE -- The telephones had been ringing just about all day, just like they'd been ringing for the past couple of months.

One of the secretaries at the University of Wisconsin -Extension office in Clark County looked at the phones, knew what the waiting call would be about, and said the world seemed to revolve around nothing but Farm Progress Days. Her boss, Arv Dopp, when later asked about the comment, thought a minute, smiled, and said, "Yes, that's probably true."

Dopp, who is Clark County agriculture agent is also executive secretary for this year's FPD show set for Tuesday through July 21 at the Clark County Health Care Center, Owen. FPD has been a part of his work for nearly three years.

a recent interview was interrupted several times for questions from office personnel and phone calls. Dopp's patience gave no indication that he'd probably been asked some of the same questions many time before.

A normally reserved but friendly demeanor displayed a gleam of excitement, however, as he talked about the approaching farm exhibition. an excitement that seemed to indicate that the hard work was worthwhile.

"I'm really looking forward to it, as I guess everyone else is," Dopp said.

Dopp came to Clark County nearly 23 years ago as farm management agent. He became ag agent in 1966 after completing graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The county's been home to him and his wife, Carol, ever since They have two sons.

A native of Almond in Portage County, Dopp recalled that as a high school senior he carried irrigation pipes across the land where FPD's Tent City was located last year. He grew up directly across from the 1982 site on a farm now operated by an older brother.

He graduated from high school in 1951 and worked on the family farm for a year. He decided he did not want to farm for a living so he attended college for a year at UW-Stevens Point and then received a degree in agriculture education in 1956 from UW-Platteville.

After four years as a veteran-on-the-farm trainer and high school ag teacher, Dopp found his niche-- UW-Extension work.

Like high school teaching, the job, including his work with FPD, involves education. However, there are difference.

"I like the flexibility of Extension work," Dopp said. "I like the educational involvements of adults."

He May be reserved but a dry sense of humor is another ingredient that makes up his personality. He said he realizes that some farmers May not appreciate his effort as ag agent. When asked how he's been able to handle the FPD work in addition to his usual responsibilities, he remarked that some people would say he doesn't do anything anyway.

He added, seriously, that he believes his work serves an important service and that it has been difficult to fulfill his normal duties because of FPD. Most significantly, Dopp said, he provides information to county farmers. That information comes as a result of reading and research, talking with farmers and specialists, and personal experience.

We have nothing to provide but information, Dopp said. I'm not providing feed, he said, I'm providing information.

"I don't necessarily want to make the decision for them (farmers)," he said, "but give them information so they gan go through the decisions-making proceed themselves."

That mission has become more difficult in recent years as agriculture has undergone another revolution, Dopp said. There are so many theories, techniques and pieces of equipment that it is hard to stay informed.

Dopp's expertise is crops and soil but, he added that basically he's a generalist in a world that's becoming specialized.

"I feel inadequate in a lot ofsubject-matter areas that I get called upon to work in, But I don't know how we control that because, after all, we're generalists," Dopp said.

Generally, Dopp likes to golf, hunt and ski in his spare time, what little there is. However, that might change after July 21 when FPD ends. He'll probably leave on an extended vacation, right?

Wrong, Dopp said. When FPD is over, it'll be time to prepare for the Clark County Fair just a few weeks later.