PEORIA MAGAZINE April 2022

The Ag Lab is a public agency, of course, and its annual budget from the federal government tops $30 million. That said, as recently as 2016, NCAUR was targeted by Capitol Hill for possible closure, until the state’s political representatives and private sector stakeholders went to bat for it. “Absolutely,” it’s important to have this kind of operation in a place like Peoria, said Ward. “Being in the heart of a huge farm state like Illinois gives

Research Service Hall of Fame. Andrew J. Moyer, the microbiologist behind the penicillin breakthrough, is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. By the way, did we mention that NCAUR brags one of the world’s largest publicly available collections of microorganisms, approximately 98,000 isolates of bacteria and fungi? Don’t be making fun of fungus. It was melon mold, after all — on a cantaloupe, in fact — that ultimately led to the lab’s

Lab back when there was nothing but BradleyUniversity and a lot of cornfields in that part of town. That legislative commitment to the lab continued under Bob Michel and then under LaHood in the 14 years he represented the 18th District because they recognized its importance and economic potential. It may be one of central Illinois’ “most well-kept secrets,” but “some of the smartest people in Peoria work at the Ag Lab,” said LaHood, “and they really want to make a difference.” There may be multiple competitors for the title of GOAT – the Greatest of All Time – in this innovation sector, but Peoria and NCAUR certainly have a compelling story to tell. As for the next big breakthrough? Well, “SuperSlurperandpenicillindon’t come along every day,” acknowledges Ward. Do doubt that’s true, but who would vote against the seasoned veteran in this lineup of newcomers to hit the next walk-off homer?

“SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN PEORIA WORK AT THE AG LAB ... AND THEY REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

Former Congressman Ray LaHood

us a lot of advantages.” Meanwhile, it’s all but impossible to walk away from the facility’s fantastic history, which can’t help but inspire the people who work there now. Seven of its scientists – Kerry O’Donnell, Cletus Kurtzman, Edward Bagley, George Inglett, Allene Jeanes, Herbert Dutton and William Doane – have been inducted into the Agricultural

penicillin discovery, and there are countless people who are alive today because of it. Thosemicrobe strains are shared with nations around the world. “It ’s really there because of Ev Dirksen,” former U.S. Transportation Secretary and Congressman Ray LaHood said of the famously gravel voiced representative and senator who championed construction of a new Ag

Mike Bailey is editor in chief of Peoria Magazine

Left and right photos : High-level science is practiced every day at the Ag Lab.

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