Oral history interview with David Petritz, 2007 May 8

Born in Rockford, Illinois, David C. Petritz was the only child of a farm family. The farm still remains with the family. Following completion of his graduate work, he received a Doctorate from the University of Illinois and came to Purdue in 1972 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. His areas of research and extension work were in the economics of beef and sheep, forage production and marketing, and agricultural market analysis and outlook. He recounts his affiliation with the Extension Service [Cooperative Extension Service] at Purdue and Indiana. He became Director of Extension in 1999, having previously served as agricultural and natural resources program leader. As Vice President for Engagement, he accompanied President Jischke on many of his visits to Indiana Communities over the last six years. Quote: Part of what we do in Purdue Extension is to look ahead to the challenges that are coming and preparing people to deal with these things