We’re in the middle of our theme week on Vice Presidents. Today we’re talking about our 33rd Vice President, Henry Wallace. He served from 1941-1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Before he was V.P. he was the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Born in Iowa, Wallace began experimenting with hybrid corn when he was in high school. By 1924, he had created a high-yield variety of corn he named Copper Cross and founded the Hi-Bred Corn Company, the world’s first and largest hybrid seed company. As Secretary of Agriculture, Wallace set the precedent for future secretaries, traveling the country, making speeches, and writing numerous articles. When he became Vice President, Roosevelt also made him head of the Board of Economic Warfare, which helped support the U.S. war effort. Wallace was the first Vice President to be actually involved in the work of the executive branch and represent the country in foreign relations. After politics, Wallace returned to his love of farming. He ran an experimental farm and focused a lot of his time studying chickens. At one time, his chickens produced 3/4s of all commercially sold eggs worldwide. Wallace died in 1965 from ALS. In 1999, he was named the “Most Influential Iowan of the 20th Century” by the Des Moines Register. Learn more in the audio below.