Apr 30, 2025
AMSEcast continues celebrating 250 years of American
innovation with Curtis Gregory. A park ranger at the George
Washington Carver National Monument, Curtis sits down with Alan to
share Carver’s inspiring journey from enslavement to becoming a
pioneering scientist and educator who transformed Southern
agriculture. Known for promoting peanuts and sweet potatoes as
sustainable crops, Carver created hundreds of uses for them! Beyond
his lab, he educated rural farmers through lectures, pamphlets, and
the innovative Jesup Wagon. His legacy endures in food security and
agricultural education. Visitors can explore his story at the
Carver Monument in Diamond, Missouri.
Guest Bio
Curtis Gregory is a longtime park ranger at the George
Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri, where he
has shared Carver’s legacy with visitors for nearly 20 years. With
deep knowledge and passion, Curtis brings to life the story of
George Washington Carver—scientist, educator, and agricultural
innovator—highlighting his contributions to sustainability, food
security, and education. As a dedicated steward of this historic
site, Curtis helps connect the past to the present, inspiring new
generations through Carver’s enduring impact. We’re thrilled to
have Curtis join us on AMSEcast to celebrate the remarkable life
and innovations of one of America’s greatest minds.
Show Highlights
- (2:00) How George Washington Carve went from being born a slave to a professor by 30
- (6:53) The state of agriculture in the South when Carver arrived at Tuskegee
- (8:25) What led him to the peanut in the first place
- (10:45) George Washington Carver’s innovations with the sweet potato
- (15:51) His impact on agriculture in the South and nationwide
- (17:12) What to expect at the George Washington Carver National Monument
Links Referenced