Year-in-Review: February deaths
In 1971, President Richard Nixon appointed Earl Lauer Butz to Secretary of Agriculture, a position he held until 1974. During this time, Butz revolutionized federal agricultural policy with his mantra of "get big or get out," and he urged farmers to plant commodity crops like corn "from fencerow to fencerow." These policy shifts coincided with the rise of major corporations, and the declining of small family farms. Lutz passed away on Feb. 2. Charles Bennett / Associated Press
