E. R. Jackman
Edwin Russell Jackman, known as E.R. Jackman (February 14, 1894 – May 12, 1967), was an American agricultural expert and extension agent who worked in Oregon. He helped shape farming in the state by promoting new techniques, land use ideas, and conservation.
Early life and education
Jackman was born in Stillwater, Minnesota, and grew up on a mixed farm in Flathead County, Montana. He studied at Montana State College (now Montana State University) from 1913 to 1917. After a brief stint as an Agricultural Extension Agent in Montana, he served as a First Lieutenant in the Field Artillery during World War I at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After the war, he attended Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy in 1921.
Career and impact
Jackman became Oregon’s Agricultural Extension Agent for Wasco County, working with Oregon State University as part of the federal Cooperative Extension Service. He advised farmers on modern growing practices, land use, and conservation. He had a short break from the field in 1926 to start a commercial venture, but returned in 1929 and served as a farm crop specialist until 1953, then as a range crop management specialist until his retirement in 1959.
He helped organize the Oregon Seed Growers’ League and played a leading role in creating the Oregon Wheat League. He also led the Pacific Northwest chapter of the American Society of Range Management and started the Youth Range Camp program in 1950. He received several honors, including the USDA Superior Service Award in 1956 and the Oregon Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Oregon Agriculture award in 1957.
Books and legacy
After retiring, Jackman co-authored four books. The Oregon Desert (1964), written with Reub Long, remains popular for its look at Eastern Oregon’s history, geology, culture, and folklore. He also co-authored Gold and Cattle Country (1962) with Herman Oliver, Blazing Forest Trails (1967) with Charles Simpson, and Steens Mountain in Oregon’s High Desert Country (1967) with John Scharff.
Jackman’s papers and photographs are housed at Oregon State University (OSU). The university preserves the Edwin Russell Jackman Papers and the Edwin Russell Jackman Photographic Collection, which document his work and the people he taught and wrote about. The E.R. Jackman Foundation supports OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and OSU’s Jackman Internship Support Program helps students in the same field. The Jackman-Long Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, opened in 1976, honors him and his colleague Reub Long.
Jackman died in Portland, Oregon, in 1967. His work left a lasting mark on Oregon agriculture and education.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 23:58 (CET).