Dr. Birl Lowery’s journey from Mississippi farmer to world-renowned soil scientist.
Dr. Birl Lowery’s life and career are a case study in how to fully embrace who you are and where you come from to build something beautiful. From childhood on a Mississippi farm where his earliest education was in a one-room church school to retiring from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014 as Emeritus Professor of Soil Science, Lowery’s road is paved with firsts and never strays from the values and passions instilled in him in his family’s fields.
Lowery is the 6th of 8 children born to Katie and Clem Lowery in Starkville, Mississippi. His father was a sharecropper on land whose owner built nice homes for tenants and their families to encourage them. When he was ready to sell, he offered the land to Black farmers and Lowery’s father bought the largest share. Their primary cash crop was cotton. They also had a small dairy and raised chickens and pigs.
After high school, Lowery went to Alcorn A&M College (now Alcorn State University) where he majored in agricultural education. After completing student teaching, he knew that teaching high school was not for him, so he made the switch to agricultural engineering for his master’s degree at Mississippi State University. But his time at Alcorn was more fruitful than he could have imagined. While working in the cafeteria, he met Ester, a fellow student who would become his wife in 1973.
When Lowery was looking to attend graduate school, Mississippi State University had taken up a great effort to recruit Black students. The funding situation was perfect, so he enrolled and became the first Black student to earn a master’s degree from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in 1975. As a newlywed, Lowery was inclined to go directly to work, but an opportunity at the University of Oregon to work for one year before enrolling in a Ph.D. program allowed him to earn money while continuing to advance his education.
At the University of Oregon, Lowery enrolled in the Department of Soil Science studying soil physics and agricultural engineering. In 1980, he was the first Black student to earn a Ph.D. in this program.
A chance meeting at a conference in Idaho prompted Lowery to apply for a professorship in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although he was reluctant at first, he did apply and became the first Black faculty member in the department and the first US-born Black professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Continuing his string of firsts, Lowery became the first Black chair of the Department of Soil Science and the first Black Senior Associate Dean in CALS. As an administrator, he also hired the first Black woman professor in CALS.
Lowery’s approach to research has been to use the world as his laboratory. Rather than sequestering himself on campus, he spent his time literally playing in the dirt. One major line of research that he led was commissioned by Wisconsin potato growers who needed help optimizing the soil for maximum growth. Farmers gave him access to plenty of money and land to perform experiments that would ultimately yield them better and more bountiful crops.
When asked about the highlight of his career, Lowery marvels at his journey from a Mississippi farm to being a patent holder who has presented his research on 6 continents. “It amazes me that I’ve been able to do all of these things,” he says.
Lowery’s life in retirement has not slowed down. Until COVID, he was still teaching a course on campus and he returns to consult on special projects or to just offer wisdom when asked. But today, life is more about faith, family, and fun. Lowery is the chair of the trustee board at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Lowery and his wife, Ester, have 2 children and 1 grandson. They enjoy taking their grandson camping in their RV—a tradition that they started with their own children—and spending time with him here in Madison.
The Lowerys are committed to taking monthly vacations together and are looking forward to an RV trip to Alaska in the fall. Their trips include skiing, hiking, and learning about the different places that they visit. At home, they ride motorcycles and enjoy the outdoors as often as they can. Lowery is also an accomplished carpenter and artist. He has built furniture and done much of the woodworking around his home, a talent that he learned from his father. His artwork also hangs on the walls and he delights children with beautiful drawings of their favorite animals.
Lowery also loves to fix things. But it’s not just about being handy. Watching Lowery’s dedication to solving problems makes it clear that he wants to use his talents to make things better. This commitment has been invaluable to Mt. Zion as he works daily to make sure that the church runs smoothly and looks its best. On any given day, you may find him painting cabinets, cutting hanging limbs, or spreading mulch. He also lends his financial expertise and general wisdom to MTZ Charitable Organization, Inc. as a member of its board of directors.
Although he is no longer actively doing research, Lowery’s curiosity about and concern for the earth is unquenched. While he does not describe himself as an environmentalist, Lowery is concerned about climate change and its effects on our local and global environment. He urges Black communities to learn more about these issues and how small moves, like planting trees, can have major impact.
