He graduated from Iowa State 70 years ago and found his way back this week.

Ninety-two-year-old ISU alumnus Roland C. Ferguson, graduate of 1926, returned this week to observe Ag Career Day and visit with university administrators and department heads, as well as members of ISU’s chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA).

“[Ferguson] epitomizes what the alums have traditionally done for this program,” said John Eighmey, department executive officer of journalism and mass communication.

Ferguson has a special interest in NAMA because he worked with the association after retiring. When he arrived at NAMA, it was an organization with about 800 members and $5,000 to its name, Ferguson said. However, he took its membership from 800 to 1,600 in five years. He was the first executive director of NAMA.

Ferguson became careers counselor for the 34 junior chapters of NAMA, of which ISU’s was the second formed.

“We provide students with mentors and help prepare them for the kinds of jobs that fit them in the communication and marketing field,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson pointed out, “that what we need is better communication within all departments.”

He said he thinks communication skills are very important for everyone. “This is a team operation out here today. We need to open up a bit more.”

Ferguson, who majored in animal science and minored in journalism, was first involved in communication classes because of encouragement from his brother, who was also studying at ISU.

By the time he was a junior, Ferguson was editor of the agricultural magazine on campus and was also involved in dairy cattle and international livestock teams.

“It was Ames College then, not Iowa State really,” Ferguson said.

Two years after graduating, Ferguson landed a job with Meredith Corporation in Des Moines. He worked for as an assistant promotions manager of The Dairy Farmer. He also worked for 10 years on Better Homes and Gardens.

He was heading the ad sales office in Chicago for Meredith Corporation before retiring in 1969.

“I’ve seen five generations now,” Ferguson said. And he’s seen many changes through the years. “There’s nothing as certain as change.”

Ferguson recalled several changes he has seen in his time.

“In 1936 most of these farms were electrified for the first time,” he said. Ferguson remembers all the marketing and sales that came with modernizing homes, selling everything from watering systems to new floor coverings.

Ferguson said he was very impressed by ISU’s Agricultural Career Day. “There’s no other school that even begins to match [the career day here],” he said. Generally, colleges only have about 40 or 50 exhibitors, Ferguson said, while here there were 145.

“I always felt very loyal [to Iowa State],” Ferguson said.