Ag professor admired for willingness to serve, love for his family and joy he brings those around him
By DYLAN WHITELY, Student Reporter
A little sports car is driving up and down the roads, terrorizing the streets of Alva.
The vehicle is a two-door, bright red Mustang with a black stripe right down the middle. Most people might see it and think some young college kid is hot-rodding around. Actually, it is Dean Scarbrough’s fancy new toy that he is quite proud of.
He swears that he bought it to teach his children how to drive a vehicle with a standard transmission. His kids would say otherwise. They think it’s a classic case of a man who is going through a midlife crisis.
Scarbrough is a professor of agriculture at Northwestern. He also serves as the chair of the agriculture department. He is in his 20th year of teaching at Northwestern, and those who know him best say his passion for students and love for his family define his life.
Although Scarbrough has had a long career in education, teaching was not one of his original career goals.
“I never really anticipated being a teacher in any fashion whatsoever,” Scarbrough said. “In fact, it was on the list of things I would never do.”
Scarbrough had plans of being a farmer and rancher like his father. It was during his time at the University of Arkansas for graduate school that he first gained an interest in teaching. While going to school for his doctorate, he shifted his focus toward teaching instead of doing research. He thought teaching could make more of an impact.
Scarbrough said the impact he has on students is what he enjoys most about teaching. His students are in situations similar to his when he was a student, he said. Many grew up on farms, learning about agriculture their whole lives.
He learned more about the science-based aspects of agriculture through his schooling, he said. It gave him a deeper understanding of why certain things are done in agriculture. That’s what Scarbrough said appealed to him, and that’s what he hopes to teach his students.
HIS KENTUCKY HOME
Scarbrough may be far away from the race-horse ranch in Kentucky where he was born, but Alva feels like home for him and his family, he said. He moved here with his family in 2002, and the community spirit appeals to him.
“It’s the people,” Scarbrough said. “I know that sounds cliche, but it is. It’s the reason we came, and it’s the reason we stayed.”
One thing that Scarbrough leans on in his life is his active faith. He gives credit to his parents for being role models for him by showing how to live out one’s faith.
One of the ways he puts his faith into action is by serving others. Scarbrough and his family attend the First Baptist Church of Alva.
Scarbrough is active in a number of community service efforts. His son, Lane, said his father’s willingness to serve is what he admires most about him.
Lane Scarbrough recalled a time when one of his father’s friends called and asked to borrow a skid-steer to remove some bushes. Dean Scarbrough wasted no time in hooking up the trailer, loading up the skid-steer and driving it across town for his friend to use, Lane Scarbrough said.
“That’s one of the primary things I admire about him: his service to both people that he’s friends with and his service indirectly to those he may not even know,” Lane Scarbrough said.
Derrick Thomas, the youth pastor at the First Baptist Church and a family friend, also said he admired Scarbrough’s desire to serve.
“He is willing to help others at any time,” Thomas said. “He is very knowledgeable about so many different things, so he is able to serve others in a variety of different ways.”
Scarbrough’s friendly demeanor is another trait those who know him best say they admire. Chris Ruwaldt, the pastor at the First Baptist Church, said Scarbrough shows people that he cares for them.
“He’s one of those guys that just has that way with people,” Ruwaldt said. “You go away from that conversation thinking, ‘That guy really cares about me.’”
Calleb Mosburg, the university’s dean of student affairs and a friend of Scarbrough’s, said he can always count on Scarbrough.
“He’s a guy that I can always go to and talk through some things,” Mosburg said. “Somebody that I trust greatly. He’s just an all-around great person, and you don’t meet many like him.”
Ruwaldt said Scarbrough is intelligent and well-spoken.
“I’ve pastored churches for almost 25 years,” Ruwaldt said. “I’ve known a lot of people and been around a lot of people. And Dean is certainly one of the smartest people I’ve ever been around.”
FAMILY VALUES
Scarbrough and his wife, Cassandra, have three children: Lane, Gracie and Norah.
Scarbrough credits his family for making him the man he is today.
“My wife and I married relatively young and then had children relatively young,” Scarbrough said. “That definitely formed our life. It’s what a lot of people consider the normal phases of life, getting married and having children, but it’s definitely been impactful on my life.”
Friends agree.
“He’s going to be very humble about it, but he’s also very proud that he and Cassandra have raised three amazing kids,” Mosburg said.
SERVING STUDENTS
Scarbrough has overseen many projects and helped countless people, but his friends and family members say he stays humble about what he does. Lane Scarbrough talked about how his father helped make a student lounge for the Agriculture Department, although some students may never know he did it. Dean Scarbrough painted the walls and remodeled the room so students would have a place to hangout.
When Scarbrough isn’t on campus teaching, he is usually hanging out with his family or doing something related to agriculture. On Sunday nights, you can find him at the Alva Rec Center playing basketball, which he has done for many years. Mosburg said Scarbrough doesn’t seem to age.
Although Scarbrough is professional, he has a lighter side that people might not know about, friends say. Mosburg said one of Scarbrough’s favorite movies is “Dumb and Dumber.”
Mosburg said he and Scarbrough will even quote the movie back-and-forth to each other at times. Scarbrough also said he has a wide variety of music he enjoys. His playlist spans all the way from classical music to ‘80s hair bands.
