Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on the World Food Prize and its founder, Iowa native Norman Borlaug. Part 1 appeared in the Oct. 7 Spokesman.

How exactly did a small-town farmer from Iowa earn the highest of honors for his contribution to advance global peace and human rights?

Many share the same story of Norman Borlaug, a scientist and plant breeder originally from Cresco who made it his life’s mission to tackle world food insecurity.

“He thought nobody should ever be...