Feeding the Future
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EmailInspired by MSU’s Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign, Harold (Hal) Bernthal (’50, Chemistry) is shaping a better tomorrow through his recent gift to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
It only takes a moment to be moved to make a difference.
While reading the winter edition of Spartan Magazine, Harold (Hal) Bernthal (’50, Chemistry) learned about the launch of MSU’s Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign. Inspired by its bold ambitions, Bernthal decided it was time to support the Spartan community.
Driven by his lifelong passion for farming and a desire to create opportunities for the next generation, Bernthal made a $2 million gift to establish the Harold G. Bernthal Family Endowed Professorship in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). The Bernthal Family Professorship will advance MSU’s leadership in agricultural research and spearhead CANR initiatives to end world hunger.
“I’ve been fortunate, it’s time to give back.”
For Bernthal, agriculture has always been a way of life. Growing up on a small family farm in Frankenmuth, MI, he developed an enduring appreciation for the vital role farmers play in feeding a hungry world.
But his career path took him in a different direction. Using a loan from his father, Bernthal attended MSU. Having excelled in science courses, he pursued a degree in chemistry. When he wasn’t studying, Bernthal worked in a campus cafeteria and on weekends, he’d hitchhike home to help his parents and siblings on the farm.
After graduation, Bernthal repaid his father’s loan in full and began his career at the American Hospital Supply Corporation (AHSC). He also served stateside in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1958, he married his wife, Margaret (Peggy) Bernthal. The couple raised three children together while he advanced through the ranks at AHSC, eventually becoming President and Chief Operating Officer.
Later in life, Bernthal and his business partner, John Crotty, founded CroBern, Inc., a management and investment firm that continues to thrive today. Bernthal attributes his success to his farming roots and the transformative education he received at MSU. Always open to learning from others, he adopted a “no ego” policy that guided him in both business and life.
“Team results are what truly matter, not individual recognitions. If you surround yourself with people who know more than you do, you'll have a good chance at success.” - Hal Bernthal
Bernthal hopes his gift unlocks opportunities for others, just as his MSU education did for him. As the nation’s premier land-grant university, MSU has built an international reputation for excellence in agriculture. Bernthal wants to see MSU remain a leader in this space and envisions his gift empowering research efforts that promote global food security.
“Education is the pathway to long-term success,” said Bernthal. “With a growing population, we need to maximize our food production. In my own small way, I want to help MSU discover ways to feed the world.”
To learn more about the Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign, visit givingto.msu.edu/far-better-world
