Delmer Kenter, Jasper

Delmer Kenter, the founder of the well known Kenter Jersey Farm, Jasper, Missouri, became interested in Jerseys in 1934 when his father Jake Kenter brought home two registered Jersey heifers. He decided to have a herd of his own.

Delmer was born in 1908 at Golden City, Missouri. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kenter who operated a farm where Delmer grew up. In April 1940 he married Naomi Stanberry, a school teacher who was a local farm girl. The couple moved to their own farm a short distance from their parents. They had a herd of 14cows to start and milked by hand in an old stanchion barn. They started DHI testing in 1941. That first year the herd average was 6,826 pounds of milk and 382 pounds of butterfat. The herd has been an continuous DHI test since!

By hard work and careful planning Delmer and Naomi with the help of their son Darrell, replaced the stanchion barn, sold the grade cows and went 100 percent registered Jerseys. As time passed new buildings were added, the milking system up-dated and the herd increased in size. The present herd is 160 head with 70 cows in milk. The present production average for the herd is 14,082 lbs. milk, 684 lbs. fat and 527 lbs. of protein. The breeding program was centered on the “Excellent” cow Brampton’s Dynamo Mary with a record over 12,000 lbs of milk and a state class leader in 1955. The Kenter herd has produced many high producers as well as grand champions at the local and state Jersey Shows. One cow Quicksilver Jessie Excellent was the All-Missouri 3 yr. old, 4yr. old and aged cow champion (1977-78-79). In 1989 the Kenter Farm Jersey “Dutch” was a state leader with 15,580 M, 671 F. as a Sr. 4year old.

In spite of a busy farm life Delmer Kenter was an active leader in local affairs. He was on Lamar School Board for six years; a trustee m his church, Associate Judge of the County Court· President of the S.W. Missouri Jersey Club, 1960-64; President of the Jasper-Barton County DHIA from 1941-78; District Delegate Mid-America Dairy an 1973-76. He was recipient of the Ragsdale-Regan Production plaque and the 1979 Missouri Jerseyman was dedicated to him.

Delmer is now retired and in a nursing home. His wife Naomi passed away some years ago. The farm work and operation of the herd was turned over to his son Darrell and his wife Cindy. They have three children: Kelly, Jaimee and Matthew. All team up as a family to carry on the tradition and program started by Delmer.