Paul (Pete) Selken

Paul Selken grew up on the family dairy farm in the Smithton community of central Missouri and, thus, became associated early on with his father, Ernest Selken, and mother, Lillian Bluhm, in operations of the Seluhm Dairy, a registered Holstein herd. The dairy’s name came from the combination of three letters from each family name, Sel from Selken and uhm from Bluhm.

Nominators, who knew Paul personally as Pete, wrote impressively about his showmanship and the high qualities of his cattle. Paul had to learn the hard way what it takes to win in the show ring. Beginning in 1932 at age 14, his Holstein calf placed last in the 4-H show. He lost again in 1933 and 1934. That prompted him to spend winters trapping so he could sell furs to earn enough money to purchase better animals. Success followed when five baby calves were purchased from L. J. Chapman of L-Jai-Cee Farm. That led to Paul winning his first 4-H Blue ribbon in 1937. Then, in 1941, he showed Seluhm Iowa Piebe as Missouri Grand Champion cow.

Counting back 15 years from 1949, Selken’s animals had won 1,283 ribbons, 287 of them Blue, and 103 Championships. He won the Premier Breeder Award at the Ozark Empire Fair in each year 1951 through 1963 except 1959. Again at the Missouri State Fair Paul’s cattle earned him recognition as Premier Breeder for 13 of the 15 years ending in 1964. In the 1952 American Royal, 31 animals owned by 11 exhibitors carried the Seluhm prefix, showing how breeding from his farm penetrated the country. Additionally, at the 1954 Missouri State fair 4-H show six of the eight Class winners carried the Seluhm prefix. From 1949 to 1970 no less than 68 All-Missouri winners carried the Seluhm prefix.

One nominator provided the reminder that the Selken winnings came during years when competition was with animals of T. A. Burgeson and Scott Meyer. From 1949 to 1959 Burgeson had 46 and Meyer had 38 All-Missouri award winners. Paul owned 26 farming units consisting of over 2,500 acres in Lafayette, Chariton, Carroll, Monateau, Morgan, Benton and Pettis Counties.

Selken shared his wisdom and energy with the Missouri Holstein Association for which he was State Director as well as Director for the Central Missouri District. He spread the good news of Missouri Holsteins by showing cattle in state fairs of 12 Midwestern states. In his community he was active with the Smithton 4-H Club and High School Band as well as the United Methodist Church.

One nominator wrote that Pete was an ardent baseball fan and enjoyed participating in the sport. Unfortunately Paul succumbed in 1969 at age 51 to surgery on a knee damaged during a baseball game. Paul was survived by his wife Leona, sons Michael and Phillip, and daughter Nancy.