Ken Bolte

Ken grew up on a dairy farm between Washington and New Haven, Missouri. He graduated from University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science in 1973 and followed with a Master’s Degree in 1975. Ken returned to manage the University of Missouri dairy farms in 1976. In 1982, he accepted a position as MU Extension Dairy Specialist in the Perryville, Missouri area. In 1984, Ken went to work as a dairy specialist in the Franklin County area. While dairy was always his specialty, various job titles have been on his office door. But, for 38 years Ken has handled them all and faithfully served the people of Franklin and surrounding counties in many ways. Amongst a mirade of other jobs, Ken was on at least two fair boards, and assisted with several others. He set up and conducted dairy contests for students and seminars for adults for the continuing education of the community. Ken has contributed greatly by growing the Franklin County Cattleman’s Association where he is still active even in retirement. There is no telling how many county, district and state judging contests Ken has set up, managed and judged for dairy and other areas of agriculture.

Ken has been on the fair board and chaired the livestock committee for the Washington Town and Country Fair in Washington, Missouri for many years where his service has been crucial to that fair’s success as the third largest fair in the state. He has served as the official judge of the show at many functions throughout the territory. His expertise is broad and his reputation is wide-spread. He is definitely a “people person” and willingly will do his best to help anyone with any problem. Ken has enhanced the youth market livestock and milk auction which has annually put over a half-million dollars in the pockets of youth in the area. Numerous youth have gone on to excel in animal science and veterinary medicine due to his influence in their lives. Ken taught FFA and 4-H members the “Show Me Quality Assurance” program which demonstrated how to properly care and raise their animals. Ken very much enjoyed working with farm youth and that energy went both ways as those youngsters reached for greater heights because of Ken’s example.

Ken and his late wife Sandy, have four children: Aaron, Todd, Kimberly and Laura. He also has five grandchildren.