Interview with Elforth W. Kesler, June 10, 1985

Interview Summary

Elforth Weller Kesler was born in Franklin County, Kentucky on the Shelby County line in 1918. He attended a small county high school in Franklin County, and then enrolled the University of Kentucky, although he did not graduate. He reminisces about his early experiences with the cooperative extension service and 4-H during his high school years. Between 1944 and 1948, Kesler was employed with the Emergency Farm Labor Fund and attempted to place labor in Central Kentucky. He talks about the German Prisoner of War camps in Kentucky during World War II, his work with these camps, and the help that these POWs provided the farmers.

Kesler mentions the "Farm Bureau Law" which specified that the farmers in any county could demand that the county fiscal court hire a county agent. He discusses policy development, and states that the Farm Bureau put forth a true effort year each to determine the needs of the farmers in terms of legislative and program policy. He talks about important legislation that he assisted with including those regarding brucellosis, diagnostic lab service, and the establishment of the seed house on UK's Cold Stream Farm. He explains that the rural roads funds, which established a tax to support the rural road system in Kentucky.

In January of 1948, Kesler began working as a Claims Adjustor in the insurance division of the Kentucky Farm Bureau. In December of 1949, the Farm Bureau decided to offer farmers property insurance, and Kesler moved to Louisville to head the operation. Kesler talks about experiences with the cooperative extension service and states that seeing their dedication throughout the years has been satisfying. The UK awarded Kesler the Thomas Poe Cooper Award, and he has also received recognition from the Kentucky Rural Electric Association, and the Agricultural Communicators of Kentucky for his work. Kesler states that he serves on the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, and the Kentucky Council on Economic Education Board. He mentions his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

Interview Keyword

Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Service

Interview LC Subject

Kesler, Elforth Weller, 1918- Kesler, Elforth Weller, 1918- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History University of Kentucky. Cooperative Extension Service

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.