2015 Palo Alto County- Keyron and Esty Rogarty

 As we reflect back, the time and commitment that Keyron and Esty Fogarty of Cylinder have given to supporting and improving 4-H in Palo Alto County has been truly amazing.  Keyron Joseph Fogarty was born in December of 1926 and was a member of the Fern Valley Wide Awakes 4-H Club as soon as he was old enough to be in 4-H.  Shortly after graduation, in 1946, he became a 4-H leader and served in that position for approximately 14 years.  During his time as a leader he introduced the idea of a countywide 4-H basketball tournament to increase club membership, a concept that worked for a number of years.  Keyron and his father started a family cattle operation dedicated to the promotion of quality purebred and club calf styled cattle, starting with purebred shorthorns.  The cattle operation is now in its 4^th generation, continuing with his three grandsons.  Keyron was also a member of the Palo Alto County Fair Board for over 30 years.  While on the board he served for a number of years on the beef committee and was instrumental in starting a partnership calf program for kids who wanted to participate in the beef project but didn’t have a calf of their own.  In 1986 Keyron was awarded a 4-H Alumni Award at the local 4-H banquet for his years of service as a leader and fair board member.        

Keyron married G. Esteleen Schuller from Mallard in May of 1948.  The couple had one daughter, Aletha, who continued the 4-H family tradition.  Aletha was a member of the Fern Valley Wide Awakes 4-H Club, a boys’ club where she showed calves every year and was also a member of the Fern Valley Starlets 4-H Club, a girls’ club, in which she was very active.  Esty became a leader of the Fern Valley Starlets for approximately six years while her daughter Aletha was in 4-H. 

Esty and Keyron were strong promoters of local cow/calf operations in Palo Alto County.  In the winter 2001 Keyron and Esty were presented the Christensen Elite Award in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to the Iowa Simmental Association.  After the passing of Keyron in September 2001, Esty has provided funds for a special award to acknowledge the top beef animal born and raised in the county.  A trophy for the “County Raised Champion” in memory of her husband is given annually as an incentive for beef exhibitors to buy their 4-H calves from local producers or raise their own.  This year will mark the fourteenth year Esty has provided the funds for this trophy.     

Palo Alto County is proud and honored to have the couple, Keyron and Esty Fogarty, as their 2015 inductee to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.