Both Otto and Opal have farm backgrounds; Otto was raised on a farm in Lewis County, and Opal on a farm in Douglas County. Following his graduation in 1923, Otto worked as assistant county agent in Thurston County. In 1928, he went to Penn State on a teaching fellowship and earned his Masters degree. Then, in 1933, he earned his Ph.D. in Animal Sciences while at the University of Minnesota on a scholarship. He worked as Extension Dairyman at WSC for a decade and then in Seattle in 1944 as a manager of the feed production department at Western Farmer’s Association, where he worked until his retirement in 1965. Opal graduated in 1933 and worked as a home demonstration agent with the Extension Service in Benton County until her marriage. Otto and Opal have two sons, Kenneth and Richard. While their sons were growing up, summers were spent camping, fishing, and doing things to improve their skills. Otto was a ‘doer,’ and worked with his sons in scouting activities. Opal’s interests were gardening and bowling and both Otto and Opal were active in their church.
Award Requirements
The funds generated from this endowment shall provide one scholarship for a student studying large animals, preferably in genetics or nutrition, and one scholarship for a student studying child development.