For 60 years, Cecilia resident Kenneth Hayden has farmed 850 acres of land, and the 91-year-old is still at it, reports Kelly McKinney in The News-Enterprise recently.
Hayden lives in a home on Hayden School Road in Cecilia, next door to the home in which he grew up. His home sits in front of the land where the house in which his father grew up used to stand.
Hayden always wanted to be a farmer.
"It's just something I always looked forward to doing," he said. "Growing up, I wanted to farm."
He graduated from the since-closed Howevalley High School in Cecilia, then attended the University of Kentucky, graduating with a degree in agriculture. But his journey afterward did not immediately begin with farming.
First, he served two years active duty in the U.S. Army, narrowly missing being deployed to Korea for the Korean War. He served in a research outfit and worked on artillery research.
He enjoyed his time in the Army, he said.
"It was good duty," he said "I couldn't expect anything better."
Afterward, Hayden taught elementary school for six years, a job which he said he loved. However, the farm life was calling him. So he left his teaching job, got married and started farming.
"I've been farming since," he said.
At first, he farmed along with his father and two brothers. Later, Hayden and his older brother took over. When his older brother died, Hayden started doing it by himself with the part-time help of his nephew.
The family used to farm cattle and hogs, but switched to corn and soybeans with the advent of "no tilling" farming.
Hayden said he still enjoys farming, but notes it has changed drastically over the years he has done it.
"You have to be quite knowledgeable," he said.
Like every farmer, Hayden has had his share of ups and downs with his crops.
"I would have a good year, some fair years, then a bad year," he said. "It's always trying to catch up from the bad years."
Depending on the time of year, Hayden might be out in the fields early, or might be out in the fields until 11 or 12 at night.
"The system determines when you get up," he said.
Farming comes with challenges, especially the weather, he said. And right now, grain farming is "quite costly."
While farming, Hayden stayed active in his community by serving for more than five decades on the Hardin County Farm Bureau Board, which is part of the Kentucky Farm Bureau. He served as president from 1970 to 1973.
He was honored in 2012 for distinguished service to Kentucky Farm Bureau. According to an article published on Hardin County Farm Bureau's website, Hayden was "highly instrumental in Hardin County's development as one of the more accomplished county Farm Bureau organizations."
Kentucky State Sen. Dennis Parrett, who was one of the people who nominated Hayden for the recognition, said Hayden has had a profound impact on agriculture.
"He has spent countless hours in a diverse way to help increase production, establish new markets, enhance promotion efforts and advance relevant policy for agriculture," Parrett said. "He also has served his community in many positive ways."
Hayden also has been active with the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, the United States Feed Grains Council, the FFA and 4-H, according to the farm bureau.
Hayden also served on the Hardin County School Board and has been a member of the Cecilia Baptist Church for years.
Hayden has been married to his wife, Karolyn, for 60 years. Like Hayden did at one point, Karolyn taught school, teaching high-school home economics. They have two sons, both of whom serve in the military. One lives in California and serves in the recently founded U.S. Space Force, working on satellite communications. The other is in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Naples, Italy.
Kelly McKinney can be reached at 270-505-1404 or kmckinney@thenewsenterprise.com.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Hay & Forage