Keith and Nell Propst Memorial Scholarship

The Propst Family have been long-time supporters of Northeastern Junior College. In 2003 they created an Agriculture scholarship in memory of Keith Propst. After Nell passes away, the family chose to honor her along with her late husband with this scholarship, which is designed to support students with declared majors in either agriculture or humanities.

Thomas “Keith” Propst was born in 1926 at the Bar 3 Ranch near Merino, CO which was homesteaded by his family in 1876. He attended Merino High School before moving on to Colorado College in active duty with the Navy. Then Keith enrolled at Colorado State University joining the Army ROTC. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal production and a second lieutenant commission in the Army Reserves. 
Keith met his beloved wife, Nell Brown Propst, in 1948 at the University of Denver when he came to visit his sister Ginny at Nell’s dorm. It was love at first sight, and they were married on October 7, 1949. Following Keith’s service in the Korean War, they returned to live and work on the Propst Bar 3 Ranch in Merino, Colorado where they raised their four children.

In spite of the demands of ranch life, which Nell embraced with every fiber of her being, she still managed to direct numerous community theatre productions, and to research and write over 30 plays, books, and short stories--as well as many other magazine and newspaper articles, book reviews and contributions. She was actively involved in the local historical society and her efforts to research the people and history of the area with accuracy and wisdom were relentless.  She was a true historian of northeastern Colorado. One of Nell’s most memorable plays was a musical titled “Make A Joyful Noise” which she wrote about the Propst family to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bar 3 Ranch, which was produced and directed with the help of many family members and community volunteers.  

Keith had an unwavering love for agriculture. He joined the Logan County Farm Bureau in 1950, serving as secretary and president. He was a member of the Colorado Farm Bureau and was elected president in 1974, serving until 1992. He was also was a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, served as president of the Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance Company, and on the board of Western Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. He was a member of Mountain States Beet Growers, Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte (GASP), the Colorado Historical Society, and Logan County Historical Society and was one of the founding members of the Great Western Beef Expo. He was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2002.

Despite their many professional accomplishments, Keith and Nell’s greatest attributes were their community support. They were very intentional about encouraging others in their pursuits by being good friends and mentors.