2023 Box Elder County Fair Grand Marshal

The Box Elder County Fair Board chose the Grand Marshals for this year’s fair due to the years of hard work, dedication, and service to the fair. Jeff Kent and his wife, Myrna, were chosen as the “ultimate examples” of hard work, dedication, and service.

Jeff has served on the Box Elder Junior Livestock Board of Directors for more than 29 years, and for 10 years he served as the Junior Market Hog Director. The job has not always been easy as industry standards and livestock show procedures have changed over the years. He has lovingly tried to enforce the rules and educate participants. He has been a steady influence on the Livestock Board as the program has grown dramatically and transitioned to what it is today.

Jeff also served as President of the North Box Elder Farm Bureau for approximately 10 years, during which time the organization has been a driving influence and fearless promoter of agriculture in Box Elder County. Thanks to Jeff’s leadership, and the great people who have managed the Cook Shack, the famous Farm Bureau Burger Stand at the county fair has flourished, the proceeds of which have been used extensively to help youth in local Future Farmers of America chapters. Every year of his service, Jeff has urged the board to make a sizable donation to FFA and make sure that a few FFA seniors get scholarships to help pay for their college education. “It’s giving people like Jeff Kent and his family who have a big heart for, and dedication to the Box Elder County Fair that has kept it going to what it is today: The biggest and best county fair around,” said Fair Board President, Jan Rhodes. “People like Jeff are responsible for keeping it going for 98 great years. Thank you, Kent Family, for giving your all to the Box Elder County Fair and our community." The Fair Board also commented, "For these reasons, and many more unmentioned, the Box Elder County Fair Board is honored to present this distinguished award to Jeff and Myrna Kent.”

In addition to his contributions to the fair, Jeff has served selflessly in other positions including as supervisor of the Northern Utah Conservation District, with the buyers’ luncheon associated with the Box Elder County Junior Livestock Auction and as a volunteer reading aide to help in his grandchildren’s classes, all while serving others in his church callings. Most notably, Jeff has served tirelessly outside of any position or title. You can often find him delivering his famous cookies or peach dessert to others. Fairgrounds staff and FFA advisors are regular recipients of such kindness. For about 10 years, as the FFA advisors weigh hogs in the summer, Jeff has served them lunch when they stop to weigh his grandkids’ hogs. And they weren’t just sandwiches-the meals were full-course dinners. The advisors joke that they need to get most of the hogs weighed before noon because after a stop at Jeff’s, they were too full to move. Jeff usually includes his kids and grandkids in preparing the feast as he teaches them the value of taking care of others. 

Jeff learned the value of hard work from a young age. Growing up in Fielding, he had the opportunity to work alongside the Richards family on their farm. Friendships began there that have lasted throughout the years. Throughout his life he has had many people be examples of loving work and service to others, and how the two go hand-in-hand. After high school, Jeff attended Snow College where he played football, and where his future wife, Myrna, visited him as much as possible. They married shortly after Myrna’s graduation a year later. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary earlier this month. Jeff worked at ATK for 36 years while farming the family farm Myrna’s grandparents built. It was there they raised their five children. It was always one of Jeff’s top priorities to teach his children the value of hard work. Irrigating, farming, gardening, counting rocks, and cleaning the corral were just a few of the chores. Not only did it teach each of them to work hard, but they also learned to appreciate what they had and worked hard for. Teaching the importance of serving others and showing unconditional love and respect are lessons he taught to his own kids and now to his grandkids, who think the world of him. Taking care of his sweet wife and being there for his kids anywhere or anytime are the most important displays of Jeff’s loving devotion. Few people can compare with the love and service Jeff is known for.
 

Jeff and Myrna are still on their family farm where they enjoy their children and grandchildren: Ryan (deceased) and Jamie Kent, Travis and Angie Johnsen, Marc and Cami Farnworth, Justin and Jeniece Scott, and Justin and Tiffany Wakely. Their grandchildren are Tayler, MaKayden (Megan), Kenzie Kent, Kent Jeffry (deceased), Khloe Johnsen, Jordan Farnworth, Dawson (currently serving an LDS Mission in Washington DC, South), Savannah Scott, Tucker, Boston, and Brynlee Wakely.