W.D. Farr

Born in 1910, William Daven (W.D.) Farr was a third generation Coloradoan(His father and grandfather also lived in Colorado).
W.D.'s grandfather came to Greeley to homestead in 1877. His grandfather was a blacksmith. His father farmed and fed sheep until 1931. The land homesteaded by his grandfather is where the Hillside neighborhood is today.

His middle name was Daven for his mother's maiden name. Her name was Hazel Daven Farr. Her father was Peter Draven who came to the colony as a road builder. He was busy building miles of roads.

W.D. learned how to be a cowboy.
At fifteen (15), he worked on a ranch near Hayden, Colorado. This may have been when he became interested in the cattle industry.

He attended college for a short time.
He went to the University of Wisconsin in 1929. He came home because he was sick and the economy was poor.

While he was back home, he worked with his father on the farm and feeding the lambs. But in the 1940's, he talked his father into raising cattle, as well. They bought 125 cattle and built a feedlot. It is called Farr Feeders and is located east of Greeley.

He was most important to Greeley for his work with water laws.
While working on the farm, he became involved with several irrigation ditch companies. This work taught him that water was needed to keep Greeley alive and growing. He then became active with the Colorado Big Thompson Water Project. This brings water from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains to eight counties (areas) of northern Colorado.

He was a part of many important groups.
W.D. was a part of the Big Thompson Water Project for 40 years. He was active in the national Cattlemen's Association for over 20 years. He served as president in 1970. In Greeley, he was president of the Greeley Water Board for 39 years.

He served as an advisor to the US Department of Agriculture under three US Presidents (Harry Truman, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon)

He represented the US Feed and Grains Council. He went to other countries to talk with their agricultural leaders.

Farr earned many awards.
W.D. has been inducted (made a member of) into many groups. Some of his honors include: Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 1991, Colorado Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1995, named Citizen of the West by the Denver Western Stockshow in 1999, and into the Hall of Great Westerners in 2007.

W.D. and his family have been active in many things.
W.D. was active in many areas and his children and grandchildren have continued his work. His middle name, Daven, has become a family name beginning in a fourth generation. The Farr family have been active in banking, agriculture and water rights for decades. They helped with getting the Union Colony Civic Center built in Greeley. W.D. also helped raise funds for the Denver Coliseum to host the Western Stock Show.

W.D. died at home.
He died at age 97 on August 13, 2007. He was called a pioneer rancher, visionary, statesman, water expert, and banker by the people who knew him best.

Already today, several places bear the Farr name. Farr Park is near Jackson school. It is also on the land owned by the Farr family. The newest library is Farr Library. The pumping plant near Lake Granby is named the Farr Pumping Plant. Most likely there will be more honors in the future.

Greeley is the city that it is today because of the work that W.D. Farr did over his lifetime. He will be remembered.