Kimmett family recognizes 109 years of farming in local area

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Kimmett family dedicated a historical sign on their land to commemorate 109 years of being in the local region.

Third, fourth and fifth generation members of the family gathered, June 13, to celebrate the occasion.

“The three of us, the third generation of Kimmetts, decided that none of us wanted the farm. It is too small to even think about farming, so we made the decision to sell it … I felt really bad about selling the farm after it has been in the family since 1917,” said Kelly Kimmett. “I thought, let’s pay tribute to the four guys who came up from Denver and homesteaded the area, and then my mom and dad who took over the farm and ran it for 30-some years.”

The sign is now erected on Range Road 243, south of Highway 564 on the private property that acts as the memorial.

Kimmett explained he and his siblings have each since moved away from the family land as of the 1970’s to pursue their own lives and careers.

They are still, however, involved in the local community with the annual Bill and Lorraine Kimmett Memorial, and sponsoring the Valedictorian Scholarship at Strathmore High School.

“My dad told us all we had to go to university, and when we made enough money to afford farming, we could come back. None of us came back. We actually all became pharmacists,” said Kimmett. “It wasn’t something we wanted to saddle the next generation with. There are six grandchildren and for them to have it divided up amongst them, I don’t know what they would do with it. I guess they would have to inherit it and pay a huge tax bill.”

Despite aiming to sell the eight quarter sections making up the family’s parcel, Kimmett explained he still partakes in what he described as “hobby farming” every year. 

The four of five Kimmett brothers who moved to the Nightingale area from Arvada, Colo. purchased the land originally from existing farmers in the area, and the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Founded by Charles Edward, Hunter Eugene, Alvin Cliffton, and Arthur Leslie Kimmetts, the land was largely stewarded by Charles and Arthur past 1931, as Alvin had been shot and killed, and Hunter relocated with his wife to the Standard area. 

They were succeeded by William Eugene Kimmett, who would operate the farm until 1991 with his wife Lorraine, at which point it began to be rented to the Damen, Setiz, and Reinhardt families. 

“My thought is that I want to donate a lot of the money I get from the farm because I feel bad selling it,” said Kimmett. “I have to do something really special in my hometown, hopefully in the next few years.”