Darrell Howe Mortuary

The History of Boulder County Rests Here: Paul H. Hummel

Paul H. Hummel was born on July 30, 1885, in Nortonville, KS. After graduating from Nortonville High School, he attended Milton College in WI. It was there he met his wife, Geneva Hakes. Following college, they moved to Sheridan Lake, CO to be near his parents who were homesteading there. In 1920, he purchased property in Boulder County where he would establish his Valmont Farms and Cattle Company. In 1933, he expanded his operation to include range cattle and began grazing them on forest service lands in the Roosevelt National Forest.

Paul was active in the Boulder Stockmen's Association, the Colorado Livestock Industry Council, and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. He was also an influential voice as the ranchers debated with the National Forest Service about allowable numbers of cattle and locations that cattle might graze on forest service land. He was also involved in the range demonstration program of the early 1950's. Paul passed away on April 24, 1969.