Yuma

Perry James Blach, Farmer/Rancher
Graduated from Yuma High School

Perry Bach has farmed a variety of crops, raised cattle, and enjoyed his horses. He raised registered Herefords, and sold bulls to ranchers across many states. Along with many other activities, Perry served as a founding director of the Irrigation Research Foundation in Yuma. Perry showed cattle at the National Western Stock Show in Denver beginning in 1940 and continued to show there through 1978. The ‘Stock Show’ was one of Perry’s favorite traditions. Perry also enjoyed his horses. He raised a handful of ranch horse foals each year and enjoyed his team of Belgian draft horses, a love that started with his experience of farming with draft horses as a young man.

Although Perry was fond of many activities, none brought him more joy than his lifelong relationship with Colorado State University, formerly Colorado A&M, where he attended college. Perry served on the CSU Alumni Board for 24 years, was a founding member of the CSU Alumni Foundation. He received the Honor Alumnus Award in 1970, the Henry Award in 1995, the Livestock Leader Award in 1995, and the CSU Alumni Family Award in 2001. Perry was an active supporter of the CSU athletic program, the College of Agriculture, the Animal Science Department, as well as the university in general.

Along with his sisters, Perry attended Hammond School; their school bus was a Shetland pony and buggy, picking up some of the neighboring children along the way. Perry attended Yuma High School, where he graduated in 1941. Being athletically inclined, he excelled in football, softball, and boxing. He participated in the All State Football Game in 1941. His 4-H activities were an important part of his agricultural education, having won several trips to the Colorado State Fair, a trip to the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago in 1940, and a trip to the National 4- H Camp in Washington DC in 1941. He earned his Star Farmer Degree and American Farmer Degree during his FFA career.

In the fall of 1941, he enrolled at Colorado A&M in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he was active in campus activities, was president of his sophomore class, and lettered in football for three years. From 1943 to 1946, Perry served in the Armed Forces of the Unites States, going across Europe with General George Patton’s Third Army with the 738 th Field Artillery Battalion. During his service, Perry was awarded the Bronze Star. Prior to returning home, he attended one semester of college at Biarritz American University in Biarritz, France. Perry returned from World War II in January 1946 and reenrolled at Colorado A&M. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry.

Perry is being honored posthumously for his great achievements and representing our region as an outstanding alumni of Northeast Colorado.