That’s how his son John Burket remembered his father, who passed away at 93 on March 6 at his home on the family farm where he was born.

In addition to being a family man, David was a pioneer in breeding polled (hornless) Holstein cattle — a sustainable, humane alternative to disbudding — for more than 60 years, and it remains in high international demand.

Today, most polled cattle can be traced back to Burket Falls Farm.

Lindsay Worden, CEO of Holstein Association USA, said David was respected not only for his accomplishments, but also for his methodology and personality.

Dairy cattle breeder David Burket stands beside a sign in the 1980s, where his farm is commemorated as “Home of Polled Holsteins.” Courtesy photo

“He was thoughtful, steady and generous with his knowledge,” Worden said. “He listened more than he spoke, and when he did speak, people paid attention.”

Family man

Born on April 4, 1932, David spent his childhood helping his father, Frank, with caring for dairy cattle on the Burket Family Farm. Frank was injured in a farming accident when David was only 14 years old, leaving the fate of the family business in his hands.

“He had no options,” John said, recognizing that his dad only had himself to carry the farm, where his mother and four other siblings lived.

He attended Claysburg High School in the morning and worked on the farm in his free time. When he graduated in 1950, he dedicated all his time to the farm’s prosperity.

Burket

His dad had “a quiet determination that took him forward, and he never looked back or complained,” John said.

Despite his busy schedule, he attended a roller skating party one night and subsequently met Betty L. Roub of Saxton. Shortly after, they wedded on June 28, 1952, starting a 72-year marriage.

The couple also worked together as partners, John said, as David would frequently credit Betty with his agricultural success.

Together, they had three children on the family farm, David Jr., Frank and John, who continued the Burket Falls family legacy by working on the land.

“David was a family man,” said John Meyer, former CEO of Holstein Association USA. “His family meant the world to him.”

He also worked on the farm with a neighbor and family friend, Dane Helsel, who described David as a friend and a mentor.

“I made mistakes, and instead of yelling at me, he (David) guided me on how to do it right the next time,” Helsel said.

Dedication to dairy cattle

His dad was focused on breeding better Holstein cattle, John said, but it wasn’t until 1960 that he discovered the polled Holstein cattle gene himself.

Traveling to Wisconsin to improve the genetics of his herd, he purchased a hornless Holstein cow, who subsequently gave birth to another polled Holstein cow named Princess.

According to John, the polled Holstein gene remains dominant among cattle. When mating a horned cow with a polled cow, only a 50% chance exists that the offspring will be polled. But mating two polled cattle results in polled offspring.

David, however, had no idea at the time that Princess was polled; he thought it was interesting when Princess didn’t grow horns in her adult life.

“She turned out to be the best cow he had,” John said, noting she was a superior cow from a production standpoint. After her death, she was buried in front of the Burkets’ home.

“David was a visionary before anyone talked about people being a visionary,” Meyer said, as he also bred red-haired Holstein cows, a color of cow that used to be discarded.

Even though David didn’t have a college degree, Helsel said David had great insights and natural abilities when it came to breeding dairy cattle.

Farms and agriculture departments began to seek polled Holstein cattle more than 30 years ago, as animal welfare movements started to flourish across the world.

Because polled genes were in high demand, Burket Falls Farm cattle became appealing to farmers.

“It took all but a lifetime to develop,” John said.

Achievements and accolades

David was not only recognized for his achievements in breeding polled Holstein cattle, but also for his character and professionalism.

He was named the Larry Moore Red and White Master Breeder in 1995 and was inducted into the PA Holstein Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Claysburg Hall of Fame in 2020.

He was also inducted into the National Dairy Shrine in 2018.

Meyer said National Dairy Shine inductees are a very elite group of ag leaders recognized for their accomplishments in breeding dairy cattle.

“It’s an award for David’s professionalism,” he said.

John recalled hanging up David’s awards on his wall and David would take them down.

“That’s how humble he was,” John said.

“David was a quiet giant, a quiet leader,” Helsel said.

Outside of farming, David was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan and enjoyed hunting deer at the Burket Falls Hunting Camp.

As Burket Falls Farm continues to flourish under John’s direction, he said his dad’s presence will be felt throughout the farm going forward.

“Because of his effectiveness and ingenuity, anything we do going forward, he’ll be a part of in spirit because he was a great teacher and mentor,” John said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.