Kenneth Earl Shifflet

Kenneth Earl Shifflet, 96, died in Harrisonburg, VA on May 26, 2025. He was the husband of Dr. Anne L. Shifflet for 71 years. Born January 20, 1929 in Charlottesville, VA, he grew up near Hershey, PA. He was the son of the late Ambrose Washington and Laura Belle (Morris) Shifflett, the youngest of their ten children. Mr. Shifflet earned his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education from the Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. from the University of Maryland. After teaching at Manheim Central High School in Manheim, PA, Mr. Shifflet participated in agronomy research at the University of Maryland from 1954-1956. He was appointed to the Frederick County (MD) Extension Service as Assistant County Agent for 4-H programs in 1956. Later he became Associate County Agent for crops and livestock. In 1962, Mr. Shifflet and his wife accompanied the Maryland 4-H dairy judging team to England to compete in the International Judging Contest. In addition, Mr. Shifflet coached many Maryland livestock judging teams at national contests in Chicago, IL. He was elected president of the Maryland County Agricultural Agents' Association in 1967. In 1978, Mr. Shifflet transferred to the Washington County (MD) Extension Service and served as the Agricultural Agent in that county until his retirement in 1984. He managed the Eastern National Livestock Show from 1984-1988 and the Maryland Wool Pool from 1984-1993. Mr. Shifflet continued to judge sheep and beef cattle shows in the region, as well as the farm and garden exhibits at the Montgomery County (MD) Fair. He served as President of the Continental Dorset Club during the Centennial Celebration of the club in 1998. He spent much time at a farm near Mathias, WV where he raised Polled Dorset sheep and maintained beehives. Children and grandchildren enjoyed many family outings there which included hikes to the "high meadow" and ATV rides on Big Bear. Mr. Shifflet was president of the Frederick Kiwanis club in 1970-1971. He was a charter member of the Potomac Valley chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and his affinity for the Nittany Lions grew stronger over time. He was a member of the Glade Valley Church of the Brethren in Walkersville, MD until he and Anne moved to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg in 2003. Surviving besides his wife are four children: Allen Shifflet and his wife Sarah, Charlotte, NC; Gail Boardway and her husband Gordon, Winter Springs, FL; Brenda Ratcliff and her husband Gary, Ridgway, CO; and Drew Shifflet and his wife Lesley, Canandaigua, NY; eight grandchildren: Paul Shifflet, Anna Greig, Georgia Boardway, Preston Boardway, Christopher Ratcliff, Leif Shannon, Brier Shifflet, and Eamon Shifflet; and six great-grandchildren. Interment will be at the Church of the Brethren cemetery in Hanoverdale, PA at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, www.heifer.org.