Farrington R. Carpenter became engaged in the cattle business at the age of 21. He developed an innovative pricing formula for the cattle he sold based on the animal's production weight per day of age, which had implications for genetically improving the purchaser's cattle. Carpenter started the Elkhead School District in 1914 and was president of the board from 1914-1927. He was instrumental in leading the Solandt Memorial Hospital building campaign in Hayden, which opened in 1923. From 1934 to 1938, Ferry served as the first director of the National Grazing Service, now the Bureau of Land Management, and drafted the Taylor Grazing Act. In 1941, he was appointed as the first director of the Colorado Department of Revenue by then-Governor Ralph Care. From 1952-1954, Carpenter served in the Colorado Legislature.