Thomas Keith Propst of Merino played an active leadership role in Colorado agriculture for more than 50 years. He joined the Logan County Farm Bureau in 1950, serving as secretary and president locally, then on the Colorado state board of directors and as vice president of the state organization before being elected president in 1974. Propst also served as president of the Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance Company and on the board of directors for the Western Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. His service continued on the national level. As a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, he represented agriculture on trade missions to Europe and the Pacific Rim. At home on the plains of Eastern Colorado, Propst was an instrumental force in the South Platte Ditch Company, Mountain States Beet Growers and was one of the founding members of the Great Western Beef Expo.