Alton L. Scofield was born and raised on a farm near Joes, Colo. In 1948, Scofield became executive secretary of the Eastern Colorado Cooperative Education Association and began providing educational programs to farmers, ranchers and members of rural communities across Eastern Colorado. Alton was selected by the Colorado Cooperative Council as executive secretary in 1952 and served in that position until his retirement in 1970. During this period he became known statewide for his commitment to improving the economic plight of Colorado's farmers, ranchers and rural residents. Alton was also very concerned with agricultural education. He traveled across the state with Al Bunger, state supervisor of vocational agriculture, and visited every vocational agriculture program to discuss their importance to the future of Colorado agriculture.