The Sanpete County King Cowboy is selected each year by former King Cowboys, making the honor as much about character and community service as it is about horses and cattle. To join their ranks is considered both an honor and a legacy, recognizing a lifetime devoted to the land, livestock and the people of Sanpete County.

Christensen was born June 20, 1962, in Moroni to Mark William and Mary K. Burgoyne Christensen. From an early age, he was surrounded by agriculture. His family raised turkeys and were members of Moroni Feed Co. and Norbest. Of this early experience, Kent said, “We largely grew range turkeys in portable shelters. We hauled them feed and water, protected them from coyotes, badgers and bobcats. We moved the shelters around the fields letting the turkeys eat grasshoppers and fertilize the fields.”

Christensen’s father kept a small herd of Charolais cows that they moved across leased pastures in the county. “In those days traffic was so sparse that most cars would stop and talk for a while before going on down the road. We knew everybody that passed us on the road.”

One of Christensen’s earliest memories is riding with Vince Christensen, who plowed snow off Moroni’s sidewalks with a draft horse. Tucked between Vince’s legs on the plow, listening to him whistle while the team worked, Kent developed a lasting love of horses and quiet winter mornings in the saddle.

His interest in the cowboy life deepened in fifth grade, when teacher Perry Christensen introduced him to Will James’ books, including “Smokey the Cow Horse” and “My Life as a Cowboy.” Those stories, paired with James’ illustrations, sparked in Kent a desire to draw, to read, and to become a cowboy himself.

Not long after, that dream took physical shape in the form of a 2�’year�’old Mustang filly he bought from Ray Dane Christensen for $20 of paper route money. Ray Dane helped him start the filly, which Kent named Sox. The boy rode her everywhere — bareback until he could stay on without being thrown. When he proved himself, his father helped him order a saddle from the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Christensen has been hooked on horses ever since.

As a youth, he joined Horse 4�’H under leaders Lola Fay Stevens and Ron Jackman, hauling horses to county shows in a borrowed two�’ton cattle truck from local cattleman Howard Blackman. Those early mornings loading horses in the dark and traveling to shows helped forge friendships and skills that stayed with him. “I am thankful for the caring adults who guided me when I was young.”

Christensen also showed an early knack for enterprise. Entering seventh grade, he used his paper route money to buy a Brown Swiss milk cow. His father fed the cow in exchange for milk for the family, while Kent sold the extra milk locally and used it to raise bottle calves, gradually building his own small herd. With his father’s encouragement, he rented turkey coops around town and eventually raised about 6,000 turkeys a year for Moroni Feed Co. In junior high school, George Bench encouraged Kent in FFA judging, speaking, and record book contests.

Tragedy struck on April 11, 1978, when his father and 13�’year�’old brother, Dix, drowned in Wells Reservoir while trying out a new canoe. The community rallied around the family during the 10�’day search and beyond. “It was humbling to see everyone helping,” Kent said. With his father’s passing, the family had to sell their cattle. At just 15, Kent stayed in high school while taking work release to keep the family turkey operation going and assisting his mother with raising his younger siblings.

Kent graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1980. Encouraged by his mother, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Venezuela from 1980-82. Kent said, “Once again, the community stepped up to help in my absence, men like John Guyman and Glade Livingston were so helpful to my mother.”

Returning home, Kent continued raising cattle and turkeys while attending Snow College and Utah State University. At Snow, he met Tammy Shaw of Midvale. The couple married on June 13, 1986, and together raised six children — Katrina, Callie, Laura, Travis, Caleb and Lindy Jo — and now enjoy 21 grandchildren. Kent jokingly said, “Fortunately, Tammy didn’t know what she was headed for. She learned about brooding and raising turkeys, caring for cattle and taking care of kids. She has been not just a marriage partner but a life partner.”

Over the years, Christensen has been mentored by cattlemen and educators associated with the Jerusalem Cattle Allotment, Oak Creek Cattle Allotment, Moroni Feed and USU Extension. He credits the cowboys with whom he has associated through the years with teaching him not only about livestock and land, but about integrity, responsibility and friendship. As he joins the historic roll of Sanpete County King Cowboys, Christensen says he hopes to pass on the same values that shaped him, “My hope is that the cowboy legacy of friendship, integrity and knowledge will transcend generations to come.”