Ken McCall: Living Our Pledge Every Day

Ken McCall, Agricultural and Environmental Education Assistant Director and Land Coordinator, is better known by his nickname at Milton Hershey School: “Farmer Ken.”

Farming is more than a job for McCall—it’s a legacy.

“Farming and working in the woods are in my DNA,” he said.

His family had been working on the land for generations, and in 1987, a relative who worked at MHS encouraged him to apply. He and his wife began their journey at the school as a dairy couple, and he’s been a fixture ever since.

Today, McCall oversees more than 1,200 acres of farmland, including 500 acres each of soybeans and corn, 30 to 40 acres of wheat, and about 200 acres of hay. He also helps manage the school’s orchard and lends a hand at the Animal Center when needed.

“I’m kind of all over the place,” he said with a chuckle. “This morning, I dropped off apples for a third-grade apple project. They’re going to make cider. I also dropped off baskets for the teachers—some will make apple crisps, maybe apple pie. Each teacher will take a basket home and prepare something for the kids to eat.”

McCall’s work goes far beyond farming. He’s involved with students, especially those in the school’s agricultural programs and Future Farmers of America. His nickname and the affection students have for him is a symbol of Our Pledge—a daily commitment to live out the school’s Sacred Values. His calendar is filled with hands-on learning experiences that bring agriculture to life for students of all ages.

“Next week I’ll take the whole first grade—two different days—and we’ll go make apple cider,” he said. “I’ll pick them up on tractor and wagons, we’ll go back to the Horticultural Center, pick the apples, wash them, and make cider. The kids will get a taste, and we’ll have pumpkins, too.”

He also helps haul animals to fairs and farm shows throughout the summer. For older students, he offers lessons in agricultural mechanization, showing how equipment has evolved over the years.

McCall’s impact isn’t limited to the classroom or the fields. He’s a mentor and a steady presence for students navigating life’s challenges.

He’s also quick to remind students not to let their past define their future.

“Don’t let the past ruin your future,” he said. “You’ve got to move on. Yeah, it happened. But don’t carry that as a crutch.”

McCall’s quiet but firm guidance helps shape the experiences and lives of MHS students. Amanda Estep ’98 recalls McCall and his wife helping her adjust to life at the school.

“I started visiting with Ken and Sandy. I had a chip on my shoulder, and they tolerated that, they understood that. They loved me besides that,” Estep said. “I would ride in the tractor with him doing field work. I knew his tough love was coming from a place of true caring and looking out for me.”

His impact and relationships with students often extend well beyond graduation, keeping in touch with many of them after they leave MHS.

“To this day there’s probably not a week that goes by that we don’t talk,” said Kenny Casey ’21.  “It’s always nice to know that there’s somebody friendly that cares about you to be there for you when you need that.”

When asked what has kept him at MHS all this time, McCall’s answer is simple: “I like what I do.”

And it’s clear that what he does matters—not just to the land he tends, but to the lives he helps shape. Ken McCall lives Our Pledge—not just in words, but in action.

See Farmer Ken’s Story in the Video Below