June 18, 1935
Keith Zimmerman, youngest son of Cleve and Millie (Eberspecher) Zimmerman, was born June 18, 1935 at Crawford, Nebraska. He had two older brothers, Harry and Emery, 3 sisters, twins Elma and Velma, and Hilda Mae. All are deceased. He married Olita (Seaman) in May 1958. They are parents of five children, Wanda, Cleve Dee, Lex, Trudy and Ginger. They have 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Keith worked 2 years for his parents then bought the home acreage in 1960. He leased land from his parents and later from his brother Emery. He added more land by purchasing including the ranch of his in-laws J.O. and Hazel Seaman in 1980.
While he was in high school, he was very active in F.F.A. winning state honors and was on 2 national judging teams. He and 2 others coaxed their instructor, Dean Lundy, into sponsoring a F.F.A. rodeo held in Harrison. They held the rodeo in 1950 and 1951 which became the state high school rodeo. Nebraska joined the national association in 1952.
Keith and his dad built an arena when he became interested in roping. His dad kept a few calves at home in the summer for him to practice on. He roped calves and team roped at many rodeos in the area. He held a permit for a few years to the RCA (now PRCA). He roped at the “old timers rodeo” (now senior pro association) a few years going to Las Vegas twice. He hosted fall team ropings and events for kids several years on the ranch.
Keith bought his first quarter horse, Skipper Socks, a yearling stud in 1948 at the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Sale held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was 14 years old and attended the sale with his dad and brother Harry. Keith and his dad acquired a registered mare in 1952 and began raising quarter horse foals. He was honored in 2012 by the AQHA with a 50 year legacy award for breeding quarter horses for 50 years. He showed horses for a few years at local shows and won a few trophies. He sold horses and kept his family mounted. They are all ridden Zimmerman Quarter horses to use for ranch work and to compete in the rodeo arena. All the kids and grandkids competed in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association and two went on to compete at the national level. A grandson, Tee, competed on one at the College National Finals.
The ranch celebrated 100 years in one family in 1985 with extended family coming from many states.
Keith served as Sioux City as Commissioner for 12 years and was on the Sioux County Ag society board for many years helping put on the yearling Sioux County Fair and Rodeo. It celebrated the 100 year anniversary in 1996.