Plowing the Future — Basil Bertoch and the Alfalfa Field with Horse and Tractor
Basil Bertoch — Dreamer, Doer, and the Spirit of Granger
Born May 9, 1906, to Ethel Hemenway and William J. Bertoch in Granger, Utah, Basil inherited the best of both sides of his pioneering family: the quiet dignity and work ethic of the Bertochs, and the bold ingenuity of his Hemenway grandfather. From an early age, he was known as a dreamer — but one with a determined streak that turned dreams into daring adventures.
The Boy Who Ended the Buggy Era
When Basil was just ten years old, his father bought a new Maxwell automobile, one of the first in the area. Basil, certain this new machine made horse-and-buggy trips obsolete, tried to convince his father to stop using it. When words didn’t work, he took matters into his own hands. He hitched up a half-broken colt to the family buggy, hoping to prove a point. The horse bolted, the buggy was demolished — and the Bertoch family never went back to horse-and-buggy travel again. It was pure Basil: bold, mischievous, and entirely effective.
First Car West of the Jordan River
Basil spent many summers working for his Grandfather Hemenway, one of the most successful farmers and fruit growers west of the Jordan River. Grandfather Hemenway was also a lover of innovation — always the first to own new technology, from tractors to gas engines. Basil absorbed that same adventurous spirit. Together, the two once made local history by plowing the first alfalfa field in the area using both horsepower and a Fordson tractor — Basil riding the hood of the machine while driving the horses, his grandfather steering. It was a perfect picture of Granger’s transition from pioneer life to the modern age.
The Young Man Who Wouldn’t Be Stopped
When Basil was still a young man, a terrible accident left him with a broken back. He overheard the doctor tell someone he would never walk again — and perhaps wouldn’t survive at all. His response became his life’s quiet motto: “That’s what you think.” Through sheer grit and determination, Basil defied the odds, recovered, and went on to live a full and active life.
Basil Bertoch won second place for his Russet Burbank potatoes at the local fair, showcasing his early skill and knowledge in agriculture.
In the 1920s, Basil Bertoch earned a reputation as a skilled and determined lightweight boxer, representing LDS University and winning matches such as his notable bout against Whit Parry at the Elks Club Gym in 1925.
At his Granite High School graduation, Basil Bertoch showcased his knowledge and practical experience in agriculture by presenting “The Proper Selection of Seed Potatoes.” His presentation reflected not only his understanding of crops and farming techniques but also his ability to share useful, hands-on knowledge with his peers and the community.
A Boxer, A Scholar, and A Traveler
Basil attended LDS High School in Salt Lake City, one of the first students in Granger to drive to school — in his own Model T Ford touring car, purchased with money he earned working for his grandfather. He quickly became known for his athletic skill and competitive spirit. He boxed in the Golden Gloves Tournament, winning the Utah State Lightweight Championship during his senior year.
2yr trip across the country
After high school, he and his friend Nyle Gerber set off on a two-year working and sightseeing trip across the Northwest and down to the Mexican border, a grand adventure at a time when long-distance travel was still rare.
A Missionary and traveler
Returning home with a broader outlook, Basil set his sights on serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His brother helped finance the trip, and Basil served for two and a half years in France, where his natural charm and humor made him beloved among members and missionaries alike.
After completing his mission, Basil set aside part of his meager allowance to explore Europe for six months before returning home — proof that even as a missionary, his sense of wonder and love of adventure never left him.
A Man of Strength, Grace, and Generosity
Like so many of his generation, Basil returned home to the economic turmoil of the Great Depression. Despite setbacks, he maintained his dignity, optimism, and generosity. Those who knew him described him as a man who faced life head-on, with courage and humor.
Basil Bertoch’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and deep humanity — a man who embodied the pioneering transition from horse and plow to car and machine, and who met every challenge in life with the quiet conviction: “That’s what you think.”
