For Aggies like Mary Beth ’79 and Kenneth Cranfill ’79, the core value of selfless service comes naturally, as does their ambition.
After growing together through 40 years of marriage, raising two successful daughters, creating a flourishing nursery business and volunteering for over 30 years, it’s safe to say the Cranfills know a thing or two about nurturing a passion to fruition.
And that passion doesn’t just end with their family and community. It also extends to Aggieland, where they’ve planted seeds through an estate gift that will grow a brighter future for Aggies who follow in their footsteps.
Sowing Seeds
The gratifying concept of reaping rewards from what you’ve sown began at an early age for Kenneth. Enamored by the beauty of his grandmother’s garden throughout childhood—and as the son of a county extension agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service—he inherited a deep love for flowers and a budding passion for owning his own greenhouse someday.
Similarly, Mary Beth had an early interest in math and science and, despite the disproportionate representation of women in the field at the time, was determined to put her passion into practice. With hearts set on Aggieland, the Cranfills pursued their dreams at Texas A&M University—Mary Beth completing her degree in civil engineering and Kenneth earning his in floriculture.
