David Backer named 119th Kingdom of Callaway Supper President

Submitted photo
David Backer, President of the 119th Kingdom of Callaway Supper.
Submitted photo David Backer, President of the 119th Kingdom of Callaway Supper.

At Tuesday's 118th Kingdom of Callaway Supper, David Backer was announced as the President for the 119th Supper.

Backer was selected for the position by the 118th President, Terry Rehma.

Backer has lived in Callaway County his whole life. He graduated from Fulton High School in 1988, and earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993.

Today, Backer is the owner and president of Wise Bros Inc. in Kingdom City. Wise Bros is a farm equipment dealership that was founded by his great uncle in 1927.

The business is also a multigenerational farm that specializes in corn, soybeans, wheat and hay.

He was previously a co-owner of a residential and utility contracting tree service and rental property business in Columbia.

Backer is a board memeber for the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce, and remains active in several local agricultural organizations.

He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sarah Rummel Backer, for 30 years.

Together, they have six children. Harrison Backer is the office manager at Wise Bros, and Matthew Backer is the shop foreman. Daniel Backer is a sophomore business student at Westminster College, and works part-time at the Callaway Bank. Lydia Backer is a freshman aerospace engineering student at St. Louis University. Vivian Backer is a sophomore at Fulton High School, and Charlotte Backer is a fifth grade student at St. Peter's Catholic School.

He is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fulton. Backer is also a Fourth-Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus.

Backer said he was floored when he found out he would serve as the next President.

"I was really floored when I then went back and read the list of all the people that had been President before me, cause those were the people I was always taught to emulate," he said.

Backer said the position is a lot to live up to, and he thinks he can meet the standard that has been set.

He said being selected as President was like winning "the Nobel Prize of Callaway County."

"To be crowned king for a year is just like a vindication of staying out of trouble," Backer said.

At Tuesday's supper, Amit Parulekar was recognized as the Guest of Honor. This award is given to someone who was born and raised in Callaway County, but left the area and found success.

His father, Dilip Parulekar, was recognized as the recipient of the Settler's Award. This award is given to a community member who was not born or raised in Callaway County, but moved to the area and made an impact in the community.

Dilip's daughter, Ashwini, accepted the award on his behalf.