His company also sold farm machinery and agricultural equipment. Eventually, his business employed over 100 people. Short operated his crop marketing and farm supply business until 1946, when he sold his company to the Pacific Supply Cooperative. Short also owned a 326-acre ranch one mile west of Redmond. Known as the "Mile-Away Ranch", Short bought the property in 1942. He raised registered Shorthorn cattle and prize-winning Corriedale sheep on the ranch. He also raised hay, potatoes, and seed crops at his property. While he was building his business, Short was also active in civic affairs and numerous professional organizations. In Redmond, he served on the city council and the local school board. He was also president of Redmond's chamber of commerce. During World War II, he served on the Deschutes County draft board. After the war, he was a member of the Deschutes County Veterans Services Committee. Short was also active in the local Masonic lodge and served on the Deschutes County Fair Association board of directors. At the state level, Short served as president of the Oregon Shorthorn Breeders Association, the Oregon Corriedale Breeders Association, and the Oregon Seed League. He was a board member of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, and the Oregon Feed and Seed Dealers Association. He also served on several national agricultural boards including the National Potato Council and the Pacific Wool Growers Association. In 1948, Short decided to run as a Republican for the District 29 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. At that time, District 29 included both Deschutes and Lake counties, two large rural counties in central and southcentral Oregon. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the general election, Short faced Democrat William P. Vernon of Lakeview. The "Bend Bulletin" endorsed Short, highlighting his success as a rancher and businessman. The newspaper also cited his active engagement in civic affairs as another reason for their endorsement. Short won the general election with 4,751 votes against Vernon's 3,678 votes. Short took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on 10 January 1949, representing District 29. He worked through the 1949 regular legislative session which ended on 16 April. During the session, he served on the agriculture and education committees. With the defeat of William Vernon, Lake County did not have any of its citizens serving in the legislature for the first time in over a decade while there were two representatives from Deschutes County with seats in the 1949 legislature.