After 41 years of service to the state’s largest general farm organization, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation CEO Rick Keller will retire at the end of June.

 

Keller, 65, announced his retirement to staff earlier this month. He has served as CEO and executive vice president of IFBF for the past 21 years.

 

IFBF President Bryan Searle, a farmer from Shelley, said Keller’s experience and leadership within the organization will be sorely missed.

 

“The vast experience that Rick has gained working for Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and his knowledge about the organization as well as Idaho’s agriculture industry is hard to put in words,” he said. “He has breathed Farm Bureau and agriculture for more than four decades and his leadership and experience truly will be missed.”

 

Total IFBF membership increased during 39 of the 41 years Keller served the organization. Idaho Farm Bureau Federation now represents 80,635 member families in Idaho, including 14,000 that are involved with the state’s agricultural industry.

 

Keller said state and federal agencies and leaders regularly reach out to Idaho Farm Bureau Federation before making important decisions “because they know Farm Bureau reaches to the depth and breadth of farmers and ranchers throughout the state.”

 

IFBF’s 19-member board of directors, which consists of farmers and ranchers from across Idaho, released a statement thanking Keller for his service to Farm Bureau and wishing him a happy retirement.

 

“Rick has been an integral part of Idaho Farm Bureau Federation for more than four decades and he has served this organization faithfully and well,” the statement said. “While his leadership will be missed, he has more than earned his upcoming retirement and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

 

The board has begun the process of seeking a replacement for Keller.

 

Keller said the timing was right for him to retire and he has no doubt the organization will be left in capable hands.

 

“I think Idaho Farm Bureau will be left in good hands with the professional staff and volunteer leaders that run the organization,” he said. “I think there will not even be a hiccup because the organization has a great depth of leadership.”

 

Keller said the best part of his job with IFBF “was working with and getting to know the organization’s volunteer leaders as they worked to improve the livelihoods of the farmer and rancher members of the Farm Bureau.”

 

Keller started out with Farm Bureau as a regional field manager for southeast Idaho and then worked as IFBF’s organizational director, a position that had him responsible for working with IFBF membership and the 37 county Farm Bureaus throughout Idaho.

 

He said he and his wife, Alene, look forward to spending more time with their family, which includes five sons and 14 grandchildren.

 

“It has been an amazing experience that has blessed our lives immensely,” he told IFBF staff in an email announcing his looming retirement. “Of greatest satisfaction (to Alene and I) is the knowledge that Farm Bureau is in the very capable hands of a professional and qualified staff.”

 

“The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation has never been so respected or strong as it currently is,” Keller added in his email to staff. “County Farm Bureaus are strong and active with viable leadership. Idaho is the largest Farm Bureau in the West and is accepted as a leader and respected among the West and (American Farm Bureau Federation).”

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NOTES FROM RICK'S COWORKERS

I want to say "Congratulations" to Rick on his upcoming retirement. His many years of true love and concern of agriculture has shown as he has traveled the state and nation to countless meetings and personal visits to Farm Bureau members. You’re a great representation of a leader for future leaders to follow. You are also an example of compassion as people come to you for advice or just a listening ear, me included.

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I’m remembering many times as we left at the end of a workday and saying goodnight. You would look up from your desk surprised that the workday has gone by. I could tell you would be longer into the evening working for the best interest of the organization you love. 

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Wishing you lots of time with the family and some quiet moments with your sweetheart.

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Congratulations and best wishes to both you and Alene.

-Dixie Ashton, Information and Member Benefits Assistant, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

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I have watched Rick Keller for over 15 years push the role of CEO well beyond work boundaries. He not only shows a personal interest in our Farm Bureau people in meetings and conferences, but has spent countless weekends attending their family funerals, wedding receptions, and other events near and far. He genuinely cares for people whether it is on the clock or not. He and his wife, Alene, will certainly continue to bless many lives in retirement and I couldn’t be happier for them.

-Joel Benson, Director of Information, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

 

Wow this is really hard... what can I say about Mr. Keller? Rick has been such an incredible teacher and friend. He has truly passed on an abundant amount of knowledge and devotion to the Farm Bureau, its membership, and to us as staff. It has had a huge effect on our success.

 

I have seen him change his personal plans to accommodate others time and time again, just to ensure their comfort and wellbeing. Rick spends so much time traveling that once during a really busy time when he had been away for quite a while, I asked him, “Are you sick of it yet?” His answer was, “If I’m in Idaho, I’m home.” That very much stuck with me. His love for the state and the Farm Bureau volunteers has always been easy to witness.

 

It has always been my pleasure to work with you. So, while I’m saddened to see you go, I know that you are going to enjoy spending actual free time with Alene and your family. You will finally be able to go to those Farm Bureau retiree luncheons and learn their secret handshake now that you will be an official member.

-Cara Dyer, Director Administrative Services, Assistant to the Executive Vice President and CEO, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
 

Rick has been a great person to have known and worked with over the past 40 years. He is an honest, hard-working person. He listens and provides sound counsel. He has always been a friend who is concerned with our personal matters as well as what is best for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. Tannya and I wish him and Alene the very best life after retirement.

-Ray Poe, Director of Member Services, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation (retired)

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Rick Keller has given more to Farm Bureau than any other person I’ve ever known. His life has been committed to Farm Bureau, which has benefited both the Federation and the insurance company. We will benefit long into the future from his commitment and leadership. We wish him well.”

-Bryan Searle, President, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

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Kind, thoughtful, honorable, smart, hard-working, humble, generous, caring, responsible, creative, considerate, and helpful... There are not enough adjectives to describe Rick Keller as the co-worker and employer that I had the privilege of working with over the course of my nearly 30 years at the Idaho Farm Bureau.

 

Most Farm Bureau employees don’t know Rick outside of the office. He is a most thoughtful and caring neighbor. This small story is a perfect example of Rick’s exceptional character: 

 

My husband and I live on the same street as Rick and Alene. We often have small calves in the corrals behind our home. One summer morning, about 10 calves escaped from their pen and out onto our street, where they risked being hit by passing cars. We were not aware it had happened.  About 7:00 I just happened to look out of the kitchen window and there was Rick, dressed in a handsome sport coat, slacks, and dress shoes, patiently walking behind those calves and bringing them down the street and back home. He could have just phoned us and said, “Your calves are out,” and then gone on his way to work. Instead he just quietly took care of the problem.

 

Rick truly cares about people. He has faith in people and always believes the best of them. He takes care of his staff; their welfare is his first concern. He is also a great administrator and is deeply respected for his knowledge and ability by other state Farm Bureaus and the American Farm Bureau. He understands how organizations should function and how staff and volunteer relationships should be conducted. It is thanks to Rick’s 40-plus years of leadership that the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation has become the respected and recognized voice of Idaho agriculture.  Thank you, Rick. I enjoyed every minute of working with you.

-Nancy Shiozawa, Director Administrative Services, Assistant to the Executive Vice President and CEO, Assistant Treasurer, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation (retired)

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It has been a pleasure working with you over the years as member volunteers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, skills and experience with all the Farm Bureau family. Your dedication to the organization has been a huge asset to farmers and ranchers throughout Idaho. We greatly appreciate all that you have done for us. There will always be fond memories of successful meetings, conferences and fun marketing trips to Mexico. 

 

All the best to you and Alene with your upcoming retirement! 

-Brent and Judy Woody, active Farm Bureau members for 34 years

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