Farmers Ranchers Co-op

Board of Directors and CEO

Kent Taylor – CEO	Ron Heerten – Chairman
Rod Ries - Director	Brian Williams – Vice Chairman
Steve Bartak – Director	Frank Beel – Secretary
Monte Frauen – Director	D.J. Hladky - Associate Director

Pictured below is our board of director team along with their bio.

Kent Taylor – CEO
Kent grew up on a family farm just outside of Ainsworth; which his family still operates, raising corn, hay and alfalfa along with running a commercial feedlot. He joined Farmers Ranchers Co-op in 2004 working in the Energy Division and he became general manager in January of 2010. Kent graduated from Ainsworth High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Speech Communications. He has served on various organizations including Church Elder at the Ainsworth E-Free Church, The Ainsworth Airport Authority, and he is currently on the Ainsworth City Council. Kent was proud to be a part of Nebraska LEAD Class XXV. Kent and his wife, Clisty, have 2 children; Vanessa and Grant, who are students at Ainsworth Community Schools.

Ron Heerten – Chairman
Ron Heerten is in his 3rd term on the Farmers Ranchers board of directors and is currently serving as board chairman. He is a graduate of Keya Paha High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Ag Economics. Ron is a part of a family operation in Keya Paha County. The Heerten’s have corn, soybeans, alfalfa, forages and a cow-calf herd. Ron has served on the planning commission and board of zoning adjustment for Keya Paha County. Ron and his wife Sandra have 4 children and attend Grace Lutheran Church in Burton.

Brian Williams– Vice Chairman
Brian has returned to the board of directors after a break of several years. The Williams family has been in the ranching business for over 100 years and Brian is now a partner with his family. The Williams & Williams operation includes an Angus cow-calf herd, back-grounding and raising corn and soybeans. Brian and his wife Sarah have 4 daughters and 1 granddaughter. Brian graduated from Southeast Community College with a degree in Agribusiness. He has been active at Ainsworth Community Schools over the years, coaching boys/girls basketball and girls golf. Brian’s other activities have included: Ainsworth Municipal Golf Board, Brown County Extension Board, Lions Club, Ainsworth High School Alumni Board, Brown County Zoning Board and the Farmers Ranchers Co-op Board of Directors from 1993-2008 where Brian served as both secretary and board chairman. Brian and Sarah attend the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth.

Frank Beel – Secretary
Frank Beel is in his 3rd term on the board of directors serving as board secretary. Frank grew up on the family ranch south of Johnstown and graduated from school in Ainsworth. He is a graduate of Northeast Community College with a degree in Livestock Management. Frank is currently in partnership with his two brothers running a commercial cow-calf operation now in its 3rd generation. Frank has been involved with the Sandhills Cattle Association, Nebraska Cattlemen Association, Farm Bureau, and was a member of Nebraska Lead Class XXVII. Frank and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of four daughters and they attend the Evangelical Free Church in Ainsworth where he currently serves as an Elder.

Steve Bartak – Director
Steve is in his 3rd term as a director for Farmers Ranchers Cooperative. Steve has four children and his family is active in the Zion Lutheran Church in Ainsworth. Steve has served in the past on the KBR Extension Board and the FSA County Committee. He graduated from high school at Anselmo-Merna and then obtained his degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Steve raises corn, soybeans and dryland alfalfa.

Rod Ries – Director
Rod is part of the family business south of Wood Lake with his father and two hired men. They have a cow-calf operation, background & finish cattle, and grow corn. In their business, Rod does all the mechanic work and keeps all the records for the feedlot. Rod is a graduate of Ainsworth High School and Wyoming Tech where he obtained a degree in diesel mechanics. Rod and his wife, Donna, have four grown children, one child at home that attends Ainsworth Community Schools, and two grandsons. Rod helps with Special Olympics, belongs to the Sons of the American Legions, and volunteers at St Pius X Catholic Church. Rod is in his 2nd term on the board of directors and has completed all 4 phases of director training offered by the Nebraska Cooperative Council.

Monte Frauen - Director
Monte and his wife, Cathy, live on the family ranch in Keya Paha County where the Frauen family has lived since 1894. Both Monte’s father, Otto and Monte’s son, Carl also live on the ranch and together the family manages a cow/calf and yearling operation with some farming. He is also part owner in two feedlots. Monte graduated from Keya Paha High School and has been in agriculture ever since. He has served on the: FSA board, Niobrara Council (where he was treasurer and chairman), Rural Fire Board, NE High School Rodeo Assn., the Keya Paha Board of a County Commissioners and the Methodist Church Board where he and Cathy attend. Their daughter and son-in-law have provided the Frauens with three grandchildren. Monte has also been a fur buyer for over 20 years. Monte is in his first term on the board of directors.

D.J. Hladky – Associate Director

DJ is currently serving as an associate member of the Farmers Ranchers Co-op Board of Directors. Growing up just east of Long Pine, NE, he attended Rock County High School. After graduation from there, DJ acquired a degree in business from Northeast Community College in Norfolk. He spent three years working for the BNSF railroad traveling to many locations, but he still was home during his off days helping on the family farm. He returned to agriculture full time in 2010 with his father Dan. They raise both corn and soybeans. Dan’s wife, Chelsea, is an RN and they have a baby girl, Adeline.

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