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Board of Directors and CEO
| Kent Taylor – CEO |
Ron Heerten – Chairman |
| Jim Ferguson – Vice Chairman |
Frank Beel – Secretary |
| Steve Bartak – Director |
Steve Bejot – Director |
| Rod Ries – Director |
Roland Paddock – 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.
 Jim Ferguson – Vice Chairman
Jim has served on the board of directors for over 18 years and currently is the board vice-chairman. Jim grew up in the North Loup Valley and is a high school graduate from Taylor, NE. He has a degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jim is in a partnership with his brother Bruce where they grow corn for silage, raise hay and background/feed cattle. Jim’s activities have included: Keya Paha County Farm Bureau, PPRC Committee and the United Methodist Church. Jim and his wife Mae have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.
 Frank Beel – Secretary
Frank Beel is in his 2nd term on the board of directors and currently serves as secretary. Frank and his wife Jennifer are the parents of four daughters. Frank grew up on the family ranch south of Johnstown, NE and graduated from high school in Ainsworth. He is a graduate of Northeast Community College with a degree in Livestock management. Frank is currently in a partnership with his 2 brothers running a commercial cow-calf operation now in its 3rd generation. Frank has been involved with the Sandhills Cattle Association, Nebraska Stock Dog Assoc., Farm Bureau, and was a member of Nebraska Lead Class XXVII. Frank’s family is a part of the Evangelical Free Church in Ainsworth.
 Steve Bartak – Director
Steve is in his 2nd 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.
 Steve Bejot – Director
Steve is currently in his 3rd term as a director for the cooperative. Steve is a part of his family’s farm and feedlot operation with his father and brother. Steve graduated from Ainsworth High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in agronomy. He has served as treasurer of the Zion Lutheran Church, member of the county zoning board, school board, FSA board and the extension board. Steve is the proud parent of 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
 Rod Ries – Director
Rod is the newest member of the board serving one year as an associate director and then being elected as a director in March 2008. Rod and his wife Donna have 5 children and they attend St. Pious X Catholic Church in Ainsworth. Rod is a part of the family operation south of Wood Lake with his father and 2 hired men. They have a backgrounding feedlot, raise corn and have fall & spring cows. In this family 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.
 Roland Paddock – Associate Director
Roland is serving as an associate director on the Farmers Ranchers board of directors. He is a graduate of West Holt High and majored in Business Administration and Economics in College. Roland has worked on family ranches, at a fertilizer plant, and doing heavy construction in the past and has been managing his ranch in Ainsworth in partnership with his son for the past 21 years. They have mainly ranching, a commercial cow/calf angus herd, and a few irrigated acres. Other activities he has been involved with include; School Board, Rural Fire Board, County Commissioner, Niobrara Council, Region 24 Emergency Management, and Region 4 Mental Health Board. Roland and his wife, Rita, have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
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