Birth Year: 1956
Occupation: Ranching
My wife and I started ranching with a cow-calf commercial herd. We have increased our business to include our son and his wife, and formed Miller ’s Crow Creek Ranch LLC. Our crops are raised for livestock feed and we also background feeder cattle.
Education:
Northwest Vo-Tech, Ag Technology
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certification
FCCS Premier Governance Series (PGS) Certification
Current Leadership:
Co-Owner, Miller’s Crow Creek Ranch LLC
Director, Farm Credit Services of America Board
Member, Butte Electric Cooperative Board
Member, AgriBank District Farm Credit Council
Member, Lawrence County Ag Committee
WHY I WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
I want to serve and give back both to the agriculture community and Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica). We have been customers of FCSAmerica for several decades. My past Director terms have been a great opportunity for education, enhancing leadership skills and gaining a better understanding of the lending industry. I want to continue serving to ensure reliable credit and a strong patronage program for present and future customers. I want to support our local communities and customers during challenging times and to be ready to change and adapt to whatever may lie head.
EXAMPLE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT PREPARED ME FOR A POSITION ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
My experience in training includes PGS, an excellent board leadership program to prepare me as a Director for FCSAmerica. I have gained education and insight serving on the FCSAmerica Board’s Business Risk, Human Capital, Governance and Audit Committees. I have also served on the Butte Electric board as a member and chairperson.
BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
Strategic Planning: Strategic planning is a priority at FCSAmerica and our ranch business. I completed the PGS strategic planning training, and I am involved with both short- and long-term planning as a member of the FCSAmerica Board and Butte Electric Cooperative board. In our ranching business, we use futures, forward contracting livestock and estate planning, which all add strategic value. I sat on many local and state committees where strategic planning was the focus, adding value for our customers and the organizations.
Corporate Governance: I have served on the FCSAmerica Board Governance Committee. Through my long tenure on the Butte Electric Cooperative board, I have dealt with governance issues pertaining to directors, staff and members. Further, being an original trustee of the Spearfish Rural Fire Protection District, I helped establish all governance issues pertaining to that new entity. I believe that the success of corporate governance is very simple: honesty, integrity and transparency.
Financial Reporting: Accurate financial reporting is critical to any business, whether it be at FCSAmerica or a personal business. It maintains trust between the Board of Directors, staff and customers. Currently serving on the FCSAmerica Board Audit Committee, I have tremendous insight into the financial position of our organization. I attended the National Director Conference, focusing on financial reporting for our Audit Committee. In my tenure with the Butte Electric board, I review monthly annual long-term financial planning. I have also received National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certification, which is weighted heavily on organizational performance and financial reporting.
Business Technology: FCSAmerica’s large investment in technology is paying off big rewards. In our personal business, we use several different types of technology to advance our ranching business, such as drones, remote video cameras, and video auctions, as well as financial and tax reporting. I receive annual technology training through FCSAmerica and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Risk Management: Serving on the FCSAmerica Board Business Risk Committee has given me vast knowledge of the potential risks FCSAmerica faces as a lender. It is our obligation to help our customers mitigate as much risk as possible. I have taken risk management training through PGS and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In our personal business, we use several tools to manage risk.
Talent Management: By serving on the FCSAmerica Board Human Capital Committee, I understand the importance of having people in a role that suits them, then giving them the opportunity to thrive in that role. We must provide a positive culture and work environment to retain our employees, as they are one of our most valuable resources. I completed training through PGS and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association on human capital and talent management.