Background: Ray Kerkhof has been a member of NineStar since 1975 and is completing his ninth year as a director. He currently serves as Vice Chairman, following four years of service as Chairman of the Board. Now retired after a long career as an Ag Center Manager, Ray spent many years with Harvest Land Co-op in various management and sales roles and serves as President of 3-K Farms Inc., where he remains actively involved in farming with his family.

Ray is a graduate of Greenfield-Central High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Purdue University. Throughout his career, he has completed numerous management and leadership courses. His cooperative education includes an NTCA Certificate of Achievement, the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate, and the NRECA Board Leadership Certificate (BLC), with completion anticipated this December. He has also participated in multiple CFC training courses and water conferences. Ray currently serves on the Trinity Park Church Finance Committee.

His civic and community involvement includes service with Farm Bureau Inc., where he is a past president; the Greenfield-Central School Board as First Vice President; the Farm Credit Mid-America Nominating Committee; the Hancock Health Foundation Board; the Hancock County Extension Board; and the Indiana Electric Cooperatives Board. He remains an active member of Trinity Park Church.

Ray and his wife, Pam, live just outside Greenfield, where they farm alongside his brother and youngest son. They have farmed continuously since Ray graduated from Purdue and continue to operate their family business, 3-K Farms Inc. The Kerkhof’s have three children: Chad, Brandi, and Nick.

 Candidate Statement:

It has been an honor to represent District 8 for the past nine years and to witness the growth of  NineStar and the area it serves. Every year the directors and the staff engage in strategic planning with a focus on the long-term direction of the cooperative and its investments to meet the needs of the future. This critical thought process helps in driving value and opportunities for our members not only for the present but for years to come. I believe the cooperative model lends itself to the success of NineStar where the ownership lays with the members and where the members share in its margins and its investment back to the community. I am proud of what the employees and directors of NineStar have accomplished and would welcome the opportunity to continue serving the members in the future.