Sacramento, Calif.-based Farmers’ Rice Cooperative named Rick Rhody as its new CEO. He replaces Kirk Messick, who had been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Frank Bragg III.
““There are many challenges that FRC and the rice industry as a whole face in the months and years to come,” Rhody said in a news release. “We need to be proactive and meet these challenges head-on in order to ensure growing rice in the Sacramento Valley remains economically viable. We must lead the charge in getting maximum value for FRC grower rice and at the same time work to open new markets and develop new ways to add more value to grower returns.”
Prior to joining FRC, Rhody had held several positions from field staff to chief financial officer with Sun Valley Rice Co. in Arbuckle, Calif.
A graduate of California State University, Chico, he earned a masters of business administration from Saint Mary’s College.
Rhody also had worked summer college jobs on rice and hay ranches outside of Chico.