President Larry A. Tande, CEO John M. Meyer, Michele Ruby, Ida Ruby, Scott Ruby, and Vice President Chuck Worden
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Brattleboro, Vt. (July 1, 2010)...Ida B. Ruby, Scio, Ore., has been selected as the recipient of Holstein Association USA's 2010 Distinguished Leadership Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a career of providing outstanding and unselfish leadership for the betterment of the dairy industry. Ruby received the award at the recent National Holstein Convention in Bloomington, Minn.
A third generation dairy farmer, Ida was born and raised on her parents' Registered Holstein farm in West Linn, Ore. She married Ray Ruby in 1965, and the couple began breeding Registered Holsteins under the Fir-Ridge prefix, after purchasing several cows from her parents' herd. They purchased Ray's father's farm in 1967, naming it Fir-Ridge Holstein Farm, and grew their business together over the next 40 years to its current size, milking over 1,000 Holsteins and farming 1,300 acres of land.
After moving to Scio, Ida began working at a local bank, helping on the dairy before and after work. She received numerous statewide achievements for her work in banking, retiring after 30 years. Ida used her skills to benefit her rural community, encouraging many to start investing in retirement funds. During that same time period, she started a small investment group for rural women, and still meets with them monthly to help invest in stocks and mutual funds.
Ida has been the Secretary/Treasurer of the Oregon Holstein Association for over 40 years, and has been a driving force in organizing many of the state's events. She has clerked every Holstein sale, state Black and White Show and futurity since the mid-1960's, and still works today, handling the logistics from show programs and sale catalogs to their awards and Annual Report. Oregon Holstein Association President Jake VanderStoel describes Ida as "the glue that holds the Association together," and says the organization has thrived because of her work.
Ruby applies her financial skills to many other areas of her life. She has been involved with the National Holstein Women's Scholarship Organization for the past 10 years, first as the Vice President and Scholarship Selection Chair, and now has served as President since 2005. NHWSO founding member Marilyn Herzog said, "Ida is a tireless worker for so many agricultural causes. When Ida is given a responsibility, she takes it on with passion. Through her leadership, many more young people have learned about, applied for, and received scholarships to further their education."
Ida has helped set up numerous memorial funds that benefit the Oregon Junior Holstein members, including establishing an endowment that provides $500 scholarships annually for youth to purchase a Registered Holstein calf. She also supports the youth in her state by encouraging them to become involved in Junior Holstein activities, and providing leadership to help them be successful once they do become active. She is notorious for motivating people to pursue their interests in agriculture, which can be seen in her children, Scott and Michele, who both have careers in agriculture.
On a local level, Ida was responsible for establishing the Scio Scholarship Foundation, which started with a few hundred dollars over 15 years ago. She oversees the investment of donations to this fund and continues to serve on the board of directors. Under Ida's leadership, the fund has grown to assets exceeding $160,000 and local students are awarded $7,500 in scholarships annually.
Ruby has been honored numerous times for the service she provides to the many organizations she is involved with. She has received the Community Service Award from the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, the Oregon Dairy Women Appreciation Award, an Outstanding Service Award and Distinguished Service Award from Scio FFA, and the Oregon State University Dairy Club Leadership Award, among others.
For more information or to obtain a photo of the winners, contact Lindsey Worden, Communications Manager, at 800.952.5200, ext. 4096. |
