Through a mail and electronic ballot, the stockholders of FCS Financial elected three directors to the board. Elected by the cooperative’s member-owners were incumbent Kenny Bergmann of Walnut Grove, Mo., incumbent Dale Ridder of Hermann, Mo., and Curtis Delgman of Frankford, Mo.
FCS Financial provides credit and financial services to agricultural producers, agricultural-related businesses and rural residents. The board consists of 12 elected and 3 appointed members and has 12 areas of representation.
Bergmann, 55, was elected to a four-year term representing Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Laclede, Polk, Taney, Webster and Wright counties.
He and his wife, Karen, have three children and four grandchildren. He is a fourth-generation farmer with fifth and sixth-generations actively participating in the farming operation. Valley Ridge Farms is a forage-based cow/calf operation with some backgrounding and custom hay harvesting encompassing 575 owned acres and 327 rented.
Bergmann earned an Agricultural Business Management degree from Missouri State University. He is executive vice president for S&H Farm Supply, Inc.
Bergmann served 14 years with the Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and 16 years on the Dadeville R-II School District Board of Education.
Along with his family, Bergmann is a lifelong member of the Church of God at Eudora, Mo., where he teaches adult Bible classes. He volunteers as a sponsor and counselor at Harmony Hill Youth Camp.
Bergmann has served on the FCS Financial Board of Directors since 2010, presiding as chairman since 2018.
Ridder, 76, was elected to a four-year term representing Benton, Cole, Franklin, Gasconade, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage and Pettis counties.
He began farming through his involvement in 4-H and FFA. Ridder is the owner/operator of Ridder Farms, LLC, a seven-generation family farm that includes his three sons, daughter-in-law and grandsons. The operation is a registered Charolais and Red Angus breeding program. He owns 800 acres and rents an additional 700 acres.
Ridder holds degrees in agriculture, vocational agriculture education, and an Ed.D in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri. He currently serves as a board president for the Hermann Area District Hospital, and as a board member for the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce and Gasconade County Industrial Development Authority. Additionally, his background includes numerous leadership roles at local and state levels in Farm Bureau, Soil and Water Conservation, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Charolais Breeders Association, University of Missouri Ag Alumni Association, county and state fairs and civic and educational organizations.
Ridder attends the Zion-St. Paul United Church of Christ at Bay, Mo.
Delgman, 44, was elected to a four-year term representing Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, Randolph and Shelby counties.
He and his wife, Holly, have three children. They own 260 acres and manage a 150-head livestock operation. Additionally, they raise corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and other cover crops through no-till production.
As strong supporters of Missouri agritourism, Delgman and his family own and operate Peno Creek Pumpkin Patch on the family farm which also includes a corn maze, hayrides and petting zoo.
Delgman currently serves on the Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Board and Frankford Cemetery Board. He and his wife are active members of Pike County Young Farmers and Ranchers. Delgman is an alumnus of ALOT Class 17 and an honorary member of the Alpha Gamma Rho-Theta Chapter at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Delgman previously served on the FCS Financial Stockholder Advisory Committee.
