Idaho ag hall of fame inducts new members

By Sean Ellis

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

FORT HALL – Former Idaho Farm Bureau Federation CEO Rick Keller was among six people inducted into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame March 20.

During an awards banquet in Fort Hall, Keller was inducted along with Jeff and Cynthia Siddoway of Terreton, Shawn Walters of Newdale, Dennis Lake of Blackfoot and David Crapo of St. Anthony.

Formed in 1972, the EIAHF honors men and women who have made extraordinary and lifelong contributions to agriculture and Eastern Idaho.

Since then, 264 people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“Welcome to the Eastern Idaho Ag Hall of Fame,” EIAHF board director Rick Phillips told the inductees.

Keller started with Idaho Farm Bureau Federation in 1979 as a regional manager and later served as the organization’s CEO for 21 years, making him the longest-serving chief executive officer in IFBF history. He worked for the state’s largest general farm organization for a total of 41 years.

“What a glorious opportunity,” he said about his time with Farm Bureau that started with what he thought would be a temporary job. “It turned out to be one of the greatest blessings we ever had … and we never looked back.”

“We got to work with the best people in the world,” said his wife, Alene. “It’s just been a dream come true for all these years.”

Keller said one of his best memories during his time with Farm Bureau “is just the many, many good people,” and he still stays in contact with IFBF members.

Like many other inductees over the years, Walters, whose father received the same honor 34 years ago, said he was “humbled and surprised” to be included in the Hall of Fame among so many titans of Idaho agriculture.

Lake played down his role in receiving the honor and credited others, particularly family and employees, for much of his success.

“Usually, the person who receives the honor is not the person who deserves it,” he said.

Besides thanking their families, this year’s inductees also made sure to credit their employees.

“No farm is built by family alone,” Crapo said, thanking the operation’s “hard-working, dedicated employees over the years. We could not have built what we have without them.”

“To a great extent, they are the ones who make things happen in our operation,” Walters said about his operation’s employees. “I count on them every day.”

During interviews with IFBF before the banquet, as well as during the banquet itself, inductees offered some advice to the younger generation of farmers and ranchers who are just getting started in the industry.

Hard work and staying committed to agriculture were main themes.

“You just put one foot in front of the other and eventually you get there,” Lake said.

Keller said farmers are very good at working on their own farms, within their fence lines.

“But there’s so much that can happen to their farm outside their fence lines and that’s why they need to belong to an organization, whether it’s a commodity organization or a group like Farm Bureau,” he said. “They need to be involved because that will help them protect what’s going on within their farm.”

Speaking of long-term success, Jeff Siddoway stressed the importance of depending on family, friends and employees.

“There’s a saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” he said.

Inductees also acknowledged the hard work and commitment of those that came before them and forged paths for Idaho agriculture.

“I’m grateful to those who came before us,” Crapo said. “I’m proud of the legacy they built.”

The 2026 Hall of Fame inductees:

Rick D. Keller

Keller devoted 41 years of service to Idaho agriculture through Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.

Total IFBF membership increased during 39 of the 41 years Keller served the organization. Under his leadership, Farm Bureau membership grew from 49,000 to more than 80,000.

He also expanded agricultural marketing efforts, strengthened media outreach and fostered collaboration among commodity groups statewide, according to his bio.

In 2021, Keller received IFBF’s President’s Cup award, the organization’s highest honor.

“Rick became a trusted advocate for farmers and ranchers at the county, state and national levels,” his award bio states.

Jeffery C. Siddoway and Cynthia B. Siddoway

“Jeff and Cindy Siddoway … represent generations of agricultural stewardship in Eastern Idaho,” their award bio states.

Their operation manages between 4,000 and 12,000 breeding ewes across more than 400,000 acres of private, state and federal grazing lands.

“Together, the Siddoways implemented innovative management practices to strengthen their sheep operation, including relocating lambing operations, modernizing facilities, improving turnout methods, and working closely with the BLM and U.S. Forest Service to consolidate grazing allotments,” their award bio states.

Jeff served 12 years in the Idaho Senate and Cindy was the first female president of the American Sheep Industry Association.

“The Siddoways are widely respected leaders and advocates for agriculture,” their bio states.

Shawn Joel Walters  

According to his award bio, Walters for four decades helped grow Walters Produce into a diversified farming and potato shipping operation growing potatoes, wheat, barley and alfalfa.

“Shawn is known for embracing innovation in mechanization, irrigation and crop management to improve sustainability and productivity,” his award bio states. “He led efforts to transition to water-efficient pivot irrigation and helped modernize potato grading and shipping through advanced optical technology.”

He has served in leadership roles with the Idaho Grower Shippers Association and the Idaho Potato Commission and was named Madison County Farmer of the Year in 2024.

“A strong advocate for water stewardship, Shawn led a long-term cooperative effort to modernize the Enterprise Canal system, significantly reducing water loss and improving reliability for area producers,” his bio states.

Dennis Morgan Lake

 According to his award bio, “Dennis learned the cattle business early, trailing cattle with his grandfather and developing a deep respect for hard work and stewardship.”

He joined Basic American Foods in 1959, where, according to this bio, “his ingenuity led to the creation of Snake River Livestock, which initially fed potato byproducts to livestock.”

Lake built and operated a 1,900-head feed yard near Moreland and the Old Harris feedlot with a capacity of 9,000 head. He was also a longtime owner and partner in the Blackfoot Livestock Auction.

“Known for his disciplined financial management and cautious approach to debt, Dennis successfully navigated decades of market volatility while supporting local farmers, grain mills and potato warehouses,” his bio states.

He served in the Idaho Legislature from 1996-2012, serving as chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

David Val Crapo

As president of Crapo Ltd. for more than 35 years, Crapo, alongside his brothers and extended family, helped grow a 40-acre farm into one of the Northwest’s largest vertically integrated agricultural enterprises, according to his award bio.

Today, Crapo Farms encompasses tens of thousands of acres, a major fresh-pack potato operation – Sun-Glo of Idaho – a cow-calf operation and Crapo Trucking.

“Within his role at Sun-Glo, David developed new transportation routes between the U.S. and Canada, opening new markets for Idaho-grown commodities,” his bio states.

He has worked closely with state and federal officials on agricultural issues, including predator management and water conservation efforts.

His operations employ more than 250 Eastern Idaho residents and he has been a supporter of 4-H, FFA, youth activities and community organizations.

“David’s impact is felt through people,” his bio states.

During the EIAHF’s recognition dinner, five farm and ranch owners-operators received the Ed Duren Memorial Young Producer Award, which recognizes agricultural producers under the age of 45 for production innovations, leadership and having a positive impact on the Eastern Idaho ag industry.

The award was established by the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2018 to honor the memory of inductee and former board member Ed Duren (1935-2017), who spent his 39-year career as a University of Idaho Extension livestock specialist, educator, author, and mentor to hundreds of young farmers, ranchers and ag industry professionals. 

According to the EIAHF, “Ed spent a 39-year career (and many more years as a professor emeritus) providing education, outreach and leadership to producers and organizations across Idaho and beyond. His impact on agriculture in Idaho is beyond measure.”

The Ed Duren award recipients this year are: 

Jade Scott Searle of Searle Land and Cattle

According to his award bio, Searle began building his own cow-calf herd at age 12 and became a full-time farmer and rancher at 21. His operation includes potatoes, grain, hay, cattle and a large-scale straw business.

He utilizes fall cover crops to improve soil health and provide fall feed for his cattle.

Colby Ward of Ward Farms

Ward is a second-generation farmer whose foundation, according to his award bio, was built through hands-on experience working alongside family and other mentors.

“He is committed to efficient water use, soil health, no-till farming practices and collaboration with neighboring farmers,” his bio states.

Taylor Smith of Taylor Farms

Smith, a third-generation farmer from Idaho Falls, “has built a progressive agricultural operation focused on row crop and cattle production,” according to his bio.

He began farming at an early age and launched his own custom combining business while in high school.

Shayman Munns of Munns Ranch

His bio says he was born to ranch and began his own cattle herd at age 8.

“Shayman has demonstrated ingenuity and hands-on problem-solving through improvements to his cattle operations, including the design and construction of custom feedlot facilities and livestock equipment,” his bio states.

Ryan Gould of R & D Gould Farms

Gould grew up working on his family’s farm in Teton and now serves as partner-owner and manager of the operation.

“Since starting full-time on the farm, Ryan has helped purchase more than 800 acres of additional farmland,” according to his bio. “He oversees irrigation, fertilizer management and commodity marketing for potatoes and wheat across thousands of acres.”

“Boy, it’s fun to see the next generation of agriculture come up in Eastern Idaho,” Phillips said while the Ed Duren award recipients were honored.