About the RDC

The Nebraska Rural Development Commission is a voice for rural Nebraska communities in the creation of laws, policies, and other initiatives that affect their economic, civic, and social conditions, and fosters cooperation and understanding among all agencies and organizations, public and private.

 The duties of the Commission are to:

• Focus attention on and increase awareness of opportunities and needs of rural Nebraskans
• Strengthen community sustainability and growth in rural Nebraska through increased community-based wealth creation, expanded economic opportunity and improved quality of life
• Stimulate rural development innovation and foster information transfer to, from, and within rural Nebraska
• Ensure that rural Nebraskans are afforded the opportunity to determine rural Nebraska’s development agenda
• Foster community-based development initiatives through multi-community partnerships

Edgar Hicks- Chair

Edgar serves on the USDA's Advisory Committee on Small Farms. He is Chairman, Board of Directors, and Nebraska State Grange. The Grange is America's oldest farmer-based organization and was found the year Nebraska became a state (1867).

For thirty-five years he as worked as a farmer grain-marketing advisor (Hurley/FCStone). He and his wife (Anna) have two adult children who live in Nebraska. They are members of Salem Baptist Church

Commissioners

Richard Baier

Richard was appointed the Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in August of 2003. Prior to that, he served as executive director of the Development Corporation of North Platte, Executive vice president of the Greater York Area Chamber of Commerce and York County Development Corporation. He is married with two children.

Scot Blehm

Scot is a Native of Mitchell, Nebraska. He served as the Rural Initiatives Director for Congressman Tom Osborne from 2002 – 2005. In April 2005, the Bush Administration appointed Scot Director of the USDA Rural Development . Scot and wife Stephanie currently reside in Lincoln with daughters Lindsey and Lauren.

Larry Cooper

Larry Cooper is the Assistant Admissions Coordinator at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.  For the last 3 years, Cooper has traveled all across Nebraska and neighboring states recruiting students to pursue a degree in agriculture.  

He originally grew up on a diversified farm and ranch near Orchard in Northeast Nebraska.  After high school, Cooper earned two degrees from NCTA in Agriculture Production and Agribusiness.  He is excited to serve the state as a commissioner and strengthen the rural development in Nebraska.

Ross Garwood

Ross is in production agriculture with cattle and crops and has lived in rural Nebraska near Amelia all his life. He has been active in ag leadership and positions that affect the people of rural Nebraska. Presently he is the District 6 Director for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation .
Mary Gerdes Mary C. Gerdes has 32 years of leadership and experience in the financial industry, including management level positions with First Commerce Bancshares (now Wells Fargo) in Grand Island, Lincoln and North Platte, and currently as President and CEO of Otoe County Bank & Trust, Nebraska City.

In addition to serving as chairman of the River Country Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) and as a member of Nebraska City’s Downtown Development Committee, Mary is also a member of the Executive Management Committee, Nebraska Bankers Association; a Governor appointee to the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission; a Governor appointee to the Nebraska Rural Development Commission; and a member of the Board of Directors, Nebraska Diplomats.

Robert Gustafson

Robert C. Gustafson, "Gus" is a life long resident of Nebraska.He's founded and grown businesses in Omaha until his move to Valentine in 1993.  Thereafter he has served as Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Valentine.  He currently serves on the boards of: Sandhills Area Foundation, Cherry Hills Estates assisted living, Valentine Rotary, and Advanced Imaging Solutions.  Gus is an active member of NEDA, Nebraska Diplomats, The Renaissance Group, and the Valentine Chamber of Commerce.  Hobbies include hunting, travel, and competitive sailing.

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook is Executive Director of the Center for Rural Affairs of Lyons, Nebraska. Hassebrook serves on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and is its past chair. He formerly served on the US Department of Agriculture National Commission on Small Farms and was vice chair of the USDA Agricultural Science and Technology Review Board.

Hassebrook is a University of Nebraska graduate and a native of Platte Center Nebraska, where his family is engaged in farming. He lives in Lyons, Nebraska with his wife Kate and sons Anton and Peter.

Dan Hoffman

Dan has served as a Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Policy Research Office since 1999, under Governor Mike Johanns and Governor Dave Heineman. Prior to that, he worked as a legislative aide to Senator Howard Lamb and Senator Jim Jones and as a research analyst under Governor Kay Orr.

He and his wife Dana currently reside in Lincoln with daughters Olivia and Gabrielle.

Greg Ibach

After six and a half years as Assistant Director, Governor Dave Heineman appointed Greg Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture in June 2005.

He currently holds memberships with the Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Farm Bureau. And at the national level, he serves on a USDA animal trade advisory committee and worked previously on development of the United States Animal Identification Plan.

Greg holds a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska. He and his wife, Teresa, have three children.

John Jordison

John C. Jordison is the Director of Government Affairs and Economic Development with Great Plains Communications in Blair, Nebraska, a family-owned telecommunications company.

Great Plains Communications provides telecommunications, cable television and Internet services to 84 Nebraska communities, which are located across Nebraska from Imperial to Gordon to Ponca to Red Cloud.

Chuck Karpf 

Chuck Karpf was born and raised in Scotts Bluff County.  He has worked in rural development for over 20 years, both as a business owner and community member.  Chuck is currently the Director of the Entrepreneur and Discovery Program and Western Nebraska Community College.

Tim Kenny

Timothy Kenny is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and has served in that capacity since 1994. He is originally from Eagle, Nebraska.

M.L. Martin

M.L. Martin is a very active Nebraska rancher who lives in North Platte. She is part owner of the Coyote Lake Ranch which is a commercial cowherd and yearling operation. The Coyote Lake Ranch is a family owned ranch, located in the Sandhills, near North Platte.

Gayle McClure

A native Nebraskan, Gayle McClure was born in Blue Hill and later moved to Hastings where he has lived most of his life. He is employed by Dutton-Lainson Company and serves on the NE Workforce Investment Board.

Gayle was the past chair of the NE Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hastings Economic Development Corporation.
Marilyn Mecham Marilyn Mecham is the Executive of Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, the state's ecumenical organization. Much of IMN's work focuses on rural issues and the church's role in community development. Previously Marilyn was a national trainer and consultant in non-profit management and community impact analysis through which she developed projects/programs for communities in 48 states.

Lance Morgan

Lance Morgan is CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the business development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Lance is a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Ho-Chunk, Inc. was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America and won the Innovations in government award. He is currently a member of the federal reserve advisory board and teaches part time at Arizona State Law School. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and Harvard Law School.

Bryce Neidig

Bryce Neidig is a native of Madison. He is carrying on the tradition of farming the same farm that he and his father were born at, and has been in his family for over 109 years.

Bryce has been the president of the NE Farm Bureau for almost 21 years. He has been featured on the NcNeil Leher Report, the Paul Harvey program, and in 1986 he was featured on the Donahue Show .

Serving on the Capitol Commission has given Bryce the opportunity to travel to over 30 countries on ag trade missions. In 1986, he chaired the American Farm Bureau Credit Committee and the Trade Advisory Committee.

Christine Peterson

Chris Peterson was born in Ord, Nebraska, and she is a graduate of Ord HighSchool and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is married to ErniePeterson and has two children, Anastacia Mason and B.J. Peterson.

Chris is presently the Policy Secretary of the Nebraska Health and HumanServices System and the chairperson of the Policy Cabinet. She is theformer Nebraska Senator from District 35.

Heidi is married to Jeff Phillips they have twin daughters, Emma and Ella Phillips. They reside outside of O’Neill.

Tim Shafer

Dr. Timothy B. Shafer is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and has served as Superintendent of Schools at Broken Bow since 1995. He is active both locally and at the state level in professional, service, and civic organizations. Governor Johanns appointed Shafer to the Nebraska Rural Economic Development Commission in 2003.

Sandy Scofield

Director of the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative, Sandy is a former state senator from northwest Nebraska who maintains a residence and small farming ranching operation there.

Sandy and husband Bob live in Lincoln.

Senator Elaine Stuhr

Elaine Stuhr was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1994 and re-elected in 1998 and 2002. Due to term limitations, she is serving her last term in the Legislature. That term will end on the first day of the 2007 session, after her successor is sworn in.

Senator Stuhr currently serves as Chair of the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee and Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee. In 2003, she served as a member of four Legislative Task Forces, including the Water Policy Task Force. In 2005, she served as member of the Distance Education and Rural Development Task Forces. She also serves as a member of the Legislature’s Education and Rules Committees. In addition, Senator Stuhr is a member of the Rural Development Commission.

Elaine Stuhr is a partner in a grain-producing, family farm operation near Bradshaw. A former family and consumer science teacher in the Hampton and Henderson Public Schools, she has served in many agricultural leadership positions at the state and national levels. In addition, Senator Stuhr traveled to Russia and to Lithuania on Farmer-to-Farmer assignments.

Elaine and her husband, Boyd, are the parents of three children, Cynthia, Teresa, and Boyd, Jr., and the grandparents of six children.

Gary Warren

Gary has been active in a variety of economic development organizations in Aurora, Hamilton County and the State of Nebraska over the past 30 plus years. He is a past Chairman of the Nebraska Chamber and Past President of the Nebraska Diplomats. Gary has been active in the recruitment of several businesses and industries to Aurora and Hamilton County, the development of housing and a variety of community facilities. Additionally, he has been active in the telecommunications industry and has played an active role in encouraging the use of information technology as a component of economic growth.

Map of Commissioners’ County of Residence

Rural Development Commission
1101 Halligan Drive, Building #10
North Platte, NE 69101
(308) 308-380-4966 phone and cell
(308) 749-2223 fax
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