Ronald Offutt, founder and Chairman Emeritus of R.D. Offutt Company was inducted into the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame on March 7, 2015 during the 78th annual North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.
Offutt is the founder of R.D. Offutt Co., the nation's largest producer of potatoes, and RDO Equipment Co., the largest network of John Deere construction and agricultural equipment dealerships in the U.S.
A native of Orrick, Mo., Offutt grew up on his family’s farm in Moorhead, Minn. He attended Moorhead High School and graduated in 1964 from Concordia College, Moorhead, with a degree in Economics.
Offutt is the former chairman of the Board of Regents of Concordia College in Moorhead, where he has served his alma mater for over 20 years on its board. He is a member of the Global Leadership Board of the Offutt School of Business at Concordia College and a member of the Board of Regents.
He is one of 41 recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, North Dakota’s top honor, recognizing North Dakotans who have achieved national excellence in their fields of endeavor. He has also received numerous other regional and national awards for his contributions to agriculture.
The North Dakota Winter Show is home to the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame. A selection committee, made up of different segments of the state’s agricultural committee, selects the yearly inductees from those nominated individuals. The selection is based on an individual’s contribution to agriculture in the state. Offutt was nominated by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association.
