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R.D. Offutt Farms Strives to be a Positive Community Partner

R.D. Offutt Farms started with a father and his son. In 1964, Ron Offutt partnered with his father to grow potatoes. Today, R.D. Offutt Farms remains a family owned and operated business. Many of our 200+ farm team members are from multi-generational families. As testament to their commitment, the average tenure of our senior farm leaders working for R.D. Offutt Farms is 25 years.

Long-term Relationships with Neighbors

R.D. Offutt Farms works with neighbors and other family farmers to rotate crops from one year to another, which has long been a farming best practice. R.D. Offutt Farms maintains mutually beneficial arrangements with nearby family farmers to rotate crops. As a result of these relationships, 100 percent of R.D. Offutt Farms are rotated on a multi-year schedule with a majority on a four-year schedule. Participating in crop rotation agreements is good for every farmer involved because we are all taking the best care possible of our fields.

A person stands in a potato field holding a potato and a garden fork, with a bucket of potatoes on the ground.

Thanks to everyone in the community who came out to dig potatoes at R.D. Offutt Farms’ Annual Potato Field Day. Here’s a great shot of Melodie K. who’s been participating each year with her husband, Tom.

Local Volunteerism and Philanthropy

R.D. Offutt Farms invests in our communities to positively impact the quality of life where we live and work. Our team members are encouraged to actively volunteer and support local non-profit agencies, schools, and more. In addition, we support efforts that benefit our communities through sponsorships, gifts, and in-kind contributions.

  • Community Builder Program: Through the Offutt Family Foundation, the Community Builder Program seeks to engage partners in sustaining or improving quality of life with a concentration on community development, Christian entities and educational initiatives in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Since 2015, more than $1.7 million in grants have been awarded to nonprofits and causes that RDO team members are passionate about. The program builds on the spirit of community involvement embedded in RDO culture and embodied by its team members.
  • Potato Field Days: Every year, multiple R.D. Offutt Farms open a specific potato field for “an all-you-can-dig party,” when the public can dig free potatoes while supplies last. Annually, thousands of people attend the event to stock their pantries with fresh potatoes.
  • Ag in the schools: We actively work with schools in the communities that we farm, visiting classrooms to teach about sustainable agriculture and inviting students out to our fields to connect agriculture to their daily lives.
  • Annual pink hat fundraiser: The combined forces of R.D. Offutt Company, R.D. Offutt Farms and RDO Equipment Co. host an annual pink hat breast cancer fundraiser for National Breast Cancer Foundation. Throughout every fall, special pink RDO hats are available to team members in exchange for a $10 donation. The campaign has raised more than $200,000.
  • RDO Caters Taters for Charity: Our yearly potato luncheon event raises money for local charities. For a nominal donation, guests enjoy a delicious lunch featuring a 'pound-tato' - a one-pound baked potato with choice of a variety of tasty toppings, a beverage, and dessert.
  • Fries for 4-H: Fries for 4-H is a fantastic partnership between R.D. Offutt Farms, RDO Frozen-Lamb Weston and local county programs. At county fairs, R.D. Offutt Farms and RDO Frozen-Lamb Weston donate volunteer time and supplies for a french fry booth, 4-H students and their families sell fries and all proceeds support local 4-H programs in the communities we live and farm. Since 2015, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised!