For the first time since he was 17 years old, Warren Warmbold will be trading his work boots and shovel for a fishing pole and tackle box.
Warmbold, R.D. Offutt Farms’ Vice President of Operations, is retiring after 46 years of service. He started when he was a student at Park Rapids High School. Following graduation and a summer working in Alaskan fisheries, Warmbold returned to Minnesota, and RDO founder Ron Offutt hired him to work full-time in farm operations.
Warmbold took on every job possible at the farm during the early years. In 1987, Offutt selected Warmbold to develop a new RDO farm in Menomonie, Wis. There, he built the operation (which still exists today), hiring and teaching a team to grow potatoes, developing the land base, and working with potato processing customers. He stayed in Wisconsin until a promotion brought Warmbold back to his hometown to manage the Park Rapids farm in 1998. Subsequently, he earned Regional and Midwest management positions, before landing his current role in 2021.
Throughout the years, Warmbold said there are always new challenges in agriculture – changing weather patterns, potato diseases, market demand. He also noted technology advances that have allowed farmers to be more precise in operations.
“With high-tech tractors, harvesters and center-pivots, our operation has greatly changed since the 1960s and 1970s,” Warmbold said. “It is amazing how much more efficient we have grown every year with increased data and science to help us be more sustainable and produce a better yield.”
During a celebration honoring Warmbold’s 45 years of service, Offutt fondly recalled hiring Warmbold when he graduated high school and praised his dedication to the farm.
“Warren has been a tremendous inspiration to everyone on the farm and to everyone in the company,” Offutt said.
Reflecting on his career, Warmbold praised RDO as a great place to work, highlighting the family atmosphere, including his close friendship with Keith McGovern (Offutt’s son-in-law and longtime president of the farming operation), and working alongside his twin brother Wayne, who retired in 2021.
“RDO is family owned and operated, and that goes beyond the Offutts,” Warmbold said. “When you work day in and day out with a team that is so dedicated to raising a healthy crop, you become family – and that’s what has happened during my time with RDO.”
Warmbold’s son Luke manages the RDO Park Rapids farm, nephew Nate manages the RDO Staples farm, grandkids have scouted fields and other family members are involved in the operation.
While Warmbold’s full-time status with RDO has concluded, he will stay on a consultant, providing mentorship to younger farmers and transitioning customer relationships to other team members. He plans to spend more time with his family and do seasonal things like hunting and fishing that he missed out on during busy summers and harvests on the farm.
When asked what he’ll miss most, Warren said the close-knit team and the chance to raise a new crop every year and the anticipation that comes with it.
“Every year, we plant the seed, tend the crop and wait to see our hard work culminated at harvest,” Warmbold said. “Being a farmer is the greatest job in the world.”
As the 2025 crop year begins, Warmbold will likely check in with the team, but perhaps from his boat rather than at 5:00 a.m. coffee.
