Keri L. Votruba
Farmer Mac announces with profound sadness that Keri Votruba, a member of Farmer Mac’s Board of Directors, died unexpectedly on October 22, 2019 at the age of 60. Mr. Votruba, a rancher and crop farmer from Hemingford, Nebraska, joined Farmer Mac’s Board in May 2018 as a member elected by the holders of Farmer Mac’s Class B voting common stock. At the time of Mr. Votruba’s death, he had been serving as a member of four Committees of Farmer Mac’s Board – Corporate Governance, Diversity, Financial Risk, and Public Policy. He was also the Chair of AgriBank, a Farm Credit System institution based in Minnesota that helps to serve rural borrowers in America’s heartland.
“Keri Votruba’s passing is a great loss not only to Farmer Mac but to rural communities and agriculture in general,” said Farmer Mac Chairman Lowell Junkins. “Keri spent his life pursuing his passion as a working farmer and rancher and tirelessly served on the boards of organizations dedicated to serve rural America. He was a dear friend and a wise, engaged, and respected counselor and Board member who will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. We are forever grateful for Keri’s service on Farmer Mac’s Board and his dedication to our mission of increasing the availability and affordability of credit in rural America.”
Farmer Mac’s statutory charter authorizes Farmer Mac’s Board to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of Mr. Votruba’s term that ends in May 2020. The 14 remaining members of Farmer Mac’s Board plan to meet in mid-November 2019 to discuss the timing and process for filling the vacancy.