Richard Shinn
Family: Wife: Marilyn
Children: Doug, Mike, Bruce, Brad
Grandchildren: Riley, Nolan, Jordan, Bethany,Mary, Andrew, Christina, Grant
Background:
Richard F. Shinn was born on February 26, 1930 in Dunning, Nebraska. At that time, his family was living northwest of Brewster, Nebraska near Goldman Lake. He began his education at Hardscrabble District 22, a country school near Dunning, which he attended through the eight grade. He then attended high school in Curtis, Nebraska at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture. After graduating from high school in 1947, he entered the University of Nebraska, obtaining a bachelor's degree from the College of Agriculture, with an emphasis in Ag Economics and Poultry, in 1951. After college he served 2 years in the U.S. Army, during the Korean War, being stationed in Alaska. After leaving the military he joined his father as a partner in Shinn Turkeys in 1954.
Richard and his wife Marilyn, have four children (Doug, Mike, Bruce, and Brad), and eight grandchildren. All of his sons have remained involved in the family businesses, which began with Mr. Shinn's father's turkey farm in the 1920's. The original farm was located northwest of Brewster, Nebraska in the German Valley area. Today, Shinn Turkeys Inc., Shinn Turkeys S.E., Nebraska Turkey Ranch, Inc. and Aurora Turkey Project, produce a combined total of over one million turkeys annually. The Shinn operations have been the largest turkey producers in the State of Nebraska for the last 30 or 40 years. In addition to his turkey operations, Mr. Shinn and his family run 550 cow/calf pairs on over 12,000 acres of owned land.
Richard Shinn's leadership in the poultry industry extends far beyond the local family operations. Mr. Shinn has been a vital part of the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative (NTG), which is part of one of the only two remaining independent turkey cooperatives in the United States. He has served as board president of NTG for many of the last 30 years. He has served many years on the board, and as board president of Norbest Inc., the marketing cooperative serving NTG and Moroni Feed Company. Shinn also has influence on the national level, serving on the board of directors of the National Turkey Federation. He has also been very active in Farm Credit Services, serving on the Production Credit of the Midlands board, the Farm Credit Bank of Omaha, and AgAmerica Farm Credit Bank boards, with a term as Chairman on the two bank boards.
Mr. Shinn's professional affiliations include memberships in Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Nebraska Turkey Federation, Nebraska Poultry Industries, National Turkey Federation, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement, Nebraska AgRelations Council, and a lifetime member of the Nebraska Alumni Association.
In addition, Mr. Shinn is active in the community as a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Blaine County Farm Bureau, and served over 20 years on local school boards.