After 14 years serving as president of the Utah Farm Bureau, local rancher Leland Hogan retired from the position this year.
Hogan grew up on a ranch in Stockton. He first became involved in the UFB in the early 1970s, with encouragement from his father and Ernest Matthews.
“He [my father] said, ‘You need to go to the meetings and find out what it’s all about,’” Hogan said. “Right after that, I got involved in Young Farmers and Ranchers, and I worked my way all the way up to president.”
Young Farmers and Ranchers is a group within the Farm Bureau that works closely with the Future Farmers of America organizations at schools throughout Utah. The purpose of the group is to train new leaders and keep young people involved in the Farm Bureau and in agriculture, Hogan said.
Before becoming UFB’s president, he served as a Tooele County Commissioner from 1986 to 1994.
As president of the Farm Bureau, Hogan helped represent farmers and ranchers on both a state and national level. He said one accomplishment he’s most proud of is helping the Farm Bureau become better-known in Utah. This was done by increasing membership from about 17,000 to 28,000 member families; increasing its involvement with FFA groups; and developing Farm Bureau groups at three colleges: Utah State University, Southern Utah University and Snow College.
Farm Bureau CEO Randy Parker, who worked closely with Hogan for 13 years, praised him for his leadership.
“I would like to say how much the organization has benefited from his leadership,” Parker said. “I also want to recognize the sacrifices of his family in sharing his time and talent with us: his wife Joyce and his kids and grandkids. It’s no small commitment.”
Parker said he spent a lot of time with Hogan, especially on airplanes, when the two traveled around the nation to represent Utah farmers and ranchers. Hogan served in many capacities during his time as president, including serving as chairman of the Utah Agriculture Advisory Board, a member of the executive board for the American Farm Bureau, a member of the Utah Farm Bureau’s international trade team, a member of the Farm Bureau Bank Board and a member of the Mountain States Legal Foundation.
“He has been dedicated; a gentleman,” Parker said. “He led by example. … He identified himself as a leader at both the state and national level.”
Although Hogan is leaving his leadership role, he said he will continue to participate in the Farm Bureau. He is currently a member of the board of directors for the Tooele County Farm Bureau.
“[As president,] I spend about half my time away from home. I won’t be doing that anymore,” he said. “I want to spend more time with my wife and my family and my grandkids and be available for them. It’s time that I did that.”
After Hogan announced his retirement, Farm Bureau members elected Ron Gibson, a dairy farmer from West Weber, as their new president during the 2015 Farm Bureau Convention Nov. 19.
Hogan said Gibson had “a steep learning curve” ahead of him, but he was confident Gibson would provide good leadership.
“I’ll be out here in my county to support him,” he said.