LEAWOOD, KANSAS, U.S. — Agspring announced on Jan. 20 the recent hiring of three industry veterans in its growing organization. Bert Farrish has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of Big River Rice & Grain. Kim Kuebler and Jeanne McCaherty have each taken on the role of executive-in-residence with Agspring. Big River Rice & Grain, based in Louisiana, U.S. and Arkansas, U.S., is a subsidiary of Agspring and a grain handling, merchandising and logistics provider in the Mississippi Delta region.

“The addition of these three outstanding industry leaders continues to expand the depth and breadth of our team’s agricultural supply chain experience and expertise,” said Brad Clark, Agspring president, who also assumed the role of chief operating officer (COO) of Agspring in December. “Our commitment to building exceptionally strong entrepreneurial teams remains core to our ability to seek out and grow in new markets, trade flows and crop types.”

Farrish is a well-established agricultural executive and leader, the company said. His experience ranges from U.S. grain operations, global grain export, grain processing, production agriculture, food, technology and bioenergy. Farrish is past president of Columbia Grain and previous CEO of Lifeline Foods. In addition, he has served in Washington, D.C., as a high-level official within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), overseeing ethanol, biodiesel and agricultural commodity programs.

Kuebler recently assumed the role of executive-in-residence for Agspring. He has an extensive international background in grain and oilseeds merchandising, ag biotechnology, risk management and facilities management. With decades of leadership in positions with companies such as Continental Grain, Koch Industries, BASF and Seaboard Overseas Trade Group, Kuebler has significant experience in developing and implementing a variety of business plans for supply chains, both in domestic and international environments.

As an executive-in-residence for Agspring, McCaherty brings a wealth of leadership experience optimizing the business potential of agricultural processing, and she has a track record of financial growth for major ag-related companies, the company said. Most recently, McCaherty was with Cargill, leading its texturizing business in both North and South America. She has vast knowledge of the applicable science and research industries, including global specialty businesses ranging from food ingredients to cultures and enzymes.