Christopher (Chris) Wride
American Falls, Idaho
A third generation farmer, Chris began his farming career as a young boy when the rocks and sagebrush were being cleared on the Wride farm north of Pleasant Valley in Power County. After attending college, Chris and his brothers – Marc and Bart – worked together to raise potatoes, small grains, alfalfa and sugar beets. As part of an economic farm plan, the introduction of sprinklers, Chris encouraged his brothers to convert the furrow irrigation to a sprinkler system. Changing to a sprinkler irrigation, the Wride’s production and profitability improved. Converting to a sprinkler system, Chris became familiar with water rights and water issues.
Among his many contributions to agriculture, Chris, as chairman of the SBSCD, has been the lead in leasing District owned cropland to the Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Material Center in Aberdeen. In 1997 when discussion of the possibility of moving the PMC to another state, Chris led the effort to purchase additional cropland acres to ensure the PMC would remain in Idaho.
He is a catalyst for building bridges on community and conservation issues, a selfless individual, dedicated to his community and family.
Chris and his wife Gay Ann (deceased), are the parents of four children – John, Maghan, Collyn and Sammy.