Community Service
St. Luke’s
Ron currently serves on the St. Luke’s Western Region Board and is active in following roles:
- Chairman of the Real Estate Committee
- Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee
- Member of the Board Development Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Meridian/Eagle Advisory Board
Idaho 2Fly Derby 2014
Ron is an avid fly-fisherman. He has hosted the Idaho 2Fly Derby, a fly-fishing derby in support of male cancer survivors. Each spring the event is held on Ron’s Three Rivers Ranch property. nearly $20,000 was raised in the one day of the derby which goes to help fund events and support groups for survivors of cancer. Ron’s family was affected by cancer, so he saw this as a great chance to use his property to support a great cause.
Idaho Community Foundation 2004 – 2011
Ron served on the Idaho Community Foundation Board for seven years. Through this board he has helped hundreds of local organizations and communities across the state of Idaho get the grants they need to expand. Since joining in 2004, he has served in the following roles:
- Investment Committee
- Asset Development
- Grant and Investment Committees
In the 2014 National Philanthropy Day publication, Ron was an Honor Roll Recipient for the ICF. “His extensive, self-taught knowledge in real estate law and land development has been as asset to our organization, enabling us to offer our donors more options to support the charitable interests.” Ron continues to advocate for them and is always ready to help when asked.
Other interests includes:
- The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of America
- Rancho Visitadores
- Charlie Russell Riders
- Past Board member and Chairman of the Arid Club Board 1997 – 1999
- Past Board member and President of the Idaho Hop Growers Association in 1978 – 1980
Three Rivers Ranch Conservation Easement
In 2007, Ron created a 160-acre conservation easement on his Eagle Island ranch to the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley. The property contains diverse landscapes and wildlife habitat, including the north and south channel confluence of the Boise River, and trout streams created with the help of Trout Unlimited. Eagle Island is one of the largest urban islands in the United States.
“I have had a vision for doing something very creative with my land for many years,” said Ron. “By gifting the development rights to the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, I continue to own my property while furthering the conservation projects I have been working on for years.”
Island Creek Restoration
In 2003, Ron, along with Trout Unlimited, worked to restore one of the creeks on Three Rivers Ranch. When Ron bought the property, this creek was highly degraded and inaccessible to local trout. It was a three-year project which resulted in additional habitat for all species of fish. The renovated creek now provides a safe habitat for trout to live and spawn. Trout Unlimited felt compelled to sponsor the project because they knew the area was a perfect habitat, with the right depth, speed, and temperature of water. Fish now come there to spawn and feed every year from the Boise river, which connects directly to Island Creek. Of the original 240 acres of Three Rivers Ranch, over 3300 feet of Island Creek was restored, and two more smaller streams were built in addition to the existing bodies of water.
Honors
2004 Reclamation Award for Excellence in Reclamation for Sand and Gravel by the Idaho Reclamation Awards Committee
After developing Moon Lake Ranch, Ron was awarded for his ingenuity in the project. He transformed a 102-acre parcel of farm land into a residential community of 20 multi-million dollar waterfront estate homes. Over 50% of the property was preserved as wetlands, riparian area, open water, and natural landscape areas adjoining the Boise River.