Jul 10, 2020
USA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Kenneth Collins, of Gridley, California, who passed away July 2, at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, children Tarah and Andrew, and four grandchildren.
Ken learned the importance of hard work at a young age and did all types of jobs to support himself including driving logging trucks before finding his true passion, rice farming. He founded Biggs Farming in 1985 and dedicated 38 years to growing rice.
In 1999, Ken was named California Rice Farmer of the Year. He served on many agricultural boards; most notably for 20 years with Farmers' Rice Cooperative (FRC), where he spent the last 12 years as vice chair.
"Ken Collins was an integral part of the transformation of FRC into a modern-day efficient marketing and milling organization,” said Charley Mathews, Jr., fellow California rice farmer and chair of FRC. “When FRC had its challenges, Ken never waivered and was as steady as anyone I know. But most of all, he had a presence about him no matter where he went, either in Washington DC or at home. His is a great legacy. Ken will always be remembered and certainly missed."