The Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) joins diverse public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in rural Idaho.

The IRP Board is made up of 32 individuals who work together to improve economic and social conditions in rural Idaho. Board members are appointed by the Governor and include representatives from federal, state and local agencies, as well as private business. The board is led by co-chairs Celia Gould, director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Nancy Bergmann of the Idaho National Laboratory.

 

Mike Field, New Interim Executive Director for IRP

Mike is a native of Grand View, Idaho.  He grew up on an irrigated row crop farm where dairy and beef cows sometimes supplemented the core crops of barley, wheat, corn, sugar beets, and hay.  He attended public school in Grand View and then went on to attend Utah State, Boise State, Brigham Young and Idaho State Universities.  He graduated from BYU with a degree in Political Science.  He coupled his practical farm experience with his passion for public policy and has spent the last 34 years working for three Presidential Administrations, two US Senators and two Governors.  His career has focused on issues associated with rural Idaho both in economic/community development and natural resources management.  He is married to Debbie Field who serves as the Director for Drug Policy for the Otter Admnistration.  They are the parents and grandparents of three great kids and three wonderful grandkids.