Ron Gibson, president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation resigned after allegations of sticking a worker on his farm .
OGDEN – Utah Farm Bureau Federation (UFBF) President Ron Gibson has resigned his position after being arrested for alleged assault. The incident also brought to light other charges the State is investigating him for.
The victim stated that he and his coworkers allegedly had not received their past four paychecks from Gibson. When the victim confronted him about not being paid. There was a small verbal altercation that took place.
The victim showed a video of the confrontation and allegedly being backhanded across the face by Gibson.
A statement released by the UFBF said Gibson has resigned his position as president.
“I deeply regret the incident and apologize for allowing an argument to escalate to an altercation on my farm,” Gibson said in the release. “I’m disappointed in myself. I have deep respect for the men and women willing to work on farms across America, including mine. I simply could not manage the farm without their help, and we wouldn’t have the abundance we do in this country without them.”
The release went on to lay out how the UFBF will move forward for the time being.
The release further said they recognize and respects the many contributions farmworkers make in American agriculture and deeply regrets how this situation may impact the role these valuable people play in. UFBF Vice President Wade Eliason and the State Board of Directors are leading federation activities while the matter is being investigated.
The Weber County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to have patience as the legal system works through their investigation.
Gibson was elected president of UFBF, the state’s largest voluntary organization of farmers and ranchers, in 2015.
There are some 35,000 UFBF members, many of which are volunteers across the state who want to protect Utah’s farms and ranches way of life and ensure their production of a safe, fresh and locally-grown food supply.