Head to Oregon’s Willamette Valley and you’ll likely fall in love with the region’s scenic beauty and rich agricultural history. Among its hidden gems is the small town of Scio, home to Fir Ridge Holsteins.
A cornerstone of this community, Fir Ridge Holsteins is a family partnership run by Scott, Michele and Ida Ruby that is home to 1,500 Holstein cows housed across two locations. While Scott and Michele Ruby have carved a niche in the dairy industry, it is their mother, Ida Ruby, who is the heart and soul of the operation.
The Farm’s Heartbeat
Ida Ruby, the widow of Ray Ruby, is still actively involved in the farm’s success. Drawing from three decades of experience as an account manager at a local bank, her expertise in managing the farm’s finances is indispensable. But Ida Ruby’s influence extends beyond financial management; her dedication and passion reverberate through every aspect of daily operations at the farm.
“My earliest memories are of helping mom wash down the milking parlor after she finished milking our herd of 150 Holsteins, right after a full day at the bank,” Scott Ruby shares fondly. “She’d then make us dinner, and I’m still unsure if she ever slept — her level of commitment was unmatched.”
The Red Barn and Community Advocacy
Ida Ruby has always enjoyed using her banking background to help agricultural nonprofit organizations. As a vital member of the Oregon Dairy Women (ODW), she dedicates time to community service, particularly at the Red Barn — a hub at the Oregon State Fair. This iconic landmark, known for its delectable milkshakes, cones and ice cream sundaes, is a major fundraising event for ODW.
Ida Ruby can be found sporting an apron, helping to manage the Dairy Women’s Red Barn at the 12-day Oregon State Fair, which is the sole fundraiser of the Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador Program.
Her service dates back to 1991, inspired by her daughter Michele’s recognition as the Oregon Dairy Princess. Ida Ruby saw firsthand the benefits of the program in building young women’s dairy advocacy skills, as well as the important educational gap it filled with consumers. She took on the role of treasurer for the organization in 1994, a position she held for 30 years until relinquishing it at the 2025 convention.
In addition to ODW, Ida Ruby has served as treasurer and secretary of the Oregon Holstein Association since the mid-1960s to help promote the value of purebred registered Holsteins. Her devotion and leadership could be seen at every show, sale and youth event.
Empowering Youth
For as long as she can remember, she has chaired the ODW Scholarship Auction Committee, with a simple goal of raising as many funds as possible in order to award young dairy professionals with college scholarships.
“The more we raise, the more we’re able to award, which is very important to help our youth succeed,” Ida Ruby says.
Under her leadership, $44,000 in scholarships were awarded in 2024 alone to local students attending both two-year and four-year colleges. She also served as the past president of the National Holstein Women Scholarship Organization (NHWSO) and helped its fundraising to award collegiate scholarships at the national level to Holstein youth. Her enduring legacy reflects an unwavering commitment to both her family’s dairy operation and the broader community.
“Mom has always put that same level of commitment and dedication into her many volunteer positions,” Scott Ruby says. Earlier this year, she was recognized for her countless hours of volunteering to support Oregon Dairy Women at the 2025 Oregon Dairy Farmers Convention in Salem, Ore.
Ida Ruby has always been about elevating others instead of herself. An example of this was illustrated when she took to the stage amid a standing ovation while being honored for her endless dedication to Oregon’s dairy landscape — and she used the moment to ask people to bid on a silent auction that would then raise even more money for students.
Ida Ruby’s passion for empowering youth extends to leasing calves to local youth that may not have grown up on a farm. She is the first to encourage kids to step outside of their comfort zone to experience raising and showing Fir Ridge Holsteins at the county and state fair. Once they have that on their resume, she’s quick to share the leadership and scholarship programs available to them, as well as the numerous shifts at the Red Barn ice cream booth that needs volunteers.
Her mentorship has guided hundreds of students in competitions. She has also advised numerous students in speaking competitions, dairy ambassador tenures and many other opportunities available to youth.
Recognition isn’t what Ida Ruby wants, though she has been recognized for her achievements with the OSU Diamond Pioneer Award, Holstein Association USA National Distinguished Leader Award, Oregon Dairy Women Appreciation Award, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association Community Service Award, and Oregon FFA Honorary State Farmer Degree, to name a few.
Through her tireless dedication to Fir Ridge Holsteins and advocacy endeavors with the Oregon Dairy Women, Oregon Holstein and other local dairy organizations, Ida Ruby embodies the spirit of partnership and affluence throughout Oregon. Her efforts ensure that the local dairy industry remains robust, nurturing not only the community but also the dreamers and doers of tomorrow.
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