Frankly Speaking

If you ever had the chance to meet Dick Foell, you quickly realized his excitement for no-till knew no bounds. Unfortunately, Dick passed away at the age of 90 on March 1 at his home in central California.

Through his journey he touched many lives with his wisdom, humor and an unwavering spirit of perseverance. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Laraine ‘Chic’ Foell, two daughters, two sons, 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. 

Dick worked 40 years for Chevron Chemical and 13 years for Syngenta promoting the use of Gramoxone in no-till to conserve topsoil and improve crop production. 

Dick was one of the founding members of the Conservation Technology  Information Center in 1981, which six decades later is still educating farmers on techniques and methods to improve production and profits through minimum tillage. Dick also served on numerous agricultural association boards over the years. 

Dick’s energy for no-till was infectious and along with his wife ,Chickie, the couple ,came up with numerous marketing ideas to promote and make memorable the no-till concepts and products he was marketing.

Dick-and-Chic-Foell

CHIC & DICK FOELL, 2023. Well known to those who promoted no-till in the 1970s and 1980s, the Foell’s inspired no-till innovation through a numerous unique no-till programs. Dick also kick-started in 1981 what would become the Conservation Technology Information Center and served as its first chairman.

Last fall, Dick told me had more than 50 years of my “Frankly Speaking” columns that have appeared in more than 600 issues of No-Till Farmer.

Congratulations Dick on a great career. 

To read more of all the good things we’ve said about Dick over the years, click on these No-Till Farmer articles: