The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Peoples Bancorp, Inc. was held April 15, 2024 at the Peoples State Bank in Newton, IL. President Stacy Moore introduced the board candidates who were newly nominated for election this year, Jeff Ochs and Ken Snyder. Both were duly elected and will serve as bank directors, filling the vacancies left by Greg Ikemire and Mark Dougherty who retired after serving for 51+ years at the bank.
Jeff and his wife Lisa live on a farm in rural West Liberty with their daughters Miranda, Jenna, Ashtyn and Avery. Jeff is a lifelong resident of Jasper County, graduating from Newton Community High School and the University of Illinois. Since 1991, he has operated a full time grain farm raising primarily corn, soybeans and wheat. He also manages a wean to finish hog operation and a feeder to finish cattle operation. Jeff is also active in the community serving as a parish council member at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and serves on the board of directors for both the Jasper County Farm Bureau and the Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Ken is also a graduate of Newton Community High School and earned a degree from Southern Illinois University. He formerly served as a licensed nursing home administrator in central Illinois, before moving back home to run the family business, Newton Rest Haven. In 1999, Ken purchased the Newton Dairy Queen and has spent the last 25 years building Kenkris, Inc., acquiring four additional DQ locations in IL and IN during that time. He and his wife Kristin reside in Olney and have two children, Rachel and Reid.
President Moore noted that both Jeff and Ken will be fantastic additions to the bank’s board of directors. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise; Jeff specifically in the farm industry & agricultural economics and Ken in retail operations, staffing & management.
