Meet The Team
Chris Crutchfield
President and CEO
Shortly after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1996, Chris moved back to California and with his father Paul Crutchfield in the formation of a rough rice pool for direct marketing to Turkey. Chris was responsible for the day to day management of the pool. That partnership developed into the formation of American Commodity Company (ACC) in 2000, and Chris assumed all direct management responsibilities for ACC.
Chris is currently very active in multiple US rice industry associations at both the state and national levels. Chris serves as the Chairman of the USA Rice Federation's Asia/Turkey Promotion Committee and the Chairman of the California Rice Commission's Domestic Affairs Committee -- in addition to several other key positions.
Prior to establishing himself in the California rice industry, Chris worked in the press offices of Governor Pete Wilson as his Assistant Press Secretary. He also briefly taught secondary education in the California public school system.
Alfred Montna
Chairman of the Board
Al Montna owns and operates Montna Farms, Montna Farms Rice Dryer,
A & G Montna Properties, LP and the Dingville Duck and Social Club, all located in Sutter County, CA where he actively farms rice. His rice industry experience includes service as Chairman of the Board of Farmers' Rice Cooperative (FRC), from 1984-1998, FRC Board Member from 1982-2000, Chairman of the U.S. Rice Producers' Group from 1991-1994, Board of Directors of the California Rice Industry Association from 1991-1996 and the California Rice Commission from 2006-2009. Montna was the Chairman of the USA Rice Federation's Conservation Committee from its inception until 2006. At that time, he stepped down when he was elected to a two year term as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federation and currently serves on the Federation Board.
Montna serves as President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture for Governor Schwarzenegger; President/Manager of Garden Highway Mutual Water Company; Director on the Boards of Levee District One in Sutter County, and the California Chamber of Commerce. Montna was a founding member of the Northern California Water Association, and Board Member for numerous years.
Mr. Montna's recognition for his commitment to U.S. agriculture includes receiving the 1992 USA Rice Industry Grower Achievement Award; 1996 he was named "The Honored Alumnus of the Year for College of Agriculture; 2001 he received the Rice Meritorious Service Award", 2004 he was honored as the "California Agriculturist of the Year", and in 2008 he was named a finalist for the Leopold Conservation Award. Also, in 2008 Montna was inducted into the California Agriculture Heritage Club which recognized Montna Farms family farming legacy which began in 1895 in Sutter County.
Paul Crutchfield
Board of Directors
Paul was Vice President-Marketing at Farmers’ Rice Cooperative, Sacramento, CA, from 1983-1996. Prior to that, he was Vice President, International Marketing at the Rice Growers’ Association, Sacramento from 1982-1983. Before moving to CA, Paul was Vice President, American Rice Inc. in Houston, TX from 1975-1983. In 1996, Paul resigned from Farmers’ Rice Cooperative with thoughts of early retirement. However, since that time, he has been active in various investments, including the formation of California Commodity Traders with Chris Crutchfield, which brought Paul back into the rice business in 1998. Throughout his tenure in the rice business, Paul has served on many industry committees, at both the state and U.S. levels.
