Who am I? My Background

Who am I and why is I running for the Utah House of Representatives? Richard was raised in Utah County. I am the son of Rex L. and Thora Behling. The first years of my life were spent in Springville, Payson and Springlake. Growing up I spent many summer days watching and then helping my father on the farm. The original family farm now sits to the east of the power plant in Castle Dale, Utah. Having to sale out to the power company was not easy on the family and Rex wanted to continue to farm. So about 1974 he purchased the farm that we all live on today.

From a young age I was asked to help carry the work load on the farm. Dad had purchased a milk cow to help provide milk for the family and the dairy beef that we had started to raise. One day dad was late getting home. We always did chores together but this day was different. Knowing that the work still needed to be done I grabbed the bucket and headed to the barn. When dad made it home that night the chores were all done. From that time forward it was my job to milk each day and help out with any other work on the farm that needed to be done. With dad at the office I was left to irrigate, cut hay, fix equipment, care for the animals and any other work that had been laid out for me that morning.

I attended schools in Payson and after serving a LDS mission in New Zealand, and California, I returned home with ideas of going to school at Ricks College. I did make it for a semester but while home for the summer was asked to help out in my Dads insurance office. Later that summer I met my wife Christine Babcock. I could see that there could be a great future in insurance and never made it back to Ricks. Christine and I were married the following February. I have worked in the office for 25 years the last 17 years as the owner and President of Behling Insurance Agency, Inc.

Christine is the daughter of a farmer and cattle rancher in Idaho. Her parents are Harold and Marjorie Babcock of Moore, Idaho. Together we have five children, with the oldest Cybil giving us our first grandchild Orian. Albert is attending Snow College. Anna will be attending Utah State. William is preparing for a LDS Mission. Sophie is attending junior high in Payson.

I have been active in local, church and multi state organizations for several years. I am a member of the Payson Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of the CSE Agents Association for 10 years, Utah County Farm Bureau Vice President, Independent Insurance Agents of America, National Farmers Union, former Bishop, Assistant Scout Master and Scout Master, Commissioner. I am Wood Badge trained and also one of Utah’s first accredited Agribusiness & Farm Insurance Specialists.

For several years I have been the councilor for all the Citizenship Merit Badges for the BSA in my area. I teach the badges at Powwow or one on one and am always telling the young men that they need to be involved in the political process that we have in our country. Early this year I attended a water meeting, where concerns were aired about bills that had been presented at the capital affecting irrigation and water companies in the state. One of those bills was tied to our current Representative. Knowing that something need to be done I offered to run for his seat if need be.

A month later while teaching young men again the merit badges I realized that I could not again look at them and tell them they needed to be involved if I was not willing to lead. A week later Payson City published Notice of their intention to change their annexation ordinance. The area I live in had been looked at by Santaquin the year prior and with that experience and the approval of the Utah County Farm Bureau I became active in the public meetings, airing my own and my friends and neighbors concerns and the effects this would have on agriculture and our lives. It was now time to do something more. So I went home and asked my wife if she would support me in a run for the State Legislature and so I now ask for your support.