MEET RICK

The Man Behind the Rub

Staff Sergeant. Army veteran. Family farmer. Chief Seasoning Troublemaker.

There’s a real Dick behind Dick’s Rubs. His name is Richard Joseph “Rick” Buteau, and long before he started developing seasoning blends with names that make people laugh, he spent nearly fourteen years serving his country.

The seasoning business might come with a questionable sense of humor, but the man behind it has a history built on service, dedication, and taking care of people.

Nearly Fourteen Years of Service

Rick entered active duty in the United States Army on October 19, 1984, and served honorably until June 30, 1998, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).

His military specialty was 91X30 Y2 Mental Health Specialist, a role that required a different kind of strength.

While much of military service is associated with physical readiness and demanding missions, Rick’s work focused on the emotional and psychological well-being of his fellow Soldiers. His responsibilities called for compassion, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to support people navigating difficult circumstances.

He served during a period when conversations about mental health were far less open than they are today. The importance of that work—and the people who performed it—shouldn’t be overlooked.

Rick also completed three years of foreign service in Germany, serving under U.S. Army Europe during the closing years of the Cold War and the Gulf War era.

His final military assignment was with the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he continued serving as a Staff Sergeant.

A Record of Distinguished Service

Rick’s military career was recognized through numerous awards and decorations, including:

• Meritorious Service Medal

• Army Commendation Medal

• Army Achievement Medal, Third Award

• Army Good Conduct Medal, Fourth Award

• National Defense Service Medal

• Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Second Award

• Army Service Ribbon

• Overseas Service Ribbon

• Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-W Bar

• Bronze German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge

His Quilt of Valor nomination recognizes not simply the number of years he served, but the nature of his contribution: supporting fellow Soldiers through challenges that were not always visible to others.

It is a record of service that deserves recognition and respect.

From Army Life to Farm Life

Today, Rick has traded military duty stations for the everyday adventures of Legacy Acres at Stearns Brook Farm in Milan, New Hampshire.

As a co-owner of the family farm, Rick is involved in raising poultry, maintaining farm operations, and helping turn an ambitious North Country homestead into something lasting.

The days look a little different now. There are chickens, ducks, farm projects, equipment, and a seemingly endless list of things that need doing.

And, of course, there’s the seasoning.

So, About Those Rubs…

Rick is the head recipe developer behind Dick’s Rubs, the farm’s line of small-batch seasoning blends.

The idea is simple: food should taste fantastic, whether you’re working a smoker all afternoon, grilling for a crowd, or trying to get dinner on the table after a long day.

The blends are designed to bring big flavor to everyday cooking. From Original Recipe and Hard Maple to Hot Rod and the rest of the lineup, each has its own personality.

And the names?

Well, nobody promised they were going to behave.

The service was serious. The seasoning names? Not so much.

Veteran-Developed. North Country Made.

Dick’s Rubs is part of Legacy Acres at Stearns Brook Farm, a veteran- and woman-owned family farming business rooted in northern New Hampshire.

For Rick, the connection between military service and farm life is more than a label. Both involve responsibility, persistence, attention to detail, and the satisfaction of putting in the work.

His Army career is an important part of his story. So is what he’s helping build today.

And if a jar of seasoning makes someone laugh before making their dinner taste better?

That sounds like a pretty good day’s work.

SERIOUS FLAVOR. A LITTLE ATTITUDE.

Meet the man. Try the rub. Thank us after dinner.

Explore Dick’s Rubs seasonings, discover recipes in The Dirty Dish, or visit Legacy Acres at Stearns Brook Farm to learn more about the family behind the flavor.