Biographies of AgMRC Advisory Council Members

|Jim Fife| |Mark J. Hanson| |Beth Kennett| |Jeff Kistner| |Barry F. Kriebel| |Madeline Mellinger| | |Michelle Rook| |Kenneth D. Rutledge| | |C.A. Buck Vandersteen||Craig Watson||Chris Williams| |Sara Wyant|



Jim Fife
Senior Vice-president, Public Affairs
Land O'Lakes Incorporated

In July 2004, Jim Fife was appointed Vice President of Public Affairs. In this role, he is responsible for member relations, business development services, communications, public relations, governance, community relations and legislative affairs activities.

Fife brings more than more than three decades of cooperative leadership experience–at both the local and national level–to his position in Land O’Lakes Public Affairs.

He served as the General Manager of Ag Supply Company in Wenatchee, Washington, from 1973 to 2004. He also served on the Land O’Lakes board from 1991 to 2004 and as board chairman from 2001-2004. While a member of the board, Fife chaired the Governance Committee as it developed “Land O’Lakes 21st Century Governance System.”

Fife has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Washington.


Mark J. Hanson
Stoel Rives LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Mark J. Hanson is an attorney with Stoel Rives LLP.

Hanson's practice focuses on developing farmer-owned agribusinesses, renewable energy projects and food processing businesses throughout the country. He authored a widely distributed book, Starting a Value-Added Agribusiness: The Legal Perspective, and wrote a book chapter on cooperatives in which he cited a number of examples of successful and innovative value-added, processing and marketing cooperatives.

Hanson also wrote an article titled "Seeking Outside Capital" for the NCFC Cooperator, describing the need for a change in cooperative structure to allow outside investment. In the spring of 2001, he prepared a new draft cooperative statute for the Wyoming legislature that allows a cooperative to have a flexible structure and outside investment under taxation similar to a limited liability company. The new cooperative statute went into effect July 1, 2001. Hanson and his firm secured a favorable revenue ruling from the IRS regarding the formation of cooperatives under this new statute.

Hanson has written a number of legal journal articles on agricultural credit and financing, surface water preservation and use, and groundwater protection. He is a member of the Hennepin County, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Federal Bar Associations, as well as the American Agricultural Law Association. He is a graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (B.A., physics), the University of Minnesota (M.S.C.E.) and William Mitchell College of Law (J.D.).


Beth Kennett
Liberty Hill Farm
Rochester, Vermont

Beth Kennett grew up on a farm in Maine that had been in her family since 1641. She went on to Gordon College, married and moved to Vermont in 1975. Kennett and her husband, Bob, purchased Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, Vermont, in 1979. They milk 90 registered Holsteins and crop 200 acres in the White River Valley with the help of their two sons, Tom and David. Kennett also operates a farm vacation business in their 18-room farmhouse, providing lodging and meals for guests around the world. Liberty Hill Farm has been featured in a number of national publications, as well as being filmed for television many times over the 22 years of the farm vacation business. Kennett is well known for her bountiful farm-style meals using fresh seasonal ingredients. The Kennett family is part of the Cabot milk marketing cooperative, supplying both Cabot and Grafton cheese companies with the best quality milk from their cows.

Kennett serves on a variety of agricultural and tourism organizations, statewide and regional, as well as participates actively in the community. She is currently president of VT FARMS! Association, the statewide agritourism association. Kennett enthusiastically encourages families to come visit the farm, to learn about agriculture and to appreciate the contributions of the farmer to our society. Kennett also serves on the steering committee for the White River Partnership, a community-based collaboration addressing the cultural, economic and environmental health of the 19 towns in the White River watershed.

In addition, Kennett has been appointed to serve as the agricultural representative to the Vermont Travel Information Council; she is a Vermont trustee of Eastern States Exposition; a member of the UVM Extension Advisory council for the southern region; chair of the Vermont Agritourism Initiative overseeing a federal grant for agritourism in Vermont; President of the Green Mountain Dairy Promotion Board; delegate to the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council representing the Agrimark/Cabot cooperative and UVM CARET representative.


Jeff Kistner
Elkhorn, Nebraska

Jeff Kistner is a private consultant, offering consultative CFO services for agribusiness and renewable energy companies. The objective of his services is cash flow, liquidity, forecasting operational performance & financials, capital structures and increased equity valuations. Jeff brings 19 years of banking experience with his past banking position at CoBank, which is one of the largest lenders to agribusiness and renewable companies and four years at BBI International focusing on project development and management. At BBI, he had a strong influence in business economics and capital structures for early stage to operating renewable energy companies.

He received his M.B.A with an emphasis in finance from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Kistner also graduated with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics, farm and ranch management from the University of Nebraska.

Barry F. Kriebel
President
Sun-Maid Growers of California
Kingsburg, California

Barry F. Kriebel has been President of Sun-Maid Growers of California since February 1986. Sun-Maid Growers of California, an agricultural marketing cooperative, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of raisins and other dried fruits. Sun-Maid’s sales exceed $300 million and are divided between the internationally recognized “Sun-Maid” branded consumer products and high-quality ingredient products for cereals, breads and other food products. Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid’s facilities are centrally located in California where 45 percent of the world’s raisins are produced. Sun-Maid products are distributed in more than 50 countries.

As President of Sun-Maid, Kriebel serves as a voting member of the California Raisin Marketing Board as well as a voting member of the Federal Raisin Administrative Committee. In addition, he is a member of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives’ Executive Council, an appointed member to the USDA/U.S.T.R. Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade for Fruits and Vegetables, and serves on the Board of the Dried Fruit Association of California. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University and a law degree from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and remains a member of the State Bar of California.


Madeline Mellinger
President
Glades Crop Care, Inc.
Jupiter, Florida

Mellinger is chair of the AgMRC Advisory Council.

Madeline Mellinger founded Glades Crop Care, Inc., an independent agricultural consulting firm based in Jupiter, Florida, in 1972. Since then, she has served as the Company's President. Crop Care offers a wide range of services to commercial agriculture and carries out contract research focusing on emerging pest management technologies and systems.

Together with her husband, who is Crop Care's Technical Director, Mellinger pioneered the implementation of prevention-based IPM systems in several crops, saving Florida farmers millions of dollars by reducing the volume of pesticides needed to bring high-quality crops to market. Crop Care has worked with clients in developing state-of-the-art information management and worker protection systems, and has won wide acclaim for its efforts to credibly document the linkages between IPM adoption and reductions in the use of high-risk pesticides.

Mellinger has served the agricultural community through a number of leadership positions and project activities. She has served as an advisor to the U. S. Congress, National Academy of Sciences, the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal and state Extension Service and various universities. Beginning in 1992 she was appointed by three successive U. S. Secretaries of Agriculture to the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council, which reports directly to the Secretary. In 1995 she was elected chairman for two years.

 

Michelle Rook
Past NAFB National President & WANX Managing Farm Director
Yankton, South Dakota

Michelle Rook has been the Managing Farm Director at WNAX since December of 1997. During that time she has become a nationally recognized farm broadcaster and leads a team that consistently delivers some of the nation’s top farm audience ratings. She rose to leadership in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and in 2006 serving as the NAFB National President, only the second female to hold this title. She also served two years as an NAFB national officer and another two as regional vice president. Rook was a national NAFB scholarship winner in 1989. 

Rook has been recognized with the 1999 NAFB Horizon Award, NAFB Newscast and Marketcast Awards, several NAFB News Service Awards, as well as by the Associated Press. She has also received media awards from the SD Farm Bureau and the SD Pork Producers Council. She has reported from the nation’s capitol and countries like Brazil and Australia.

As a professional meteorologist, Rook also spends weekends as a television weather anchor for the NBC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition, she freelances for various nationally syndicated ag TV shows.

Rook interned at KWAT Radio in Watertown, SD. In 1988 she became Extension Radio/TV Specialist at SDSU, produced daily radio programs and was producer and host of Midwest Market Analysis on SD Public Television. She helped create Today’s Ag on KELO-TV and served as producer and anchor of the program. 

In addition to a master’s degree in journalism, Rook has a bachelor’s degrees in dairy manufacturing and ag journalism from SDSU. She also has a broadcast meteorology degree from Mississippi State University. Rook was a State FFA Officer in South Dakota and received her American FFA Degree.  She was also involved in 4-H for 11 years. 

Rook currently lives in Yankton with her husband Brian. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, is involved in the church’s Praise Team and is a Sunday school music teacher. She also coaches youth soccer.

Kenneth D. Rutledge
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dakota Turkey Growers L.L.C.
Huron, South Dakota

Kenneth Rutledge, a 37-year poultry industry veteran, is president and chief executive officer of Dakota Turkey Growers, an LLC composed of 43 independent Hutterite turkey growers. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative (ITGC). While there, he was responsible for implementing the policies set forth by the DTG board of directors. He directed the processing, marketing and production functions of DTG, dba Dakota Provisions.

Prior to joining DTG, from 1996 to 2004 Rutledge was president and CEO of Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative in West Liberty, Iowa. Prior to that Ken served as vice-president and general manager of Zacky Farms, located in Fresno, California.

From 1989 to 1990, Rutledge served as Vice-President of Operations for Swift-Eckrich, Inc., located in Downers Grove, Illinois.

He served in various positions for Norbest, Inc., in Midvale, Utah, from 1983 to 1989. As Director of Operations, Assistant General Manager, Executive Vice President, and President and General Manager.

In 1973, Rutledge began his poultry industry career as Procurement Manager for Swift & Co. in Jasper, Indiana, eventually serving as Vice President of Procurement and Processing for Swift in Chicago Illinois.

Prior to working in the poultry industry, Rutledge was a teacher for four years. He holds a B.S. degree in social science from Indiana State University.

Rutledge is a member of the SD Poultry Industries Association, past officer in the Indiana State Poultry Association, past member of the Illinois Turkey Growers Association, past member of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. He was also past president of the California Poultry Industry Federation, past chairman of the National Turkey Federation and was a member of President Ronald Reagan’s National Meat and Poultry Advisory Committee.


C.A. Buck Vandersteen
Executive Director
Louisiana Forestry Association
Alexandria, LA

Buck Vandersteen is Executive Director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, a private non-profit trade association promoting forestry in Louisiana.  His duties also include the management of the Louisiana Forestry Foundation and the Forestry Political Action Council, ForPAC.

Vandersteen is a professional forester and tree farmer. He received his B.S. degree in forestry from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Louisiana Tech University.  He is a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management in non-profit management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Vandersteen has served in the forest products industry in various capacities – growing, harvesting and utilizing forest resources. He has served with the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, as an advisor to that government in forestry-related matters.

He was employed by Continental Forest Industries in Jonesboro, Louisiana, as a procurement forester and landowner assistance forester. He was promoted to Woodyard Supervisor and transferred to Hopewell, VA. He authored a report, later published, on the cost savings using woody biomass as an alternative fuel for the papermaking process.

As executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, Vandersteen is involved in membership development, governmental affairs, educational programs and public awareness. He is also responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the association.

Vandersteen was co-chair of the Louisiana Forest Recovery Task Force dealing with hurricane salvage and recovery efforts. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Forest Products Industry National Labor Management Council and the Board of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Development Council.  He represents LSU Agricultural Center on the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. He served as national Chairman of CARET. He serves on Louisiana’s Workforce Investment Council and Groundwater Task Force. He served on the Governor’s Task Forces on Environmental Protection and Preservation, Coastal Wetland Forests, and Oversize Vehicles. He serves as Treasurer of the Louisiana Society of American Foresters. He was on the Board of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and is currently on the Board of Agricultural Leaders of Louisiana and the Poland Water Association.

He has served as president of the Southern Forest Heritage Museum and as Regional Director and Treasurer of the Alliance for America. He is Past Chairman of the Forest Industries Association Council of the American Forest & Paper Association and Past President of the National Council of Forestry Association Executives. He has served on the National Operating Committee of The American Tree Farm Program and on the Boards of the Central Louisiana YMCA, United Way, Louisiana Society of Association Executives, Leadership Louisiana of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), Bolton Avenue Lions Club, Dixie Girls Softball and Rapides High Parent Teacher Association.

Vandersteen received the Distinguished Service to Forestry Award in 1996 from the Louisiana Society of American Foresters and became a Fellow in the Society in 2004. In 2005 he was awarded an Honorary State FFA Degree in the Louisiana FFA Association and Honorary Membership in the LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association. In 2008 he was awarded Member of the Year by the Louisiana Society of Association Executives.

Vandersteen is married to Elizabeth Kohler Vandersteen and has two children, Kathryn and Eric.                                                 


Craig Watson
Vice President, Quality Assurance & Ag Sustainability
SYSCO Corporation
Houston, TX

SYSCO, the largest food service marketing and distribution organization in North America, provides food and related products and services to approximately 400,000 restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other foodservice customers, generating sales of $30.0 billion for calendar year 2004. SYSCO's operations, supported by approximately 46,000 associates, are located throughout the United States and Canada and include broadline foodservice distribution companies, specialty produce and custom-cut meat operations, Asian cuisine foodservice distributors, hotel supply operations and chain restaurant distribution subsidiaries.

Working with its suppliers, SYSCO has initiated a sustainable agriculture program. This effort includes sustainable practice audits that are currently being implemented with suppliers of canned and frozen fruit and vegetable suppliers. The audits address supplier practices including Integrated Pest Management, nutrient management, and energy, water, and other resource conservation. SYSCO is participating in PESP to learn from other participants and to share what they are learning with them. SYSCO is committed to applying the latest and best science to their initiative, including encouraging environmentally meaningful practices and measuring and reporting the impacts of their efforts.


Chris Williams
Financial Analyst
Frontier Farm Credit
Manhattan, Kansas

Chris Williams grew up on a central Kansas farm and ranch. The family farm consisted of a 2,000-acre dry land cash crop operation, 250-head commercial cow operation and 400-head stocker operation. The operations continue to stay diversified in production practices, which include ownership in the 21st Century Grain Processing Cooperative and expanded commercial stocker operation and AI heifer development program. They remain under the management of Williams' older brother.

Williams holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. He has nearly 15 years of experience in production agriculture and was on staff at Kansas State University's Extension Agriculture Economics Department, where he worked with value-added cooperative development. Prior to assuming this position, Williams was at 21st Century Producers and prior to that, the director of the Agricultural Value-Added Center for the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing.


Sara Wyant
President
Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
St. Charles, Illinois

Sara Wyant is President of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., a strategic communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Charles, Illinois. The firm specializes in covering Capitol Hill and providing in-depth coverage of farm and rural policy issues. Her weekly newsletter, Agri-Pulse, provides perspective on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues that impact farmers and agribusinesses. In addition, she publishes a syndicated column in several newspapers around the country.

Previously, Wyant served as vice president for editorial at Farm Progress Companies for eight years, leading the largest agricultural publication group in the United States. Her responsibilities included overseeing the development and production of 35 state and regional farm magazines, one national magazine, 43 Web sites, custom publications and related communications efforts. She supervised a staff of over 50 field editors, artists and production editors.

She is a member of the Farm Foundation’s Executive Committee and is involved in many of their outreach projects. The Farm Foundation board is composed of top agribusiness, farm and food industry executives who work to stimulate in-depth research and discussion on emerging issues. 

Wyant serves on the Board of Advisors for ABG/Adayana and consults with the firm on a variety of training, management and communications projects. She also serves on the 25 x 25 Steering Committee and devotes a portion of her time to promoting this renewable energy vision, which calls for 25 percent of the nation’s energy supplies to be derived from renewable sources by 2025. She is a past president of the American Agricultural Editors' Association and in 2000, received an Oscar in Agriculture for excellence in agricultural reporting.

Wyant graduated from Iowa State University in 1980 with a journalism degree. During the spring of 1996, she completed the Simmons College Graduate School of Management Program, sponsored by Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.

Raised on a farm near Marengo, Iowa, Sara gained first-hand knowledge of crop and livestock production and is still involved with her family's farming operation. The Wyant family continues to help local students at Iowa Valley High School obtain higher education through the Wyant Agricultural Scholorship, which is distributed annually to a senior who plans to pursue a career in agriculture. Sara and her husband, Allan Johnson, have two sons: Jason and Jordan.

USDA Representatives
 

Susan Horst
Management and Program Analyst
Cooperative Programs
Washington, D.C.
 

Andrew A. Jermolowicz
Assistant Deputy Administrator
Cooperative Programs