Ethan Matthews has been promoted to vice president of government affairs at Wilbur-Ellis. He has been with the company for three years, most recently as director of regulatory and government affairs. He previously worked at CropLife America and the National Corn Growers Association.
Election of the 2024-25 National FFA Officer Team at 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis Oct. 26, 2024. The National FFA Organization named 2024-25 officers: Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois, president; Luke Jennings of Ohio, secretary; Caroline Groth of Kentucky, eastern region vice president; Abigale Jacobsen of California, western region vice president; Jack Lingenfelter of Georgia, southern region vice president,; and Mary Schrieber of Wisconsin, central region vice president.
Sara Lasure has been named communications director for the Senate Agriculture Committee following Patrick Creamer’s retirement from federal service. Creamer had led communications for the committee minority since February 2021. Lasure had served as a senior staff member for Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., for more than a decade, including communications lead in the House and Senate. She earlier was a television anchor and reporter in Arkansas.
Grace Howe will become executive director at the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Nov. 1. She was recently director of communications and policy for the group. Howe succeeds WABA’s long-time executive director Tom Bressner who will fully retire in July 2025.
The International Fresh Produce Association announced the 29th leadership program class. Launched in 1995, more than 330 individuals have participated in the year-long advocacy, communications and leadership development program. 29th class participants include: Michelle Alo, vice president of marketing at Kings River Packing; Daniel Baldin, senior category manager produce and floral at Longo Bros. Fruit Market; Matthew Collins, purchasing director at Markon Cooperative Inc.; Marissa Dake, vice president of marketing and partnerships at DNO Produce; Amber Gray, account manager at Wild Hive; Justin Guibert, sales and purchasing manager at Christopher Ranch; Joel Hewitt, vice president of sales at CMI Orchards; Bianca Kaprielian, CEO and president at Fruit World Co.; Joseph Klick, director of produce management at Naturipe Farms LLC; Wyatt Maysey, director of sustainability at Taylor Farms; Megan McKenna, senior director of marketing and foodservice at National Watermelon Promotion Board; and Stephanie Tramutola, marketing director at A&J Produce Corp.
Raymond Dobert joined Harambe Ag Consulting as a principal. He was a technology regulatory policy senior science fellow with Bayer Crop Science and worked at Monsanto for 20 years, recently leading global regulatory policy.
Sarah Kapnick left her position as chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She is now global head of climate advisory for JP Morgan.
The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Institute hired Pearson Croney-Clark as director of external affairs. She was a public affairs manager for Oatly.
Source.ag appointed Matthias Stammen as chief commercial officer. In the new role at the vegetable grower artificial intelligence solutions company, he will lead efforts towards a more efficient, sustainable, and climate-resilient food production system. Source.ag has commercial greenhouses in 18 countries that produce vegetables for more than 50 million people.
Ostra hired Dan Schultz as vice president of sales for North America. He will focus on driving growth of Crystal Green fertilizer sales. Schultz was BioSTL director of business development.
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The Biotechnology Innovation Organization hired Karin Hoelzer as senior director of patient advocacy. She previously held roles in public health data analytics and regulatory affairs for Miximus and the National Organization for Rare Disorders, respectively.
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Association hired Kelli Wicks as director of government relations and public policy. An Iowa native, Wicks most recently worked at the National Pork Board as manager of market growth and manager of international development. She will begin Nov. 4.
Kelli Wicks, Iowa Cattlemen's Beef AssociationJennifer Haynes departed as legislative director for Senate Ag Committee member Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. She is now a director on Invariant’s technology and competition team.
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands hired Tomer Hasson as senior program officer. He was previously senior policy adviser at the Bureau of Land Management. Paula Neira was hired as vice president of finance and operations. She previously worked for Homebase in a finance director role.
Agriculture Capital hired Ben Vitale as a partner. He has more than three decades of environmental commodities, water, clean fuel and agriculture investment management experience. He will focus on regenerative agriculture initiatives.
Dairy West hired Kim Mora as vice president of marketing and communications. She will lead the group’s work elevating brand impact and expanding consumer engagement.
Kate Maher left the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association where she produced the Cattlemen to Cattlemen show on RFD-TV. Maher is now a marketing specialist at Western Ag Network.
The Iowa Institute for Cooperatives hired Megan Carlson as government affairs director. She is an Iowa native with experience working in the Iowa state legislature.
Stratovation Group hired Justin Damis as director of operations. An Ohio native, Damis has experience at Amazon and T-Mobile.
Mike Sauder joined Complexity Advisors as a communications and government outreach consultant. He previously worked on political campaigns and in communications on Capitol Hill.
Andrew Freigang joined the Senate Western Caucus Republican staff as a fellow. A Michigan native, he was previously a Clear Path congressional fellow.
Alltech’s U.S. beef team hired Sebastian E. Mejia Turcios as on-farm support beef specialist. The Honduras native will focus on bilingual training and retention of feedlot and ranch workers.
Sydney Garrett started a new position with the Iowa Corn Growers Association as manager of public relations. An Iowa native, she has been communications assistant at the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington.
Warner Seeds promoted Rusty Bevel to business lead. He was previously a brand manager. Bevel worked at Cargill, ADM and Advanta U.S. before joining Warner Seeds in 2023
Kelcie Fisk was promoted to customer support manager at Landus. Based in Iowa, she has previously worked in sales and agronomy support roles for cooperatives.
Meagan Kaiser, USB Chair, (L) and Susanne Oswald (R) present Ken Bader, Ph.D., (C) with the inaugural Tom Oswald Legacy Award during the American Soybean Association Awards Celebration at Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. (Photo Credit: Joseph L. Murphy, United Soybean Board.)
Stephen Gordon joined Chevron Phillips Chemical as senior manager of government affairs. He previously worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, House Oversight Committee and most recently the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
Longtime American Soybean Association leader Kenneth Bader died died Saturday in Chesterfield, Mo. He was 90. During his 16 years leading the ASA from 1976 to 1992, the group significantly expanded its international footprint from two to 12 overseas offices and started soy feeding trials in Southeast Asia. His work also led to the creation of the national soy checkoff and United Soybean Board. A celebration of Bader’s life will take place on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Friendship Village Chapel in Chesterfield.
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