Board of Managers
Jason Atkins (Jacksonville, FL)
Mr. Atkins has been a principal partner of Ergon Capital, LP for more than five years. Ergon Capital, LP actively manages a $300 million private investment portfolio. Mr. Atkins has extensive experience in investment analysis, financial planning and fund management.
Ron Balzer (Auburn, MI)
Mr. Balzer is currently employed as a Grain Merchandiser for Auburn Bean & Grain located in Auburn, Michigan where he has been employed for 21 years. Mr. Balzer handles grain pricing and shipping logistics for the company. Mr. Balzer graduated with a B.S. from CMU. Ron is the current Chairman of the Transportation Committee of Michigan Agri-Business Association.
John Blank (Hopkins, MI)
Mr. Blank is currently employed as a paver operator for Michigan Paving and Materials located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has held this position since July of 1994.
Todd Brink (Wayland, MI)
Mr. Brink currently works in the Sales & Parts division of Star Industrial Systems Inc. located in Wayland, MI. which provides manure handling equipment to the dairy & hog industry. He has held that position since April of 2005. Mr. Brink is also currently the owner of Ron & Todd Brink Farms located in Wayland, Michigan. From April of 1996 through April of 2005 Mr. Brink worked as a salesman for Tailored Equipment in Jenison, Michigan.
Ron Brown (Mt. Pleasant, MI)
Mr. Brown has been President of Brown Milling, Inc. since April 2002, and employed by Brown Milling, Inc for the last 29 years which specializes in grain marketing, agronomy supplies and feed services at four locations. Mr. Brown received a bachelors degree from Michigan State University and serves on the fertilizer committee of Michigan Agri-Business Association.
Scott Crumbaugh (Ithaca, MI)
Mr. Crumbaugh currently works as a political liaison for Spartan Insurance Agency, LLC located in Ithaca, MI. He has been employed in this position since Jan. of 2006. From Dec. 1988 through Dec. 2005 Mr. Crumbaugh was owner & Agent for Spartan Insurance Agency. Prior to that he was a loan officer for Farm Credit Services and a business manager for B&W Coop in Breckenridge. Mr. Crumbaugh graduated from MSU with a B.S. in Animal Science.
Cullen Dubose, Sr. (Okemos, MI)
Mr. Dubose has been President of Painia Development Corporation located in Lansing, Michigan since October, 1979. Mr. Dubose is also a current member of the Michigan Economic Development Authority, which promotes economic growth and job creation within the state. Mr. Dubose received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Tri-State University.
Matt Dutcher (Owosso, MI)
Mr. Dutcher has been the co-owner of Shawnee Creek Farms in Owosso since Sept. 1983, which grows 1800 acres of crops & has a 240 cow dairy. Mr. Dutcher received an associates degree in dairy production from MSU. He also has served as an officer of the Owosso Local of the MMPA since 2000 and served on the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2004.
Paul Early (Owosso, MI)
Mr. Early has been the Vice President of Commercial Loans at Fifth-Third Bank in Owosso since April, 2005. From July 2004 to April 2005, he served as loan originator for Republic Bank and as a loan originator for Grathom Mortgage from May, 2003 to June, 2004. Prior to May, 2003, Mr. Early spent 25 years with GreenStone Farm Credit Services, serving as a Senior Loan Officer and Branch Manager. Mr. Early also Chairs the Revolving Loan Fund for Economic Development for the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Shiawassee Valley Economic Development Board.
Scott Everett (Lansing, MI)
Mr. Everett has been the Michigan Regional Manager for American Farmland Trust since February, 2000. From September, 1989 through February, 2000 Mr. Everett was in various management positions with the Michigan Farm Bureau, including serving as field representative and legislative counsel. Mr. Everett received a B.S. in Agriculture and Natural Resources from Michigan State University.
Kathy Fiscus (Minneapolis, MN)
Ms. Fiscus is currently the president of PlanScape Partners located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which helps communities and businesses with economic expansion. She has been in this position since May, 2002. From November, 1999 through May, 2002 she was the Deputy Head of Planning for Yaggy Colby Associates in Rochester, Minnesota. From August, 1998 through November, 1999 she was the Manager of Economic Development for Northern Iowa Community College. Ms. Fiscus received a B.S. in Economics from Iowa State University and she received a Masters degree from Drake University.
Darryl Fowler (St. Louis, MI)
Since January 2004, Mr. Fowler has worked as Manager of Accounting for Great Lakes Petroleum Corporation located in Alma, Michigan, which transports over 400 million gallons of petroleum products annually and services approximately 475 gas stations in Michigan. From November, 1995 through December, 2003 he was a staff accountant for Roslund, Prestage & Co. located in Alma, Michigan. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.
Ken Fowler (Lansing, MI)
Ken has been the owner of Management Resources Development (MRD), Inc. for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in real estate development, construction, housing projects and other business ventures. Ken also has an active interest in farming.
Jim Guse (Cassopolis, MI)
Since May of 1996 Mr. Guse has been the owner and operator of Jim Guse Farms located in Cassopolis, Michigan, which farms 1500 acres of corn, soybeans and seed corn. From May of 1996 through December of 2001 he was the County Commissioner for the County of Cass, Michigan.
Don Haske (Coleman, MI)
Since 1991 Mr. Haske has been the farm manager for Pleasant View Farms located in Coleman, Michigan, which farms over 1000 acres. Mr. Haske has also managed grain and fertilizer operations for Mueller Bean Co., Berger, Inc and Wilbur-Ellis and currently serves on the Coleman Fire Department.
Sam Hawkins (Franklin, TN)
Mr. Hawkins has been the World Missions Manager for Every Nations Ministries located in Brentwood, Tennessee since August of 2000. From August, 1982 through August, 2000 he was an associate pastor at Faith Church located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Hawkins received a B.A. in Religion and Greek from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Mr. Hawkins also received a Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Denny Heffron (Belding, MI)
Mr. Heffron has been the owner of Heffron Farms LLC located in Belding, Michigan since May of 1996, which currently includes 2,500 acres of crops, 400 feeder steers and the operation four retail food stores.
Bob Kennedy (Hemlock, MI)
Since January of 1992 Mr. Kennedy has been the General Manager of Auburn Bean & Grain Company located in Auburn, Michigan, overseeing operations that supply agricultural inputs to crop farmers and receives grain at four different locations. Mr. Kennedy studied general science and business at Delta Community College. Mr. Kennedy currently serves as the Second Vice-Chair for the Michigan Agribusiness Association Board of Directors.
Keith Kirkdorfer (Edwardsburg, MI)
Mr. Kirkdorfer has been the owner and operator of Kirkdorfer Farms since June of 1968. Kirkdorfer Farms raises over 4,500 acres of crops, including seed corn and commercial corn. He also worked 10 years as a service representative for White Farm Equipment. He received an A.A.S. from Southwestern Michigan College.
Will Lauer (Ithaca, MI)
Mr. Lauer has been the owner and operator of Lauer Farms LLC located in Ithaca, Michigan since April of 1970, which currently farms 3,500 acres of land. He received an associates degree in diesel and heavy equipment management from Ferris State University. Mr. Lauer serves on the Board of Directors for Farmers State Bank and is an elder at Resurrection Life Church.
Leo Lawson (Franklin, TN)
Mr. Lawson has been a Minister at Every Nation Ministries located in Nashville, Tennessee since January, 1994. He also served as the founding Dean of the Graduate School of Campus Ministry for Every Nation Ministries for 8 years. He received a B.A. in Education from the University of Kentucky and a M.A. from Fuller theological Seminary.
Norman Mihills (Jones, MI)
Mr. Mihills has been the owner of Mihills farms located in James, Michigan since 1986, which grows over 1200 acres of corn and soybeans in addition to finishing over 12,000 hogs per year.
Don Miller (Owosso, MI)
Mr. Miller has been President of Lloyd Miller and Sons, Inc. located in Corunna, Michigan since January, 1961. Lloyd Miller and Sons, Inc. currently operates New Holland Dealerships in Corunna and Fowlerville. He is also currently a partner at Miller Bros. LLC.
Dennis Muchmore (Laingsburg, MI)
Since January of 2003 Mr. Muchmore has been an Executive Vice President at DHR International located in Chicago, Illinois, a retained executive search firm. Since 1988, he has been a counsel with the lobbying firm of Muchmore, Harrington Smalley and Associates, Inc. and is currently a principal with TomDen Enterprises, LLC, both located in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Muchmore received a B.S. in Education from Eastern Illinois University, and he received a Masters in Public Administration from Michigan State University.
Gail Peterson (Niles, MI)
Mr. Peterson has been a co-owner of Peterson Farms since 1980. Peterson Farms markets 60,000 bushels of corn annually and raises 300 beef cows, feeds 300 head of cattle. Mr. Peterson also is President of Cass County Fair Board.
Tom Pumford (Bannister, MI)
Since 2001 Mr. Pumford has been self-employed as an investment properties manager. From June, 1995 through December, 2000 he served as an associate pastor at Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler, Michigan. From 1987 to 1995, Mr. Pumford was owner and CEO of Pumford Bros. Inc, a commercial concrete construction company. From August, 1976 through April, 1987 he worked in various senior accounting positions within management at General Motors Foundry Division that included payroll, accounts payable and receivable, pricing, operational budget, analysis and forecasting. Mr. Pumford received an accounting degree with a B.B.A. from Western Michigan University.
Dr. David Skjaerlund, PhD (Owosso, MI)
Since 2004 Dr. Skjaerlund has been the owner of Solomon Strategies, a business development and consulting company located in Owosso, Michigan. From 2002 through 2004 he was the President of Midwest Land Legacies, a community development and land use consulting company. From 1997 through 2002 he was the Executive Director of Rural Partners of Michigan, a public/private partnership responsible for rural development. Prior to 1997, Dr. Skjaerlund worked for the Michigan Department of Agriculture as Director of Policy Implementation. Dr. Skjaerlund received a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College, and he received a PhD in Animal Science with research in the field of molecular biology from Michigan State University. Dr. Skjaerlund also owns and operates a 1,100 acre grain farm.
Chad Sowerby (Greenville, MI)
Mr. Sowerby has been the Farm Manager of Sowerby Brothers, Inc. located in Greenville, Michigan since January of 1991. Sowerby Brothers, Inc. grows over 3,500 acres of corn, dry beans, potatoes and small grains and which is also a co-owner in a processing plant for dry beans. He attended Michigan State University.
Nick Totzke (Baroda, MI)
Mr. Totzke and his brother Ned Totzke have been partners since 1981 of Totzke Farms and currently operate 10,000 acres of grain, fruit and vegetables, in three southwestern Michigan counties. The Totzkes are third-generation farmers, who are continuing the tradition which began in 1928. In addition to farming, the Totzkes have been members of the National Grape Cooperative since 1981, of which Ned has been a Regional Delegate for the past six years. Ned Totzke is also serving his 7th year on the Lincoln Township Zoning Board of Appeals, and served six years as President and Treasurer for the Zion United Church of Christ, Baroda. Both Totzkes continue to volunteer with and have supported the Berrien County Youth Fair for over 30 years.
Cliff Vennix (Auburn, MI)
Since 1970 Mr. Vennix has been president of Auburn Bean & Grain located in Auburn, Michigan. Mr. Vennix has over 51 years of experience in the grain handling business, is a past president of Michigan Agri-Business Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Company.
Ben Yantis (Logansport, IN)
Since 1962 Mr. Yantis has been the owner of Yantis Implement and Yantis Enterprises located in Logansport, Indiana. Mr. Yantis is also presently actively involved with Global Outreach International and World Missionary Press.
executive officers
President & CEO: Dr. David Skjaerlund, PhD
Vice President: Will Lauer
Vice President: Matt Dutcher
Secretary: Scott Everett
Treasurer: Scott Crumbaugh