April 19 2017 06:12 AM

South Dakota dairy farmer is new chairman

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Allen Merrill, a dairy farmer from Parker, South Dakota, is the new chairman of Midwest Dairy Association, elected during the organization’s annual meeting held in conjunction with the Western Dairy Forum in Phoenix, Arizona. Merrill previously served as first vice chairman. He replaces Jerry Messer of Richardton, North Dakota, who stepped down after serving as chairman for nine years.

New members of the Corporate board officer team are Charles Krause, Buffalo, Minnesota, first vice chairman; and Lowell Mueller, Hooper, Nebraska, secretary. Bill Siebenborn, Trenton, Missouri, was re-elected second vice chairman while Dan Grunhovd, Gary, Minnesota, was re-elected treasurer.

New members elected by their Divisions to the Midwest Dairy Corporate board include:
  • Alan Feuerhelm, Le Mars, Iowa;
  • Lloyd Gunter, Conway, Missouri;
  • Corrine Lieser, Belgrade, Minnesota;
  • Larry Shover, Delhi, Iowa; and
  • Kristine Spadgenske, Menahga, Minnesota.


Division board officers and new members are as follows:

Illinois Division

  • Chairman – Bill Deutsch, Sycamore;
  • Vice Chairman – David Jarden, Staunton;
  • Secretary – Amy Hildebrandt, South Beloit; and
  • Treasurer – Glen Meier, Ridott.

Kevin Geiger, Port Byron, was seated as a new member of the Illinois Division board.

Iowa Division

  • Chairman – Dan Hotvedt, Mabel, Minnesota;
  • Vice Chairman – Bruce Brockshus, Ocheyedan;
  • Secretary – Pam Bolin, Clarksville; and
  • Treasurer – Larry Shover, Delhi.

Ken Birker, Vinton, and Melissa Blood, State Center, were seated as new members of the Iowa Division board.

Mo-Kan Division

  • Chairman – Byron Lehman, Newton, Kansas;
  • Vice Chairman – Alex Peterson, Trenton, Missouri;
  • Secretary – Donna Telle, Uniontown, Missouri; and
  • Treasurer – Curtis Steenbock, Longford, Kansas.


Minnesota Division

  • Chairman – Barb Liebenstein, Dundas;
  • Vice Chairman – Charles Krause, Buffalo;
  • Secretary -- Suzanne Vold, Glenwood; and
  • Treasurer – Tom Walsh, Murdock.

The Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, a quasi-governmental group with the same board members, elected the following:

  • Chairman – Kathleen Skiba, North Branch;
  • Vice Chairman – Keith Knutson, Pine Island;
  • Secretary – Debi Clasemann, Long Prairie;
  • Treasurer – Christine Sukalski, LeRoy; and
  • Executive member at-large – Peter Ripka, Ogilvie.

Doug Popp, Royalton, and Margaret Johnson, Fountain, were seated as new members of both the Minnesota Division board and the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council.

Nebraska Division

  • Chairman – Lowell Mueller, Hooper;
  • Vice Chairman – Joyce Racicky, Mason City; and
  • Secretary/Treasurer – Dean Engelman, Jansen.

Neil Hochstein, Wynot, was seated as a new member of the Nebraska Division board. Marshall Reece, Associated Milk Producers Inc., was appointed as a new ex officio member.

North Dakota Division

  • Chairman – Jerry Messer, Richardton;
  • Vice Chairman – Terry Entzminger, Jamestown;
  • Secretary – Rita Mosset, Linton; and
  • Treasurer – Lilah Krebs, Gladstone.

Sue Kleingartner, Gackle, was seated as a new member of the North Dakota Division board.

Ozarks Division

  • Chairman – Nathan Roth, Mountain Grove, Missouri;
  • Vice Chairman – Marilyn Calvin, Mt. Vernon, Missouri;
  • Secretary – Lloyd Gunter, Conway, Missouri; and
  • Treasurer – Mark Fellwock, Monett, Missouri.

Fellwock was also seated as a new member of the Ozarks Division board, along with Charles Coblentz, Chouteau, Oklahoma; Scott Davis, Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Gene Morrison, West Plains, Missouri; and Daniel Scott, Fordland, Missouri.

South Dakota Division

  • Chairman – Jim Neugebauer, Dimock;
  • Vice Chairman – Mike Frey, Claremont;
  • Secretary – Allen Merrill, Parker; and
  • Treasurer – Gary Jarding, Alexandria.

Kim Maher of Davisco Foods International was appointed as an ex officio member of the South Dakota Division board.

Midwest Dairy Association® is a nonprofit organization funded by dairy farmers to foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy farmers in a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit MidwestDairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.