PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
www.gaccmidwest.org/ag
Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
About the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization representing farms of all sizes,
commodities and management styles. Voting Farm Bureau members (farmers) annually set the policy the organization
follows, and are involved in local, state and national affairs making it a true grassroots organization. Members belong to
one of 61 county Farm Bureaus, all run by a board of directors made up of people working in production agriculture. County
Farm Bureaus are involved in a variety of legislative or promotional activities. Members join for various reasons: to support
legislative and public relations efforts, to qualify for member benefits and to support Wisconsin’s farm families. For more
information, visit wfbf.com.
Jim Holte
President, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Jim Holte was elected president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation on December 2,
2012. He was elected to the WFBF Board of Directors in 1995. He represents District 9 which
consists of the Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and St. Croix county Farm
Bureaus as well as the Superior Shores County Farm Bureau. Jim was elected to the American
Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors in January of 2015 as a representative of the
Midwest region. Jim grows corn soybeans and alfalfa on 460 acres of land south of Elk Mound.
He also raises beef steers. Jim is the president of the Rural Mutual Insurance Company Board
of Directors and is a member of the Farm Bureau Life and Farm Bureau BanCorp Board of
Directors. Jim served on the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium Board and served
as chair of the Wisconsin Livestock Siting Review Board. He is a former board member of
GROWMARK, Inc., past president of the Wisconsin Beef Council, served on the state’s citizen
board for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Jim has also served
on several committees at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Jim is a 1975 graduate of UWRiver Falls. He and his wife, Gayle, have two children and four grandchildren.
Richard Gorder
Vice President, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Richard Gorder was elected to the WFBF Board of Directors in 1997 to represent District 3 on
the board, which includes Vernon, Crawford, Richland, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties.
He was elected Vice-President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in December of
2003. Richard was appointed to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Making American
Agriculture Productive and Profitable (MAAPP) Committee in 2003. He has served on the
WFBF Dairy Advisory Committee, Nonpoint Advisory Committee, Nutrient Management
Committee, and PD Committee. He serves on the Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation
State Technical Advisory Committee and is a past supervisor for Iowa County and past
member of the Southwest Regional Planning Commission. He attended the University of
Wisconsin – Platteville majoring in Agricultural Economics and is a graduate of Indianhead
Technical College with a degree in Dairy Management. Richard owns and operates a 200 acre
dairy farm near Mineral Point. Richard’s wife, Cindy, is a graphic designer.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Dave Daniels
Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Dave is part owner of Mighty Grand Dairy LLC, a three-family dairy farm in Union Grove, that
milks 550 cows and raises 500 replacement heifers. To feed their animals, they grow 1,200
acres of alfalfa, corn, soybeans, winter forage and winter wheat. The LLC was formed in 1997
to optimize the three families’ working capital and to have a better work schedule. Dave is a
1977 dairy science graduate from UW-Madison. After college he returned to the family farm
which was purchased by his grandfather in 1933 and maintained with his father until the
merge in 1997. Dave was elected to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 2003 to
represent District 1. Dave is a graduate of Group II of Leadership Wisconsin. As treasurer,
Dave serves on the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Board and also on the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Ag Producer Security Council. He is currently
serving as a regional delegate on the Foremost Farms USA cooperative and was previously a
director of Conserve FS Cooperative for more than 20 years. Dave and his wife, Kim, live on
the farm and are members of St. Francis Xavier Parish and have two adult children, Tara and
Maxx.
Kevin Krentz
Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Kevin Krentz was elected to the WFBF Board of Directors in 2012 to represent District 5 on
the board, which includes Adams, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette, Waushara
and Winnebago counties. Kevin is the President of Krentz Family Dairy Inc. The corporation
is located in Berlin, WI. Kevin started his farming career when he purchased his father’s 60
cows in 1994. He grew his operation to the current level of 550 cows, 1300 acres of crops and
also finishes 150 steers per year. Kevin believes in being involved in his industry and his
community. He currently serves as Town Chairman of the Town of Aurora and previously
served as President of Waushara County Farm Bureau, and treasurer of the Professional Dairy
Producers of Wisconsin. He has also served on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau dairy advisory
committee as chairman, DATCP’s raw milk taskforce and Department of Commerce Dairy
2020 Council. In his spare time, Kevin loves spending time with his wife of 18 years and their
3 sons.
Casey Langan
Executive Director of Public Relations, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Casey is the Executive Director of Public Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
He serves as its spokesman and is the editor of the Farm Bureau’s Rural Route magazine. He
joined the Wisconsin Farm Bureau in November, 2007. Before joining the Wisconsin Farm
Bureau Federation, Casey worked for State Reps. Debi Towns (2003-06) and Jeff Mursau
(2007) in the Wisconsin State Assembly as their research and legislative assistants. Casey is
a 1996 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in public
relations. Following graduation, Casey worked as a newspaper reporter for the Daily Jefferson
County Union in Fort Atkinson (1997-98) and The Country Today (1998 to 2002). The
Edgerton native spent much of his youth on his grandparents’ dairy and tobacco farm. He
received the American FFA Degree in 1994 and the Honorary State FFA Degree in 2012. In
Business magazine named him to their list of ’40 under 40’ for emerging talent in the Madison
area. He is a past president of Edgerton Tobacco Days Inc., and served one year on the board
of directors for Edgerton Hospital and Health Services. Casey is a graduate of the Wisconsin
Rural Leadership Program’s Group 9 (2000-2002). Casey, 39, and his wife, Amanda, live in
Madison.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Rosie Lisowe
Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Rosie Lisowe was elected to the WFBF Board of Directors in 2011 to represent District 6 on
the board, which consists of Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Sheboygan
counties. Rosie grew up on a dairy farm and continues to farm with her husband, Joe, in
Chilton. Their multi-generational family farm has 700 dairy cows and 2,000 acres of
farmland. They have four children Kimberly (Brad), Luke, Pamela and Tracey and one
grandchild, Carter. Since 1992 Rosie has been a Farm Bureau member. During her time as a
member she participated in the Discussion Meet. In 2001 she and Joe received the YFA
Achievement Award. She also served on the WFBF Women’s committee for seven years and
was chair for three of those years. She was appointed to represent the WFBF on the Wisconsin
Beef Council in 2015. As a member of St. Mary Parish she has served on Parish Council and
alter and rosary society. Rosie is a member of Marytown Athletic Club. Rosie also works off
the farm as a hairstylist and CNA for home health care.
Andrea Brossard
Owner/Operator Brossard Dairy Farm, LLC
Andrea Brossard Martin grew up and continues to be actively involved in her family’s dairy
farm operation. The farm milks 130 Holstein cows, raises all their young stock and crops
approximately 550 acres. Andrea continues to stay actively involved by helping feed calves,
milking cows and doing marketing/public relations work for the dairy. Andrea attended the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in Dairy
Science and Agricultural Journalism. Following graduation, she worked as a ration analyst
and communications coordinator for Agri-Nutrition Consulting in DeForest. Currently, she
works for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board as their Producer Communications
Specialist. In her role, Andrea supports and assists with all producer communication
activities including advertising, public relations, meetings and special events coordination,
media relation/liaison and industry/community outreach activities.
Don Radtke
Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Don has owned and managed a 60-cow dairy farm, is also a former partner of a 500-cow dairy
operation, and is currently the Farm Operations Manager at the Agriculture Center of
Excellence, an educational farm which is owned by the Northcentral Technical College in
Wausau. Don has been an active member of the Marathon County Farm Bureau for 25 years,
serving as president and chairman of the county Young Farmer committee, participating in
the Young Farmer Achievement Award and Discussion Meet programs. Don and his wife
Jilayne have two daughters, one son and six grandchildren. Don also serves as an Elder of his
church.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Wayne Staidl
Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wayne Staidl was elected to the WFBF Board of Directors in 2000 to represent District 7,
which includes Marinette, Oconto, Langlade, Shawano, Waupaca and Outagamie counties.
Wayne operates a 80-head beef farm near Peshtigo. He grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and grass
barley on 1400 acres of farmland. Wayne serves as the chairman of the Town of Grover in
Marinette County. He formerly served on the Town of Grover’s Smart Growth Planning
Commission, Township Variance Committee for Conditional Use Permits and represents
WFBF on the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association. He is the vice president of the Marinette
County Farm Bureau. He is a graduate of UW-River Falls. He and his wife Mary have three
children.
Paul Zimmerman
Executive Director of Governmental Relations, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Paul is the Executive Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau
Federation. He joined the Wisconsin Farm Bureau in 1994 as Director of Governmental
Relations. In 2004, Paul was named Executive Director of Governmental Relations. His
lobbying responsibilities include working with the state legislature, the Governor’s office and
state agencies on issues affecting Wisconsin farm families. Paul and his wife Kelly have three
children. They live in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. Paul's hobbies include hunting, fishing and
golf.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
About the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, founded in 1918, is Iowa’s largest general grassroots farm organization advocating for
all farmers through policy, education, information and outreach programs that help fulfill its mission of helping farm
families prosper and improving their quality of life. The strength of the organization is derived from the individual
families who join one of its 100 county Farm Bureaus. Together, they comprise a membership of over 156,000 Iowa
families promoting the people, progress and pride of Iowa. For more information, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.
Joe Heinrich
Vice President, Iowa Farm Bureau from Maquoketa, Iowa.
Mr. Heinrich was voted as vice president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) in 2010.
Prior to serving as vice president Joe was elected to the board of directors in 2004
representing District 6 in eastern Iowa. Joe and his family farm with his nephew. They have
a diversified operation including corn, soybeans, oats and hay. They also have a dairy
operation and a cow-calf herd. Before Joe was elected to the IFBF board, he was active in both
county and state Farm Bureau activities, serving as Jackson County president, vice president,
voting delegate, your farmer chair and IFBF internal study committee. He currently is a
member of the Maquoketa Optimists, the First Lutheran Church and the Iowa FFA Alumni.
Joe is a graduate of Kirkwood Community College. He and his wife, Shelley, have two
daughters.
Stephanie Dykshorn
IFBF Bovine Committee member of Ireton, Iowa.
Ms. Dykshorn has served on the Iowa Farm Bureau’s Bovine Advisory Committee since 2013.
Also, she is the vice president of the Sioux County Farm Bureau and was recently named to
the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board. She and her husband, Paul, are third generation dairy
farmers milking around 450 cows. They sell their milk to the Dairy Farmers of America
cooperative. The Dykshorns raise their own heifers and artificially inseminate with 95%
genomic bulls and 5% proven bulls. All heifers are bred with sexed semen. They farm 400
acres most of which is planted to corn along with some acres of soybeans and alfalfa. Stephanie
works full time off the farm as a customer service representative at a local bank. She also
serves the community as a volunteer EMT with the local ambulance service.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Dennis Harding
IFBF Bio-Economy Manager of West Des Moines, Iowa.
In this position, Harding manages and coordinates efforts that leverage the use of Iowa’s
agricultural renewable resources to further the state’s bio-economy efforts. He also works
with members and critical partners to develop programs and projects that utilize renewable
resources and create economic opportunities in rural Iowa. Before joining the IFBF staff in
1999, Denny operated a corn and soybean farm in Calhoun County and a director of value
added agriculture for the Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation. And helped
in the formation of the Agricultural Development and Promotion Foundation which serves
north central Iowa. Denny is a former member of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure
Board and is past president of the Iowa Rural Development Council. Denny is a graduate of
Iowa State University. Denny and his wife Maria live in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Carlton Kjos
District 1 Director of Decorah, Iowa.
Mr. Kjos is a member of the IFBF board of directors representing 11 counties in northeast
Iowa. Carlton has served in numerous leadership capacities as a Farm Bureau member,
including county president, vice president, voting delegate, internal study committee, AFBF
voting delegate, PAC committee member and chairman of the beef advisory committee.
Additionally, Carlton was a member of the Winneshiek Count Board of Supervisors and chair
of the Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Commission. Carlton is a graduate of the
University of Northern Iowa. He has spent more than two years serving in the Peace Corps in
Malaysia. Carlton and his wife Cynthia raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa, oats, and have a cow/calf
herd.
Phil Sundblad
District 3 Director of Albert City, Iowa.
Mr. Sundblad is a member of the IFBF board of directors representing 12 counties in
northwest Iowa. Before Phil was elected to the IFBF board in November of 2000, he served
in many leadership positions for the Buena Vista County Farm Bureau, including president,
vice president, voting delegate and treasurer. Phil currently serves as president of a locallyowned wind farm in Palo Alto County – Crosswind Energy, LLC; chair of the Food Board for
the Albert City Threshermen and Collectors; chair of IOWA AgSTATE and is very active in
his local church. Phil and his wife Brenda have a corn and soybean operation. They have two
children.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
Illinois Farm Bureau
About the lllinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is a non-profit membership organization directed by farmers who join IFB through their
county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total membership of more than 400,000 and a voting membership of more than 82,000.
IFB represents three out of four Illinois Farmers. IFB's legal name is the Illinois Agricultural Association which was
founded in 1916 by a group of farmers who met at the University of Illinois to discuss the need for education, better
information, and more effective farming practices. Illinois Farm Bureau: Tells the farmer's story to the public, updates
members on new technology and information that impacts agriculture, represents farmers in local, state, and national
legislative & political activities and provides marketing and education services to help IFB members improve their net
farm income. Farm, Family, Food Trade Mark is used under license of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.
Scott Bohnert
Member of Board of Directors, Rock Island County Farm Bureau Board
Scott Bohnert, along with his brother, Brian, and parents, Jim and Wanda, own and operate
Bohnert Jerseys in East Moline, Illinois. Bohnert Jerseys milks 450 Registered Jerseys and
farms 1,350 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and rye. The Bohnert family has been in the
enviable position of maintaining or increasing production per cow and keeping milk quality
very high in spite of its expansion. Across the herd, per-cow production averages 21,800
pounds of milk annually; ranking the herd first in the state, as well as in the top one percent
in the nation for Jerseys of comparable herd size. Scott is a 1997 graduate of Black Hawk
Junior College with a degree in Ag production. He previously served as President and
Treasurer of the Illinois Jersey Cattle Club. Scott currently is on the Prairie State/Select Sires
Board, Dairy Lab Services Board, Rock Island County Farm Bureau and Illinois Milk
Producers Association. Scott was the 2004 recipient of the AJCA Young Breeder award and
the 2006 National Dairy Shrine Progressive Dairy Producer Award recipient. Scott and his
wife, Karen, and their three children: Tyler, 11, Cassie, 9, and Jacob, 5, all live on the family
dairy farm in East Moline.
Scott Halpin
Member of Board of Directors , Grundy County Farm Bureau
Scott Halpin of Gardner in Grundy County was a member of the Illinois Farm Bureau Board
of Directors from 2005-2015 to represent District 5, which includes Cook, DuPage, Grundy,
Kendall and Will counties. He also served on the Country Financial Board and was the
interlocking member on the board of the Illinois Milk Producers Association. In 2011, Halpin
was appointed to the Governor's Local Food and Farms Job Council. Halpin raises corn,
soybeans and alfalfa on a fourth-generation farm with his father and brother. They operate a
Holstein dairy and embryo transplant business, and custom silage bagging. They also have a
beef cow-calf herd. He served on the Young Leaders Committee from 2001-2005 and served
as chairman from 2003-2005. He also is a member of the Heart of Illinois Holstein Club and
past board member of the Illinois Holstein Association. He is a member of the Illinois Beef
Association and the Illinois Corn Growers Association. Halpin, and his wife, Sarah, have three
children, Ty, Grace and Cale.
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Delegation Participants - Study Trip „Dairy Production & Trade“ – March 2016
John Mitchell
Member of Board of Directors of Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau
John farms in Winnebago, Illinois and operates Mitchell Dairy and Grain LLC along with his
brother and cousin. They milk 330 mostly Registered Black-and-White and some Red-andWhite Holsteins, along with raising corn, soybeans, and alfalfa on nearly 2,500 acres of
owned, rented, or custom-farmed ground. Cows are housed in a newly completed 6-row
freestall barn featuring manure solids bedding, flexible freestalls, and rubber flooring, and are
milked three times a day in a double-12 herringbone parlor. John serves on the WinnebagoBoone Farm Bureau Board of Directors and has co-chaired its Young Leader Committee. He
serves as an advisor and dairy quiz bowl coach to the Illinois Junior Holstein Association,
which won both Senior and Junior Dairy Bowl Team national titles in 2015. He also has been
on the board of the Illinois Holstein Association, and was named its 2015 Outstanding Junior
Breeder. John holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois.
Brent Pollard
Member of Board of Directors, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau and Illinois Milk Producers
Brent and his wife, Carrie have a three year old daughter and their farm borders Rockford,
Illinois' third largest city. They operate a 90 cow, 300 acre farm of primarily Black and White
Holsteins, with the remainder of Red and Whites and dairy Shorthorns. They grow corn, corn
silage, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa. Cows are housed in a three row, free stall barn with foam
and water filled mattresses and milked in a single 12 parallel parlor. Brent serves on the
Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau and Illinois Milk Producers Boards of Directors. In 2013, he
was the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Young Farmer/Young Leader Chair and on the IFB Board
of Directors. Before farming, Brent was a scientist at the University of Arizona working in
Dairy Physiology.
John Lawfer
Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau member
John Lawfer, along with his parents Ron and Julie, farms near Kent. They currently milk 150
cows consisting of Holsteins, Jerseys, Ayrshires, and Brown Swiss with robotic milkers. John
and his parents operate about 600 acres of cropland consisting of corn, alfalfa and soybeans.
Rye is used for cover crop after corn is harvested for silage. John is a member of the Jo Daviess
County Farm Bureau. In addition, he is a township trustee for Wards Grove Township, and
serves on the advisory committee for his milk cooperative, Mid-West Dairymen’s Co.
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