Courtney J. White
Head of Human Resources, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America
Courtney J. White is the head of human resources for BASF Agricultural Solutions North America and the company's global leader for Diversity & Inclusion. He is accountable for leading the development and implementation of strategies to engage and harness the dynamic power of people. Having worked with multiple top organizations for more than 15 years, Courtney’s career has been focused on unleashing organizational potential, enhancing innovation and driving performance-based cultures of growth on six continents. A true Tarheel, Courtney was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina; later graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In life, he is guided by the quote “If your presence doesn’t make an impact, then your absence won’t make a difference.”
Tanner Ehmke
Lead Economist, Grains and Oilseeds, CoBank Knowledge Exchange
Tanner Ehmke is lead economist for grains and oilseeds in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division. His focus is on providing market and industry research for the wheat, corn, soybean and rice sectors. Prior to joining CoBank in 2015, he marketed seed for his family’s seed company in western Kansas, where his family has farmed since 1885. Mr. Ehmke previously was a commodities analyst at an agricultural market research and advisory firm in Chicago, a commodity markets reporter for Dow Jones at the Chicago Board of Trade, and an agricultural journalist covering crop production and farm business management. He continues to maintain an active role in farming today. Mr. Ehmke holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s degree in agricultural business from Kansas State University.
Neil Juhnke
CEO & President, Michigan Sugar Company
Michigan Sugar Company named Neil C. Juhnke as its next President and CEO in April 2023. A native of North Dakota, Juhnke comes to Michigan Sugar to continue a career in the agribusiness sector that stretches back to 1990. After leaving American Crystal in 2005, Juhnke was instrumental in the founding and development of Northstar Agri Industries, where he led the development and construction of a successful canola processing and refining plant near Hallock, Minnesota. Juhnke later became President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the processing of more than 400,000 tons of canola seed annually into canola oil and canola meal. More recently, Juhnke served as Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations for Fargo, North Dakota-based Red River Commodities Inc., a food processing company. Juhnke and his wife Heidi have four adult children as well as four grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing, golfing, and offroad motorcycle riding.
Andrew LaVigne
President & CEO, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)
Andrew W. LaVigne is the President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. He joined ASTA in February, 2006. Andy has had a 30-year career in government relations, industry representation, public affairs advocacy, and management. His core areas of expertise include agriculture, food policy and international trade. Prior to joining ASTA, Andy was Executive Vice President/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, representing citrus growers on issues affecting their business. Previous to joining Florida Citrus Mutual, Andy spent four years as Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association’s (FFAA) President and Executive Director. Before his position at FFAA, Andy spent eight years in Washington, D.C. working in the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Andy is a native of Florida with a BA degree in Political Science, with a minor in economics, from the University of Florida.
Matt Gunderson
Senior Vice President, Business Growth & Strategic Relations, Farmers National Company
Matt Gunderson serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth and Business Relations for Farmers National Company, based in Omaha, NE, the nation’s largest farm management and agricultural real estate firm. Matt is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and execution of the company’s marketing and advertising initiatives, and leads Farmers National’s long-range plan growth goals for across the company’s ten business lines. Matt is an Accredited Farm Manager through the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He serves on the board of the Nebraska Farm Bureau and is a member of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Council. Matt grew up on a farm outside of Yankton, South Dakota and holds a degree in Animal Science from South Dakota State University.
Dr. Tim Boring
Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Dr. Tim Boring serves as the Director for MDARD supporting the department's continued commitment in investing in the state’s rural communities, expanding food and agriculture businesses, protecting consumers from the pump to the plate, and preserving Michigan’s environmental resources. He previously served as the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency. Boring's family operates a six-generation farm in Stockbridge, Michigan. Prior to his appointment at the USDA, he was the president and founder of Michigan Agriculture Advancement. He also previously served as the Vice President of the Michigan Agri-Business Association and worked as research director of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee. Governor Whitmer had previously appointed Dr. Boring to the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2019. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriscience, Master of Science in Crop and Soil Sciences, and Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences from Michigan State University.
Dr. Paul Isely
Associate Dean and Professor of Economics, Grand Valley State University
Dr. Paul Isely is currently Associate Dean and Professor of Economics for the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. Dr. Isely’s research has led more than 50 publications which consist of peer review journal articles, local articles, research reports and grant reports. These articles have explored West Michigan’s economy and its relationship to the National and State Economies. His research led to his first appointment by Governor Snyder and then renewed by Governor Whitmer of Michigan to the Utility Consumer Participation Board where he is currently the Interim Chair.
Hon. Hubert Hamer
Administrator, USDA NASS
Hubert Hamer has served as NASS Administrator since 2016. He brings extensive experience in all aspects of the agency’s work. Before becoming administrator, he served as director of the Statistics Division, which produces and releases more than 400 national statistical reports each year covering the agency’s crops, livestock, economic, demographic, environmental, and census programs. He also served as executive director of the NASS Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) and executive director of the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. From 2010 until he became head of the Statistics Division, Hamer was chair of the Agricultural Statistics Board. As ASB chair, he led the preparation and dissemination of market-sensitive reports compiled and issued under special security conditions known as Lockup. He was also responsible for the promotion and outreach of the NASS mission to all stakeholders. From May 2000 until April 2010, Hamer served as associate deputy administrator for field operations, overseeing 24 state field offices as well as the Training and Career Development Office.
Jim Byrum
Executive Director, Riveron
Jim Byrum serves as Executive Director at Riveron, a national business advisory firm specializing in accounting, finance, technology, and operations. In this role, Jim is bringing his decades of industry experience as a business owner and association executive to advise some of the world’s largest companies, across multiple sectors, on their operations and their long-term strategy. Jim also remains very active in Michigan agriculture, serving on the Board of Directors for Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch and helping agricultural interests look to the future.
Dr. Kelly Turner
CEO, Michigan Potato Industry Commission
Dr. Kelly Turner grew up on a farm beef and cash crop farm in mid-Michigan and come from a long lineage of farmers. She later worked for a parks system administration authority in metro Detroit before joining the Michigan Farm Bureau, where she stayed for 11 years. Before joining Michigan Potatoes Turner served as president and CEO of the Michigan Society of Association Executives, a nonprofit organization that serves similar entities with managerial and staff specialist roles. Turner has a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s from Michigan State University
Jamie Clover Adams
Executive Director, Michigan Asparagus
Jamie Clover Adams brings more than 25 years of state and federal food and agriculture leadership and policy experience to Michigan’s asparagus industry, according to a news release from the group. Most recently, she served America’s farmers and ranchers as Farm Production and Conservation Chief of Staff under former USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. Prior to that, she served for nearly six years as the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – the first woman appointed as department director, according to the release. She has worked in various roles throughout her career, including the Michigan Senate, and as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture from 1999-2003. She is a farm girl from the small town of Saranac in Michigan’s Ionia County.
Jody Pollok-Newsom
Executive Director, Michigan Wheat Program
Jody Pollok-Newsom grew up on a Registered Polled Hereford beef cattle farm in Williamston, Michigan. Jody received her BS in agriculture and natural resources communications from MSU and then headed to Washington DC for two years to work for USDA and the National FFA organization. Upon returning to Michigan, she began work on her masters in Ag and Extension Education at MSU. From there Jody went to work for the cherry industry doing their communications and marketing work. In January 2000 she took over at the helm of the Michigan Corn Growers Association and Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. In August of 2001, she began hosting the weekly Michigan Farm and Garden television show to further educate consumers about the importance of agriculture. In February 2012, Jody was named the first executive director of the Michigan Wheat Program, the new wheat check-off. She has spent the past years working with the board of directors to start collecting assessments, develop a strategic plan, work on program development and establish a strong research platform.
Dr. George Smith
Director, MSU AgBioResearch
Dr. George Smith is the AgBioResearch director, Smith is responsible for the strategic direction and administrative oversight of the organization, whose university-wide research mission is linked directly to promoting dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment in Michigan and beyond. AgBioResearch directly supports approximately 300 scientists from seven MSU colleges engaged in research, 15 outlying centers throughout Michigan reflective of the diversity of its research portfolio in agriculture and natural resources, as well as numerous on-campus facilities and key research infrastructure.
Joe Mosher
Principal, Mosher Consulting Group
Joe Mosher is principal advisor of Mosher Consulting Group (MCG) and has spent more than 15 years working in food and agribusiness. MCG is hyper-focused on serving small to lower middle-market food and agribusiness firms and helping leader navigate the strategic transformations and M&A transactions that promise to create, but often destroy, enterprise value. With a strong emphasis on post-M&A integration management, MCG ensures clients realize value from their M&A transactions and protect their growth investments. Prior to launching MCG, Joe spent more than a decade with Cargill working domestically and overseas in a variety of capacities including plant operations, finance, process improvement, risk and assurance, and management consulting.
U.S. Representative Jack Bergman
Rep. Jack Bergman represents the First District of Michigan, having assumed office in 2017. The boundaries contain the entire Upper Peninsula and all of northern lower Peninsula. Altogether, the district makes up about 44% of the land mass of the state of Michigan. The Bergman family roots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula stretch back to the late 1800’s where his ancestors worked as iron miners. Serving his country in uniform for 40 years, Jack has spent time all around the United States – and world.
