Contact:
Jamie Mara, 920-209-3990,
jmara@widba.com
MADISON, Wis. (Jan. 18, 2017) – Dairy Business Association members elected two new directors, a new president and other new officers during the annual business meeting at the Dairy Strong 2017: The Journey Forward conference Jan. 18 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center.
Newly elected board directors include farmer representatives Lee Kinnard, owner of Kinnard Farms Inc. in Casco, and Amy Penterman, owner of Dutch Dairy LLC in Thorp. Mike North, president and founder of Commodity Risk Management Group in Platteville, was re-elected as the board’s corporate representative and selected as the group’s new president.
Kinnard has dedicated his life to farming, seeking to improve his family’s farm and protect and enhance natural resources through cutting-edge practices and innovative decision-making. Kinnard is a board member for Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led environmental stewardship coalition in Kewaunee and southern Door counties. He also played a leading role in the formation of the Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance.
Penterman owns and operates Dutch Dairy with her husband, Sander. She also has worked as a crop insurance agent for 18 years and was in the Farm Credit lending system for 15 years. Penterman is a member of the DBA Public Relations Committee and serves as president for the Thorp FFA Alumni.
North’s company, CRMG, provides consulting and brokerage services to farmers, handlers and end-users of agricultural commodities as well as diversification tools to individual investors. He works with production and processing clients to build marketing plans and margin management programs. North has been a member of DBA’s board since 2008 and has an agriculture business degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
North replaces Calumet County farmer Gordon Speirs as president. Speirs will be president emeritus.
Other officer changes included Tom Crave as vice president, Cindy Leitner as secretary and Lloyd Holterman as treasurer.
