Fargo, N.D., USA -- Matt Mechtel is the newly elected chair of the Northern Crops Council (NCC), the 13-member governing board of Northern Crops Institute, Fargo, N.D., USA. The NCC elected Mechtel by unanimous vote at their reorganization meeting on June 29.

Mechtel is a soybean producer near Page, N.D., who served six years on the N.D. Soybean Council, the last three years as chair. He also serves on the Page Café Board. His wife, Denise, is his farming partner.

Mechtel replaces Brian Kaae , a Dagmar, Mont., wheat producer, who served two one-year terms as NCC chair. Kaae continues on the Northern Crops Council for another three-year term, representing the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee. He will also serve as NCC past chair.

Jennifer Tesch , marketing director for SK Food International, Fargo, N.D., is the NCC's new vice chair. Tesch, the first woman to serve on the NCC, represents crop processors. Tesch and her husband, Jason, have a two-year-old daughter, Kaytlin.

Dan Wiltse and Vance Taylor join the Northern Crops Council for three-year terms. Wiltse, a producer from Lisbon, N.D., represents the North Dakota Oilseed Council. Taylor is president and general manager of North Dakota Mill, Grand Forks, N.D., and holds the second crop processor seat on the NCC.

Bob Majkrzak , president and CEO of Red River Commodities, Fargo, N.D., is the new chair of the NCI's Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Majkrzak succeeds Tesch, who was IAB chair for three years.

Tony Flagg , president of Pasta Montana, Great Falls, Mont., and John McLean , merchant with Cargill, West Fargo, N.D., begin three-year terms on the Industry Advisory Board. The IAB provides advice to NCI on educational programming and technical services. IAB draws its members from the agricultural supply and processing industry and the grain trade in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Northern Crops Council is composed of thirteen members who may serve up to two three-year terms. The council has six permanent members, including the NDSU President, N.D. Commissioner of Agriculture, and representatives of the N.D. Wheat Commission, N.D. Oilseed Council, N.D. Barley Council, and N.D. Soybean Council. In addition, five producers and two processors from Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota gain seats on the Council through nomination or appointment.

Northern Crops Institute supports regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern-grown crops.

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