Northern Crops Institute Boards Elect New Officers
Jennifer Tesch, SK Food International, Elected NCC Chair
Robert Majkrzak, Red River Commodities, Re-elected IAB Chair
Tesch
Fargo, N.D., USA – Jennifer Tesch 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 Tesch by unanimous vote at their reorganization meeting on July 11.
Tesch is marketing director for SK Food International, an import/export trading company and domestic bulk ingredient supplier in Fargo, N.D . Tesch has served five years on the Northern Crops Council, the last year as vice chair. She serves in one of two processor positions on the NCC.
Tesch replaces Matt Mechtel , a Page, N.D., soybean producer, who served a one-year term as NCC chair. Mechtel has served six years on the Northern Crops Council, representing the North Dakota Soybean Council. He will continue as NCC past chair.
Laird Larson , a producer from Clark, S.D., is the NCC's new vice chair. Larson represents the South Dakota Wheat Commission. He has served on the NCC since 2004.
Claude Richard joins the Northern Crops Council for a three-year term. Richard, a producer from Fargo, N.D., occupies North Dakota Soybean Council's permanent seat on the NCC.
Mark Askegaard , Fargo, N.D., and Jim Burbidge , Mohall, N.D., were re-appointed by their commodity groups for their second three-year NCC terms. Askegaard represents the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Burbidge represents the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
Bob Majkrzak , president and CEO of Red River Commodities, Fargo, N.D., was re-elected to his second term as chair of the NCI's Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Six board members begin three-year terms on the Industry Advisory Board. They are: Tim Dodd, Dakota Growers Pasta Co.; Greg Johnson, Premier Pulses International; Deon Maasjo, CalDak International LLC; Jay Romsa, General Mills; Bob Sinner, Sinner Bros. & Bresnahan; and Rene Steiner, Buhler, Inc.
The Industry Advisory Board 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.