Leadership Luncheon: The Power of Grassroots Leadership

County, state and national Farm Bureau leaders will gather at the AFBF Leadership Luncheon to celebrate the power of grassroots leadership. During this year’s program, we will welcome Farm Bureau county presidents from across the country to share successful and innovative approaches to member engagement at the local level.

Enjoy a plated lunch. All are welcome!

Individual - $85

Reserved Table of 8: $750

Speakers:

Jared Hanselman, DVM

Victoria County President, Texas

Jared was raised in a sub-700 population rural community of Tivoli, Texas(mid-coastal southeast Texas). He attended college at Texas A&M University where he graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biomedical Science. He then attended Veterinary School and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine where he received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011.

Upon graduation, Jared worked at the renowned Elgin Veterinary Hospital in Elgin, Texas for three years. The focus of his employment was Food Animal Medicine and Surgery. After leaving Elgin, he and his wife Robin along with their growing family moved back towards home and founded South Texas Large Animal Mobile Veterinary Services PLLC in 2014.

This practice focuses on the rancher and provides elite veterinary services with on-site convenience. Dr. Hanselman has always focused his practice decisions on keeping the rancher's bottom line in mind.

Dr. Hanselman has been a Texas Farm Bureau member since 2010. He is actively serving as President of the Victoria County Farm Bureau Board and is in his sixth year of service.

He and his wife Robin are also active Elders at the Tivoli Presbyterian Church where they attend services regularly. He has three daughters Madison (13), Makayla(11), and Morgan(5).

Stacy Irwin

Columbiana County President, Ohio

Stacy is the Vice President of Operations at KS Millwright Inc., which specializes in grain storage and handling – they design, sell, install and service all types of commercial feed mills and on farm grain bins, conveyors, dryers, bucket elevators throughout Ohio. Stacy has a unique background in agriculture, she married a farmer working as an ag millwright, building feed mills and grain handling facilities. Throughout their marriage, she and her husband, Gary, began to grow their operation purchasing their current family farm, starting a cow/calf operation, raising two sons, Curtis and Ryan all while working as a nurse practitioner. Her family farms in Northeast Ohio, raising farrow-to-finish hogs, beef, and row crops. In 2013, Stacy and Gary purchased K&S Millwrights and after several years, she eventually left full-time nursing to work at their ag business (although she still works as a casual/part-time nurse practitioner). Stacy also serves on the Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan Board of Directors and President of the Columbia County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees. During her tenure on the county board, Stacy has attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Communication Bootcamp, Women's ACE Summit, and served multiple times as a delegate to the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Malone University and a master’s degree in nursing from Kent State University.

John Kriese

Yates County President, New York

John was the Teacher of Agriculture/FFA Advisor at Penn Yan Central Schools in Penn Yan, NY for 33 years. He owns and operates Finger Lakes Cattle Company, and has a registered seedstock cow/calf operation specializing in Red Angus, Black Angus, and Hereford Genetics as well as direct-to-consumer meat sales.

John is a Member (New York appointed Representative) of the Cattleman’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB) and is a Board Member of the New York Beef Industry Council (NYBIC). He is a member of the Red Alliance Committee, American Red Angus Association and is the Presiding Officer for the NY Red Angus Association. John serves Farm Bureau as the Presiding Officer in Yates County, New York. He is currently a contract employee for the New York Center for Agricultural and Mental Health (NYCAMH) and is married to Anita, (32 years) and has two children, Clayton and Katie.

Gary Wohlforth

Wyandotte County President, Kansas

Gary is a 4th generation farmer/rancher just outside of Kansas City, Kansas.  He runs a small cow/calf operation and leases his ground for corn and soybean production. He mainly runs a hay operation to feed his cattle as well as selling extra hay to locals.  His experience started at an early age while he helped his dad and uncle milk cows on their dairy farm.  Gary has been on his own farming since 1995 when his dad passed.  He has a full-time off farm job too, working security detail at city hall with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. Gary knows the importance of serving his community to build a better tomorrow.

Gary Wohlforth has served on the Wyandotte County Kansas Farm Bureau board for the last 16 years. He’s served as president for the last 7 years and has embraced some big changes in the last year.  He led his county in new projects with End Hunger to reach low income, urban families to make a big impact.  Gary also took a leap of faith on a new idea for a member appreciation event. They had 300 people attending last year and has grown it to 750 participating for this year’s event.  Before these changes, they had only 2 member families attend their previous appreciation event.  He had his executive committee explore and study new investment opportunities which has led to the board investing nearly $300K with Farm Bureau Financial Services.  Gary has gotten out of his comfort zone and has not been afraid to try new things to elevate the county’s impact in the community.