Oregon producer will chair board of farmer co-op CHS Inc.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 7, 2012
/PRNewswire/ -- Oregon farmer
David Bielenberg has been elected
chairman of the board of CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP), the nation's
leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and
foods company.
Bielenberg was selected during the 17-member board's yearly
reorganization meeting which followed the company's 2012 annual
meeting on Dec. 6. He succeeds Jerry Hasnedl, a St. Hilaire, Minn., farmer who held the post
during the past 12 months.
"This company has achieved unprecedented success in delivering
value for its owners in recent years," Bielenberg said. "In the
year ahead, the CHS Board of Directors will focus on continuing to
deliver that for the producers and cooperatives that own CHS.
This will include maximizing the value of CHS ownership for
producers and cooperatives through a continued focus on our
equity management program.
"In addition, we'll continue building on the company's success
by driving our strategic momentum, growing enterprise value,
maintaining an aggressive risk management approach and developing
our skills as leaders."
Bielenberg has served a total of seven years on the CHS board,
with terms from 2002-2006 and from 2009 to the present. During
2012, he was the board's assistant secretary-treasurer, chaired its
Audit Committee and served on its Government Relations and board
Executive committees. He operates a diverse agricultural operation
near Silverton, Ore., which
includes seed crops, vegetables, soft white wheat, greenhouse
production and timberland.
He has held numerous cooperative and agricultural leadership
roles including service as board member and president of Wilco
Farmers Cooperative, Mt. Angel,
Ore., and the East Valley Water District. Bielenberg holds a
bachelor's of science degree in agricultural engineering from
Oregon State University and is a
graduate of the Texas A & M
University executive program for agricultural producers. He
completed the National Association of Corporate Directors
comprehensive Director Professionalism course and received its
Certificate of Director Education.
Also elected to one-year leadership terms were:
- Dennis Carlson, Bismarck, N.D., as first vice chairman;
elected to the board in 2001 and previously was second vice
chairman.
- Dan Schurr, LeClaire,
Iowa, as secretary-treasurer;
elected to the board in 2006 and previously was first vice
chairman.
- Steve Fritel, Rugby, N.D., as second vice chairman; elected
to the board in 2003 and previously was secretary-treasurer.
- Curt Eischens, Minneota, Minn., as assistant
secretary-treasurer; elected to the board in 1990 and previously
served as second vice chairman.
During the annual meeting, delegates elected David Johnsrud of Starbuck, Minn., to a three-year term on the
CHS Board. He succeeds Michael
Mulcahy of Waseca, Minn.,
who served nine years. Johnsrud farms in partnership with his
brother and nephew. He has been a member of the board of directors
of AgCountry Farm Credit Services since 2001, and currently serves
as chairman. He also serves on the Minnesota Farm Credit
Legislative Committee, with three years as chairman; was chairman
of the Minnesota Farm Credit nominating committee for the AgriBank
election in 2012, served on the Farmers Union Oil and Prairie Lake
Co-op boards of directors from 1987 through 2007, with 15 years as
board secretary; and was on the Mid-Minnesota Association Board,
with terms as secretary and chairman, as well as on the State
Directors' Association, with terms as treasurer. In 2010 he
completed the Farm Credit Services Premier Governance Series and
became a Certified Director and is a 2010 graduate of Minnesota
Agricultural Rural Leadership Class V.
Members also re-elected Bielenberg, Fritel, David Kayser of Alexandria, S.D, and Don Anthony of Lexington, Neb., to three-year terms on the
CHS Board.
CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned
by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy,
grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers,
farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through
its domestic and global operations. CHS, a Fortune 100 company,
supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services,
livestock feed, food and food ingredients, along with business
solutions including insurance, financial and risk management
services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and
manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand
refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy
products.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that are based on management's current expectations and
assumptions. These forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the potential results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligations
to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future
events or circumstances. For a discussion of additional factors
that may materially affect management's estimates and predictions,
please view the CHS Inc. annual report filed on Form 10-K for the
year ended Aug. 31, 2012, which can
be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission web site
(www.sec.gov) or on the CHS web site www.chsinc.com.
SOURCE CHS Inc.