Ames, Iowa - The Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) held elections for their Executive Board the evening of January 5, 2009 prior to the kickoff of the 2009 ICA Annual Convention, January 6-7, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa.
Kevin Carstensen will hand over the reins of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association to Kent Pruismann at the ICA Annual Meeting January 7, in Ames after serving two terms. Kevin has been a very positive force in his role as ICA President the past two years, traveling to most counties to meet with ICA members during his reign. Kevin has been a great representative and spokesman for the ICA and will be missed; however we are fairly certain we have not heard the last of Kevin or his wife, Terri, who serves on the Iowa Beef Industry Council board. Kevin and Terri are both looking forward to less leadership time and more time for leisure and travel. As well as a bit more time for their cattle, row crops and hay duties at their home in Odebolt. Although Kevin will be missed, he will be placing ICA in the competent hands of Kent Pruismann. Pruismann becomes the ICA President after serving as ICA President-Elect for the past two years.
President - Kent Pruismann and wife, Sylvia, have three children and reside in Rock Valley. Kent operates a diversified livestock and grain operation; finishing cattle, raising contract hogs and is a partner in a small cow herd with son, Mark, on the family's Century Farm. He has been involved in the cattle business most of his adult life and has been actively involved in the county and state cattle associations for nearly 20 years. Kent served as county president for two years, then served from 1995-1998 as the ICA District 1 Director and from 1999-2002 as Northwest Regional Vice President for ICA. He also served as State Membership Chairman in 2001, was a member of the Strategic Long Range Planning committee and has also served as the Feedlot Representative on the ICA Board of Directors.
Kent is a strong proponent of Value-Added Agriculture and believes ag commodity groups play a vital role in promoting Iowa agriculture and representing rural Iowa's voice in the state legislature. Kent also serves on the Board of Directors of Siouxland Ethanol and Livestock Cooperative at Sioux Center.
President-Elect Craig White was elected as ICA President-Elect. Most recently Craig served as ICA Northwest Regional Vice President and as Treasurer for the ICA Executive Committee. Craig was chairman of the ICA Public Lands, Private Lands and Environmental Management Committee from 1993-1996, ICA District 2 Director and Board of Directors from 1999-2005, and the Cow Herd Program Services Board of Directors from 2000-2004.
Craig and his wife, Margaret, live three miles northwest of Estherville. In 2005, White Family Farms was the recipient of Environmental Stewardship award for Iowa and NCBA Region III. They own a 225-head commercial herd of Angus-crossed cows and a 600-head, one-time capacity feedlot, in addition to their crop operation. Craig and Margaret have one son and two daughters.
Regional Vice Presidents
Scott Hansen of Adel was elected as the Southwest Regional Vice President. Scott previously served as the Cow/Calf Representative on the ICA board. He and his wife, Kit, have two daughters. Scott, a graduate from Iowa State University in animal science, now focuses on further improving their commercial and registered Angus herds as well as developing additional cattle enterprises in western Iowa.
Ed Greiman of Garner was elected as the Northwest Regional Vice President. Ed currently has a cow/calf and feedlot operation in partnership with his brother, Matt. Ed is a former ICA field staff member. His wife, Cindy, is a district representative for Monsanto. You may reach Ed via email, greimanbros@peconet.net or by phone, 515-231-5400.
Associate Vice President
Joe Kuhns of Ankeny was elected as Associate Vice President. Joe and wife, Juanita, have two sons and two daughters. Joe has been a long-time ICA member as well as a commercial member of several Veterinary Medical Associations in the upper Midwest. He is retired from the military and has been active in the animal health industry for more than 40 years. Currently, Joe works for MultiMin, Inc., and the Gold Star Association at Camp Dodge. He is a member of VFW, the American Legion and a life-member of the Nightstalkers Association.
Board Election results for 2009
Newly elected District Directors chosen at recent ICA district meetings are as follows: Dist. 3-Carl Johnson of Eagle Grove; Dist. 6-Rob Medberry of Volga; Dist. 9-Brett Katzer of Conrad; Dist. 12-Jessica Utesch of Pierson; Dist.14-John Hall of Ankeny; and Dist. 15-Richard Cochran of Ladora.
Board Members retiring in 2009
Retiring members of the ICA board include: Kevin Carstensen of Odebolt; Dan Cook of New Providence; Jim Falvey of West Des Moines; Gary Kingery of Knoxville; Tom Shipley of Nodaway; Todd Stowater of Algona; and Doug Wedemeyer of Casey. Retiring members were presented with honorary plaques on Monday, January 5, 2009 at the ICA board of directors meeting.
Courtesy: Iowa Cattlemen's Association
