NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 24, 2026 – The National Grain and Feed Association has selected Brian Schouvieller, Senior Vice President of Agriculture, Trade and Risk Management at CHS Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to serve as chairman for a one-year term following a membership vote.
Before his election to the top position, Schouvieller held both first and second vice chairman roles within the NGFA. He has maintained an active presence on the organization’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee for multiple years while championing the association’s policy initiatives and industry objectives.
The membership vote covered the selection of directors and industry leadership positions, along with approval of updates to the NGFA’s Trade Rules, Arbitration Rules and Rail Arbitration Rules.
Through his leadership position at CHS Inc., recognized as one of America’s premier farmer-owned cooperatives, Schouvieller contributes significant expertise in grain trading and international markets. His professional background and industry knowledge will support the NGFA’s mission to enhance U.S. agriculture’s global competitiveness, promote efficient supply chain operations, and champion policies benefiting grain and feed sector participants.
Leadership Team and Board Selections
The organization’s industry leadership will serve one-year terms:
- Chairman: Brian Schouvieller, Senior Vice President of Agriculture, Trade and Risk Management at CHS Inc., Saint Paul, Minnesota
- First Vice Chairman: Augusto Bassanini, President and CEO of United Grain Corporation, Vancouver, Washington
- Second Vice Chairman: Jason Klootwyk, Chief Executive Officer, Agtegra Cooperative, Aberdeen, South Dakota
Board members will serve three-year terms, with first-time appointees listed in bold:
- Scott Barkley, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Mid Kansas Cooperative, Moundridge, Kansas
- Christopher DeLong, President and Treasurer, The DeLong Co., Inc., Clinton, Wisconsin
- Matt Gibson, Chief Operating Officer, Friona Industries LP, Amarillo, Texas
- Kevin Gray, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager, Morrow County Grain Growers, Inc., Lexington, Oregon
- Kurt Haarmann, President and Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Grain International, Portland, Oregon
- Kimberly Hawks, Head of Product and Structuring, Global Financial Risk Management, Louis Dreyfus Company, Wilton, Connecticut
- Mark Heil, Senior Advisor, Prairie Central Cooperative, Inc., Chenoa, Illinois
- Julie Kenney, Chief Executive Officer, Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
- Jay Mathews, Chief Executive Officer, Prairieview Grain Trading LLC, Champaign, Illinois
- Kellie Melton, Vice President Customer & Business Operations, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC/ Land O’ Lakes, Arden Hills, Minnesota
- Aaron Meyerle, Vice President Grain, AgState, Cherokee, Iowa
- Brad Morrison, Director, Raw Material Procurement and Trading, Primient Grain, Decatur, Illinois
- Eric Perry, Commercial Director, The Wenger Group, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Jake Stagner, Vice President of Grain Merchandising, Landus Cooperative, Des Moines, Iowa
- Andrew Utterback, Director, Global Sustainable Agriculture, Ingredion Incorporated, Westchester, Illinois
- Tom Wapp, Commercial Grain Director, POET Grain, Wichita, Kansas
Two additional directors received appointments from state associations:
- Emily Ashe, Trader, TEMCO LLC, Houston, Texas (appointed by Texas Grain and Feed Association)
- Eric Williams, Senior Director of Grain Operations, MFA Incorporated, Columbia, Missouri (appointed by Missouri Agribusiness Association)
