GROWMARK Names Directors

NEW YORK - Aug 30/04 - SNS -- GROWMARK, a regional agricultural cooperative based in Bloomington, Ill., elected 16 directors to its board at its annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Fifteen of the 16 director seats, established by geographic zone, were elected. GROWMARK has six established governance zones which cover all of North America. There are multiple directors per zone, and they will serve staggered terms of one, two or three years. In addition, one director-at-large was selected to represent Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Farm Bureaus. GROWMARK is affiliated with Farm Bureau in those states.

Directors elected in Zone A include: 3-year term: Dan Kelley of Normal, Ill.; 2-year term: Rick Nelson of Paxton, Ill.; and 1-year term: Bob Phelps of Rockton, Ill.

For Zone B: 3-year term: Chet Esther of Frederick, Ill.; 2-year term: Mike Hennenfent of Gilson, Ill.; and 1-year term: David Watt of Murrayville, Ill.

For Zone C: 3-year term: John Reifsteck of Champaign, Ill.; 2-year term: Randy Newcomb of Ashley, Ill.; 1-year term: Gary Leber of Valmeyer, Ill.

For Zone D: 3-year term: Ray Steffens of West Union, Iowa; 2-year term: Allen Tanner of Creston, Iowa; and 1-year term: Matt Heitz of Farley, Iowa.

For Zone E: 2-year term: Bill Hanson of Dodgeville, Wis.

For Zone F: 3-year term: Len Mortson of Oro Station, Ontario; 1-year term: John Eccles of Durham, Ontario.

Farm Bureau Director: Representing Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Farm Bureau for a three-year term is Henry Kallal of Jerseyville, Ill.

At a reorganization meeting, officers elected were: Kelley, chairman; Reifsteck, vice chairman; Nelson, vice chairman; and Esther, secretary.