MICHIGAN AGRI-BUSINESS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
- President I Download Bio
- President of the Michigan Agri - Business Association
Chuck Lippstreu is president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA). He leads advocacy on a range of local, state and federal issues affecting the Association's members.
During his career in the agriculture industry, Chuck has worked with some of the nation's largest agribusinesses and served at the highest levels of government. Prior to his current position, Chuck served on the communications team at Land O'Lakes, Inc. Previously, he led strategic communications for MABA and other Michigan agricultural organizations. Chuck also spent several years as a White House appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he served as speechwriting director for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Chuck has worked on political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.
In addition to leading MABA, Chuck is active in efforts to bolster the U.S. agricultural sector and grow Michigan's economy. He is a member of the Agricultural Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee of the National Grain and Feed Association and the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Chuck was appointed in 2020 and reappointed in 2022 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to represent agriculture on Michigan's Environmental Rules Review Committee.
Chuck is from Lincoln, Nebraska and received a bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Monica and their son.
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
Job Titles:
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
- Area Sales Manager at BASF
Rush, who serves as Area Sales Manager at BASF covering Michigan and Ohio, has worked in the agricultural industry for more than two decades and has been a Michigan Certified Crop Adviser since 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management from Michigan State University and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Director of Member Services
- Director of Member Services of the Michigan Agri - Business Association and Has Been With
Kara Boring is the director of member services of the Michigan Agri-Business Association and has been with MABA since April 2012. She handles several association activities including communications, events, website, newsletters, directory, calendars, billing, and CCA designations. She also coordinates special events such as regional AgClubs and various educational events.
In May 2016, Kara graduated from Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources with a bachelor's degree in Agri-Business Management. She resides in Stockbridge with her husband Tim and their son and daughter, where she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
- Ackerman Marketing
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Tilly Graham joined MABA as an intern in May 2023, and since completing her internship at the Association continues to help the MABA team on a part-time basis. Tilly is currently a Junior at Michigan State University (MSU), where she is studying Agribusiness Management. Tilly serves as Secretary for MSU Block & Bridle, and is co-chair of the 2023 MSU B&B Beef Expo Show. Tilly also represents the Evergreen 4-H Club in Isabella County, as the President. Tilly has previously interned at Wilbur-Ellis Co. as a crop scout, performing weekly scouts of potatoes, beans, and corn. She was raised on an organic beef and cash crop farm in Rosebush, Michigan and was a recipient of a scholarship from the MABA Educational Trust in 2022 and 2023. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, reading, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- 2nd Vice Chair
- Elevator Co
In addition, Edwin Benkert Jr. with Nutrien Ag Solutions and Adam Geers with Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Inc. were named to serve on the board.
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
- Chairman, Cooperative Elevator Co
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
Job Titles:
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
Job Titles:
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
Job Titles:
- MICHIGAN BEAN SHIPPERS - Trustee
Since 2022, Rose Plummer has served as the Trade Show Coordinator at the MABA Winter Conference & Trade Show, the organization's flagship conference bringing together nearly 800 professionals from across Michigan and the Midwest. Rose brings a wide range of professional experiences to MABA ranging from project management, HR and payroll leadership, to construction and vendor management, logistics and beyond. Among her many professional accomplishments is leadership of a $100m+ agribusiness expansion in the Eastern U.S. Rose is the go-to point of contact for all those participating as exhibitors at the Trade Show and leads on-site operations during the show.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the MICHIGAN CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- EDUCATIONAL TRUST - Trustee
- Michigan Potash & Salt Co