UNITED AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Store Manager
- Eagle Lake Store Manager
Annette Bittner joined our team in October of 2006. She was raised in El Campo, TX. Previously, she worked for the Eagle Lake General Store. Annette and her husband Paul live in Garwood, TX where they raised two boys. Annette enjoys bowling, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.
April Graves joined the team in June of 1993. She was born and raised in Wharton County. April graduated from Texas A&M University in 1985 with a degree in Accounting. She has 3 children and 2 grand children and enjoys spending time with them and gardening. In 2016, April and her sister Stacey started a side boutique business called Ruby and Yaya.
Bunge Halla joined our team in October of 2006. He grew up in Weimar, TX. In 1996, Bunge opened the Eagle Lake General Store and sold it to FCEC in 2006. He also owns and operates H Bar Cattle, a grow yard for developing feeder and fat cattle. In his spare time he enjoys roping with his son Korby and spending time at the bay.
Cameron Roehl joined our team in August of 2020. She was raised in Midfield, TX where her family ranches cattle. In 2011, she graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Business Degree. Cameron now resides in Louise, TX where she continues the tradition of raising cattle with her husband and three children.
Clay Whitley joined the team in January of 2018. He was raised in Edna, TX. Clay graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with an Agricultural Systems Management degree. He owned his own cotton gin consulting business for 15 years prior to joining the team. Clay and his wife Worth and five kids live in Edna.
Cole Klimitchek joined our team in March of 2021. He was raised in Hallettsville, TX and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Crop Science in December of 2020. He enjoys hog hunting and helping his grandparents with their Brangus cattle operation as well as baling hay.
Job Titles:
- Grain Customer Service Specialist
- Grain Customer Service Specialist Ext. 1204
Denny Krenek joined our team in February 2006. She grew up in East Bernard and lives in Hungerford with her husband Paul. Together they farm, ranch and have raised three girls. Since 1980 she has been working in agriculture doing everything from weighing and probing trucks to marketing rice. She hopes her four grandchildren will continue the love of farming and ranching. "Living the farm life makes working for farmers a little easier to understand."
Job Titles:
- Feed Manager
- Feed Manager Ext. 1314
Dillon Frankum joined our team in 2019. Dillon grew up in Burr, TX where he still resides today with his wife Michelle and two sons. In 2010, Dillon graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Communications. He has worked in retail and the feed business since he was 18 years old. In his spare time, Dillon enjoys spending time with family, working cows, and roping.
Job Titles:
- Ag Parts Manager Ext. 1302
- El Campo Ag Parts Manager
Doug Ondrias joined our team in May of 1986. He was raised in El Campo, TX. In 1984, Doug graduated from Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX. He and his wife Kathy have two children; together they love to go camping, hunting, and fishing.
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager
- Danevang Branch Manager
- Member of Our Team
James Davis became a member of our team in January of 2013. He graduated from Texas A&M with Bachelor of Science in Agronomy. He grew up on a small family ranch northwest of Houston. James has been managing Ag businesses from the Red River Valley to as far south as Puerto Rico before coming to work for United Ag. He enjoys deer hunting and helping his grandkids with their 4-H and FFA animal projects.
Job Titles:
- Deer Corn Sales Specialist
Jeff Strnadel joined our team in September of 2016. He was raised in El Campo, TX. Jeff graduated from Texas A&M University in 1986 with a degree in Agronomy. Previously, he has worked in Ag chemical sales, Ag lending, and was a Landman. In his free time Jeff enjoys roping and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- General Manager Ext. 1202
In 1985, Jimmy Roppolo was hired as the Agronomy Sales Manager and six months later he was named General Manager. Jimmy was raised in Marlin, TX where his family grew cotton, grain, and cattle in Falls County on the Brazos River. He graduated in 1970 from Texas A&M University with a degree in Ag Economics. Jimmy is very passionate about the benefits of cooperatives for producers. In fact, since 1970 Jimmy has only not worked for a co-op for 2 years.
Joe Kelley was born and raised in Stuart, Florida where his family operated a commercial cow/calf operation. While in high school his family moved the operation to the Flint Hills (Konza Tallgrass Prairie) around Alma, Kansas. Joe attended college in Kansas and Colorado, finishing his degree at the University of the Incarnate Word. Prior to joining United Ag, the bulk of Joe's work centered around trading and logistics with a variety of trading houses involved in the energy and agriculture sectors. Spare time is best for road trips, meeting new people, and generally exploring.
Job Titles:
- Gin & Elevator Operations Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Retail Division Manager
- Retail Division Manager Ext. 1305
Kurt Rodgers joined our team in July of 2003. He was raised in Eagle Lake, TX and graduated from Sam Houston State University with an Ag Business degree. He has worked within the agricultural industry since he was 14 years old. Kurt and his wife Jenny live in Garwood, TX and have 3 children. He likes to hunt and fish in his spare time.
Job Titles:
- Store Manager
- Edna Store Manager
Lacey Bayer joined our team in 2015. She was raised on a dairy farm in southern California. Her family relocated the dairy and all 3,500 milk cows to the Texas Panhandle in 2003. She graduated from West Texas A&M in 2008 with a degree in Animal Science. Previously, she worked at DeWitt County Producers Cooperative in Cuero. Lacey and her husband Branden, live in Inez where they raise kids and cows.
Lane was raised on a farm and ranch South of Hillje, and has been a member of United Ag since he began raising crops for an FFA project at Louise High School. Lane went on to graduate from Texas A&M with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He returned home and farmed in partnership with his father, continuing to be an active member of the Co-op and serving several years on the Board of Directors. In 2000, Lane came to work for United Ag as a grain accountant and IT support. After working in Sugar Land for a year and a half, he came back to work for United Ag in 2004 as IT Manager. In 2022, he was promoted to Assistant Manager. Lane continues to live South of Hillje on the family farm with his wife Susan and four kids. He is still a weekend farmer and rancher and says he will always be a farmer at heart.
Lindsey Bowers joined our team in February of 2007. She is from Shepherd, TX and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2005 with an Ag Business degree. Lindsey and her husband Darrell live in Inez, TX where they are raising three boys, catfish, row crop, and cattle. They are both very passionate about positively advocating for agriculture.
Job Titles:
- Fencing & Wildlife Manager Ext. 1304
Logan Gilbert joined our team in 2022. He was raised in Needville, TX on a small club calf operation. Logan graduated from Texas A&M University with an Ag Science degree in 2022. He now lives in El Campo where he owns and operates Rocking MG Cattle. They focus on raising registered Brangus show heifers and American cross show steers.
Michael Grahmann joined the team in January of 2012. He grew up in Rock Island, TX on the 6G Ranch raising Simbrah cattle. Michael graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993 with a degree in Animal Science. Previously, he managed La Muneca Cattle Company and worked for Purina Mills as a District Manager. Michael and his wife Sonia live in Hallettsville, TX where they have raised four children.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Marketing Manager
- Corporate Marketing Manager Ext. 1303
Michelle Frankum joined our team in November of 2009. She was raised in Bay City, TX where her family farms rice, row crop, and ranches commercial cattle. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009 with an Ag Business degree. Previously, she worked for Purina Mills traveling across several states as an intern and then was an Account Manager in Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Cotton Warehouse Manager
- Cotton Warehouse Manager Ext. 7013
Theresa Strack joined our team in July of 1992. She grew up in Midfield, TX. Prior to running the Cotton Warehouse, Theresa worked for Danevang Farmers Co-op for 13 years. She loves spending time with her husband Randy, three children, and two granddaughters as well as gardening and baking.