TRACTORS FOR AFRICA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community Agronomic Advisor
Abigail Apuryinga is TFA's Farm Manger and Community Agronomic Advisor based in Ghana. Abigail provides leadership for our commercial farming and community agronomic programming. She studied agribusiness and has a master's in environmental science. Abigail is experienced in farm management and community organization leading to improved agriculture impacts. Abigail will direct our farm's transition to sustainable regenerative practices.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- TFA Board Member
Dave Rock is a TFA Board Member. Dave retired from John Deere after 37 years working across sales, marketing, and product support. He joined Tractors for Africa as a product expert helping to support the development and delivery of on the ground training in Ghana. As an engaged board member, Dave contributes to equipment operations, implementing improved agronomic practices, business development, and fundraising.
Eric LaFary is the Country Director for TFA based in Tamale, Ghana. Eric provides overall leadership and development for teams and business operations in Ghana. In 2016, Eric transitioned from operating a corn and soybean farm in Indiana to serving in agriculture and health with Peace Corps in Northern Ghana. Prior to serving as Country Director for TFA, Eric was part of the USAID Presidents Malaria Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- TFA Board Member
Frank Garland is a TFA Board Member. Frank played integral roles building companies valued at over $3.4 Billion, as the former CEO, COO, and SVP at The Weather Channel, Travel Channel, Tennis Channel, HighSchoolSports.net (USA Today), and Realtime Brackets. Frank led the conception and launch of the Weather Trends International long term farm forecast in a partnership with AgReliant, the nation's third largest seed marketer.
Jeffrey Adivila is a field supervisor for TFA in Northern Ghana. He oversees farmer relations and day-to-day mechanization with our Navrongo partners. Jeffrey utilizes his education in business administration to build effective partnerships and local business strategies.
Job Titles:
- Lead Farmer and Field Supervisor
Latif Iddrisu is TFA's lead farmer and field supervisor for Walewale operations in Northern Ghana. Latif brings a career as a commercial farmer as well as community leadership to our operations. Latif manages our commodity warehouse and plays a lead role in farmer financing.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Member of the TFA Board
Louis Ricard is a Co-Founder of Tractors for Africa. He had a 38 year career at Cargill, retiring in 2017, with experience in commodity trading, grain & oilseed operations, supply chain, and strategic sales management. From Tractors for Africa's founding in 2014, through to 2021, Louis was instrumental in establishing the fundraising, strategic planning, finance and treasury functions for Tractors for Africa.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- President of TFA
Mark York is President of TFA. With a Minnesota farm background and two years' experience in West African agriculture, Mark identified the massive gaps in farmers' access to agricultural technology and yields between West Africa and the US. He co-founded Tractors for Africa with Cargill colleagues Louis Ricard and Maurice Hurst, and has been focused on growing the organization and improving yields for African farmers ever since. He is a McKinsey alum and currently pursuing a PhD in computer science at MIT.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- Secretary and Co - Founder of TFA
Maurice Hurst is Secretary and Co-Founder of TFA. Maurice grew up on a sheep and cropping farm in New Zealand. He has been working for Cargill since 1990, based in Minneapolis, where he currently overseas the Import/Export Execution function for Cargill's North American Agricultural businesses. As a member of Executive Committee, Maurice contributes in the strategic direction and leadership of Tractors For Africa.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- TFA Board Member
Moussa Ousmane is a TFA Board Member. Moussa joined Cargill in 2007, and currently serves as Senior Trade Execution Coordinator in the Import/ Export Division for Cargill North American Agricultural business based in Wayzata, MN. Born in Niger, he moved to the United States in 2001, where he earned a Master's Degree in Agribusiness at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Moussa previously led the shipping and logistics for Tractors for Africa. As a board member Moussa contributes to Africa Operations, Optimization and Risk Assessment.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- Treasurer of TFA
Nana Konadu Kay Darko-Mensah is the Treasurer of TFA. Kay lives is Accra Ghana, and is also the Founder and Managing Director of Harleigh Dover, a boutique business solutions consulting company, and Gulf Pride Seafoods a seafood sourcing and trading company both based in Accra. Kay has over nine years experience in Business Development, Regulatory Compliance, Accounting and Finance. At Tractors for Africa as the Board Treasurer, Kay offers guidance to the Executive Committee and the Board in ensuring good fiscal planning, decision-making and oversight at a high level.
Job Titles:
- TFA 's Operations Manager
Samuel Adivila is TFA's Operations Manager based in Northern Ghana. Samuel oversees field-based and farmer-focused businesses. Samuel studied sociology and agri-business leading to a career in market-based agricultural programming. Samuel provides leadership to teams working closely with our farmer partners to grow operational efficiencies and farmer impacts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- TFA Board Member
Terry Garvert is a TFA Board Member. Terry retired from Cargill after almost 40 years in supply chain management, grain merchandising, commodity risk management, and foodgrains market development. He contributes heavily to the organization hiring efforts, along with fundraising and relationship building for Tractors for Africa.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TFA Board
- Managing Partner of AGY Commodities Limited
- TFA Board Member
Yaw Agyare is a TFA Board Member. Yaw is currently the Managing Partner of AGY Commodities Limited and Genshore Limited and is based in Accra Ghana. Yaw has over 20 years of work experience in commodities trading, business management and leadership, and has worked in both the United States and Ghana. Yaw held a Vice President role at Citibank when working in the US. Yaw's extensive business experience is helping build TFA's strategy for growth in West Africa.