- Recommend Director candidates best equipped to lead Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ for the future
- Encourage Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ member participation in the process and help build a pipeline of next-generation leaders
- Build confidence in Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ governance by creating a clear, consistent process for Director electionsÂ
Nominating committee
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members have elected a nominating committee to recommend candidates for seats on the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors. The nominating committee will add strength and consistency to the candidacy process.Â
Nominating committee purpose
A nominating committee of Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members will help secure the best candidates to lead Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ into the future as members of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors. This Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board initiative will give Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members more information to guide their choices during Director elections and is a best practice for board succession and continuity.Â
Nominating committee role
2026 Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee actions
After being elected by Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members in regional caucuses at the 2025 Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Annual Meeting, the 2026 Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee met in March 2026 to evaluate eligible candidates and recommend up to two candidates for each open Board seat. Each candidate met with the committee in person during the evaluation process.
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members will cast their ballots in Director elections at regional caucuses during the 2026 Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Annual Meeting in early December or via absentee voting prior to the annual meeting. The following candidates were recommended by the committee and will be included on the ballot.
Region 1 (first seat)
, Wanamingo, Minn. (incumbent)
, Hanley Falls, Minn.
Region 1 (second seat)
, Oronoco, Minn. (incumbent)
Region 2
, Rapelje, Mont.
, Hardin, Mont. (incumbent)
Region 3
, Minot, N.D. (incumbent)
Region 5
, Cadott, Wis.
, Kirkland, Ill. (incumbent)
Region 7
, Rock Rapids, Iowa
, Ashland, Mo.
Region 8
, Castleton, Kan. (incumbent)
Nominating committee makeup
Committee members are elected by Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members in their region and serve all Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members
Two members are elected from each region for a total of 16 committee membersÂ
Committee members serve staggered two-year terms over no more than four consecutive election cyclesÂ
Committee members must meet the same criteria used to qualify Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board candidates
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee responsibilitiesÂ
The committee will:
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Interview and evaluate Director candidates, including incumbents
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Recommend up to two candidates per available seat
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Represent Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ annual meeting, overseeing rules and credentials and voting procedures and participating in public policy discussions
Path to Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Director candidacy
Recommendation by the nominating committee is the preferred pathway to candidacy for the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors. Recommendation by the nominating committee will ensure a candidate is included on the ballot for both voting in advance of the annual meeting and at the regional caucus.
- A declared candidate who has participated in the nominating committee process, but is not recommended by the committee, can submit a petition signed by Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members representing at least 30% of that region’s eligible votes. The petition must be submitted by Sept. 1 of the election year.
- A candidate also can be nominated from the floor at the regional caucus, but will have missed the opportunity to be included in advance voting prior to the annual meeting.
- All candidates must meet Director qualifications set out in the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Bylaws.
Timeline for Director candidates
| Date | Action |
| Feb. 15 | Deadline for declaring candidacy and submitting candidate application. |
| March | Nominating committee interviews and evaluates candidates who meet Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Bylaws qualifications. |
| Mid-March |
Nominating committee recommends up to two candidates per seat. |
| October | Recommended candidates (and validated petition candidates) appear on the ballot for advance and in-person voting at regional caucuses. |
| December | Directors are elected at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ annual meeting. |
FAQs
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Why does Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ need a nominating committee?
Developing a vibrant, qualified pipeline of next-generation leaders is critical for Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ to remain strong and relevant for future generations of owners and customers. Bringing a range of voices to the table and encouraging all owners to participate in governance is a step in creating that pipeline. A nominating committee brings structure to that practice.
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What does a member of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee do?
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee members have the following key responsibilities:
- Assess and recommend qualified Director candidates in line with Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ governance and strategic requirements
- Participate in interviews, discussions and voting processes for selecting Director candidates
- Engage with Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members, industry leaders and stakeholders to identify potential Board candidates
- Assist in Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ annual meeting activities, including overseeing meeting rules, ensuring proper voting procedures, addressing delegate credential matters and engaging on key public policy issues
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What support does the nominating committee have to evaluate and recommend candidates?The committee has access to tools and resources to help them effectively interview and evaluate candidates. A training session acquaints them with the committee’s roles and responsibilities, plus best practices for interviewing and assessing candidates. Standardized criteria are used to provide an objective view of each candidate in relation to competencies established for Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board members. Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ staff members are available to assist and two Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board members are liaisons to the committee.
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How does a nominating committee encourage more members to participate in Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ governance?
Nominating committee members must be ag producers who are Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members or members of Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ member cooperatives. Active outreach encourages members to serve on the committee. Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ members from each region elect members to the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee and current Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board members are not be eligible to serve on the committee.
The committee acts independently, although two members of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors are liaisons to the committee to provide support.
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Can current Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board members serve on the nominating committee?
No, current Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board members are ineligible to serve on the nominating committee.
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How much time would I need to commit to being a member of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee. Would I be reimbursed?
Committee members elected in the caucuses participate in a day of virtual orientation in January and a multi-day in-person session at Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ headquarters in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., to interview, assess and recommend Director candidates.
Committee members attend the following year’s annual meeting to participate in governance and policy discussions and nominate recommended Director candidates in their regional caucuses.
Committee members are elected to two-year terms, so complete the cycle twice.
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ provides a per diem to each committee member and covers travel costs for required committee meetings, including participation in the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ annual meeting.
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Who should I contact if I’d like to serve on the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee?
If you or someone you know would like to be a candidate for a seat on the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Nominating Committee, contact a Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board member with your interest and to request committee candidate information.
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Who should I contact if I am interested in becoming a candidate for the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors?
To learn more about the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Director application process, contact Megan Bern, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ corporate secretary and chief governance counsel, at megan.bern@chsinc.com or 651-355-3726.