Dan Schurr, current member and former chair of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board of Directors, has been named 2026 Farmer Cooperative Director of the Year by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC).
The award, presented at the NCFC 2026 Annual Meeting, recognized Schurr for strengthening governance practices and championing strategic initiatives to position Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ for long-term success. His tireless advocacy for farmer cooperatives and mentorship of emerging co-op leaders were also cited.
“Dan understands and promotes the role cooperatives play in rural America and he is passionate about making Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and the cooperative system better for our owners and communities,” says Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ President and CEO Jay Debertin.
“I have always been impressed by Dan’s mix of humility and powerful leadership. His vision and commitment have been felt throughout the cooperative system. All of us at Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ thank him for his contributions and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”
Schurr was first elected to the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Board in 2006. He served as chair from 2017 through 2025.
NCFC also named Kevin Still, president and CEO of Keystone Cooperative, the 2026 Robert B. Engel Farmer Cooperative Manager of the Year. Keystone Cooperative is a Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ member co-op based in Indianapolis, Ind. Still has served his cooperative as president and CEO for nearly four decades.
