Healthcare Focus

Jeff Allerson — Allerson has worked in the community health industry for the past 10 years and has presented across Minnesota focusing on the importance of CPR and early interventions — specifically in a rural setting.

Matt Berger — Berger is a partner at Gislason & Hunter, working in environmental and permitting issues, land use and zoning issues, contractual disputes, corporate governance and shareholder rights.

Brad Carlson — Brad Carlson is an educator with University of Minnesota Extension. His work focuses on nutrient management, water quality and precision agriculture.

Shelley DePestel — DePestel’s family farm in rural Lewiston milks 1,500 cows and farms 1,800 acres of corn and 800 acres of alfalfa. DePestels also utilize about 800 acres of pasture. DePestel is currently serving her second year as Minnesota Milk Producers Association president and has been on the board for 12 years.

Leif Fixen — Leif Fixen is the North America Agriculture Strategy Manager for The Nature Conservancy. He leads TNC’s Farmer Advisor Strategy, working closely with agribusinesses on issues related to water quality, soil health, and natural climate solutions. Drew Kessler — Drew Kessler is a principal and agribusiness sector lead at Houston Engineering where he works on projects focused on water quality and climate resiliency. Sue Knott — Knott taught high school agriculture for nine years before joining the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom team in 2012 as an Education Specialist. Sue trains K-12 educators to increase their comfort and confidence in utilizing agricultural content to enhance their curriculum.

Marrisa Nehlsen — Nehlsen is the founder and CEO of Freedom Financial Group. Over her 29 year career she serves her clients through her holistic planning firm based on the core principles to educate, empower and equip individuals, organizations and businesses to make wise choices.

Tom Olson — Olson is the board chair of the Minnesota Beef Council. With his wife Erin and son Levi, the Olsons work on their operation in Williams, Minn., near the Canadian border.

Tom Sell — In his role as founder and manager of Combest, Sell & Associates, Sell provides guidance and management, fosters strong relationships with influential leaders in Congress and the Administration, and leads client development efforts.

Christy Seyfert — As executive director of government affairs, Seyfert leads the American Soybean Association’s Washington, D.C., office.

Keri Sidle — Sidle joined MAITC in 2016. She has extensive experience with virtual program delivery and promotion.

Pamela Stahlke — Stahlke serves farmers in her home region of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa as the Director of the USDA Risk Management Agency’s St. Paul Regional Office.

Kent Thiesse — Thiesse is a farm management analyst and currently serves as senior vice president and chief ag loan officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal, Minn.

Ann Marie Ward — Ward works with the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom team to create opportunities to empower educators to infuse agriculture into their classrooms is a driving mission.

Gary Wertish — Wertish is president of the Minnesota Farmers Union. He assists his son Tom operating their family farm near Renville, Minn.

Colleen Willard — Willard currently serves as Director of Public Policy at the National Corn Growers Association, where she is responsible for lobbying Congress and the Executive Branch on conservation, environmental and crop protection issues.