RIPE’s work is governed by a producer-majority board of directors. The board ensures that we have strong governance and financial management and is guiding us through the process of becoming an independent nonprofit organization.
We also have a steering committee that advises on producer engagement, contributes to policy design and makes recommendations on other opportunities that support RIPE’s mission. In addition, RIPE’s work is guided by our diversity, equity and inclusion committee, expert technical advisory group and our Farmer Advisory Network (FAN).
Board of Directors
Curt Mether
President, RIPE Board of Directors
Curt previously served as President of Iowa Corn Growers Association and is an active member of Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, National Corn Growers Association, U.S. Grains Council, and American Green Gas.
Curt is a third-generation family farmer and grows corn and soybeans on 1,400 acres with his wife, Anita. Curt also volunteers with 4H programs and Sunday school education, investing in the next generation. He uses no-till, cover crops, and other practices that invest in soil health and water quality. He is enthusiastic about RIPE‘s mission to help growers develop new economic opportunities while investing in their farms’ conservation practices for the benefits of their farm, neighbors, and future generations.
Eunice Biel
Vice President, RIPE Board of Directors
Eunie currently serves as President of Fillmore County Farmers Union. She is a frequent participant in National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-ins, and has served several times on the NFU Policy Committee. She was born into a very active Farmers Union family, and her mother attended one of the first Ladies’ Fly-ins in the 1960s.
Eunie’s family farm, Biel Dairy, consists of 220 cows and young stock and 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and hay. Four generations of her family work on the farm.
Christine Stearn
Treasurer, RIPE Board of Directors
Christine Stearn joins the RIPE Board with a background in organizational management and development. She previously worked on business models and regulatory opportunities for clean energy firms for the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Christine had a variety of experiences ranging from launching startups to working at a global sustainability think tank to building an analytic program for a $3 billion operating organization. She earned an MBA from Columbia University and Certification in Risk Management Assurance by the Institute of Internal Auditors. She brings years of experience as a member of the Board of Directors for a youth scholarship nonprofit.
Christine lives in Michigan but she grew up in Pennsylvania’s farm country amid an extended family of farmers. She is enthusiastic about RIPE’s mission to cultivate financial incentives for agricultural and environmental outcomes.
Agricultural Steering Committee
Member organizations listed in order of join date.
The Arkansas Rice Federation is the state’s largest rice industry trade association, serving as the umbrella organization for the AR Rice Farmers, AR Rice Council, AR Rice Millers and AR Rice Merchants.
The North Dakota Grain Growers Association is the premier voice for the state’s wheat and barley producers, offering members education, leadership, and representation to increase opportunity.
Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities.
North Dakota Farmers Union is a grassroots organization committed to the advancement of family farm and ranch agriculture and quality of life for people everywhere through member advocacy, educational programs, cooperative initiatives, and insurance services.
National Black Growers Council is a collective of multigenerational producers who advocate for the best interests of Black farmers locally, statewide and nationally. Its mission is to improve the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of Black row crop farmers.
The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is a membership-based organization whose mission is to create and maintain an economic and political climate that provides individual members the opportunity to sustain and grow the cattle industry in Minnesota.
National Sorghum Producers serves as the voice of the sorghum industry from coast to coast through legislative and regulatory representation and education. Its mission is to lead positive change for sorghum farmers through effective policy and relationships.
National Latino Farmers & Ranchers provides policy advocacy, farm management and sustainability training, conservation best practices, and technical assistance that enables Latinos and multiethnic farmworkers, farmers, and ranchers who have been historically discriminated against to transition and thrive in indigenous, regenerative and sustainable farming and ranching operations, while strengthening and safeguarding our national food supply system.
The following Steering Committee members are serving as staff of a member organization or in their personal capacity.
Brandon Hunnicutt, Chair
Vice Chair, Nebraska Corn Board; Member, Corn Board, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA); Chair, Board of Directors, Field to Market; Past President, Nebraska Corn Growers Association; Past President, Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association
Brandon raises corn, soybeans, seed corn, popcorn and sorghum on his family farm in Giltner, Nebraska. Brandon is a graduate of NCGA’s Leadership At Its Best and Advanced Leadership Program.
Brad Doyle
Board of Directors, American Soybean Association; President, County Farm Bureau; former President, Arkansas Soybean Association
Brad operates Berger Farms/Eagle Seed with his wife Joyce in Weiner, AR. They grow soybeans, rice, wheat and cereal rye. He’s attended the ASA DuPont Young Leader program and Leadership At Its Best, in addition to a REAP Tour and Soybean Leadership College. He’s also on the ASA Advocacy Communications Team.
Meredith Ellis
Rancher, G Bar C Ranch; Board Member, Integrity Beef Alliance; US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
Meredith is a second generation rancher in Rosston, Texas, managing 200 mother cows on 3000 acres of land which she lovingly refers to as her “national park.” She passionately believes in ranching’s ability to provide nutritious food to a growing population while leaving habitat and natural ecosystems intact.
Jimmy Emmons
Owner, Emmons Farms; Vice President, No-Till on the Plains; Coordinator for Mentoring, Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Jimmy is the third generation on the family farm in Oklahoma. He and his wife have been farming and ranching together since 1980. They have a diverse 2,000 acre cropping operation, a 250 cow/calf herd, and custom graze yearling cattle on nearly 6,000 acres of native range. Jimmy is a renowned soil health champion and can often be found sharing his knowledge through workshops and field days on his farm.
Fred Yoder
Co-Chair, Solutions from the Land; Past President, National Corn Growers Association
Fred is a fourth-generation grower who has farmed for over forty years. He raises corn, soybeans, and wheat. As an advocate, Fred promotes agriculture as a solution to many sustainability challenges. He feels it is imperative to produce more in a sustainable way, while also providing ecosystem services.
Bryan Jorgensen
Partner and chief agronomy operations officer with Jorgensen Land & Cattle
Bryan and his family have operated over 12,000 acres of no-till, non-irrigated crop ground in Ideal, South Dakota, for over 35 years. They also practice cover crops, diverse crop rotations and livestock integration. Bryan is active in groups such as the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association and Nutrient Research and Education Council, as well as the USDA NRCS Voices for Soil Health and Soil Health Mentoring. He was one of the founding members of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.
RIPE is seeking agricultural associations to serve on our Steering Committee. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about joining.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Jordan Booth, JB Cattle, Oklahoma
Hannah Breckbill, Humble Hands Harvest, Iowa
Brandon Hunnicutt, Hunnicutt Farms, Nebraska
Hazell Reed, Ph.D., National Black Growers Council, Arkansas
Somula Schwoeppe, Schwoeppe Dairy, Indiana
Jeff Webb, National Black Farmers Association, Arkansas
Technical Advisory Group
Trey Cooke, Farm Manager, Tofu Farms
Chrisina DeConcini, Director of Government Affairs, World Resources Institute
Mark Gutierrez, Executive Director, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
Braxton Mitchell, Extension Agent, Prairie View A&M University
Jim Moseley, Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ari Peskoe, Director, Electricity Law Initiative, Harvard Law School, Environmental and Energy Law Program
Alex Rudee, Program Manager for Nature-Based Solutions for a Fortune 100 tech company; former Senior Program Manager, Nature-Based Solutions for the World Resource Institute
Farmer Advisory Network (FAN)
RIPE’s Farmer Advisory Network (FAN) is a group of motivated producer-leaders from around the country that are working hard to build support for RIPE’s approach. They spread the word to others in their ag associations, they get RIPE’s name into the media, and they talk with policy makers directly.
To learn more about FAN membership, please fill out a request for information form and we’ll be in touch soon.