RIPE is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors that is a majority agricultural producers. Members include producers operating family farms and those involved in livestock and row crop farming.
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 inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) committee, expert technical advisory group and our Farmer Advisory Network (FAN).
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.
Georgia Organics is a member-supported, nonprofit organization with the mission of investing in organic farmers for the health of its communities and the land.
Through grassroots advocacy, Illinois Corn Growers Association creates a future for Illinois farmers in which they can operate freely, responsibly, and successfully.
The following Steering Committee members are serving as staff of a member organization or in their personal capacity.
Brandon Hunnicutt
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.
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.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee
Jordan Booth, Indigenous representative, US Cattlemen’s Association
Hannah Breckbill, land advocacy fellow, National Young Farmers Coalition
Antonio Carter, Georgia producer
Asuad Frazier, Alabama producer
Fred Gainous, Ph.D., Florida A&M University
Dexter Gilbert, producer; board member, National Black Growers Council
Trinece Holden, Georgia producer
Brandon Hunnicutt, corn board, National Corn Growers Association (ally)
Mackenzie Martinez, Intertribal Agriculture Council
Antoine Mordican, CEO, Native Black Farm
Ashton Norwood, Mississippi State Association of Cooperatives
Hazell Reed, Ph.D., executive director, National Black Growers Council
Somula Schwoeppe, member, American Dairy Coalition (female, small landholders)
Zachary Sissions, Georgia producer
La’shuan Wallace, producer
Jeff Webb, member, National Black Farmers Association
Otis Wright, farmer resources coordinator, Rural Advancement Foundation
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Trey Cooke, Farm Manager, Tofu Farms
Christina 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