NMPF chose Brian Rexing, an Indiana dairy farmer and a member of the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative, as it NMPF’s 15th chairman Nov. 10 at the organization’s Joint Annual Meeting.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your chairman,” said Rexing in his first remarks after NMPF’s board of governors approved his nomination.
“I may be stepping into this role, but it isn’t about me,” he said. “It’s about who we represent, and the future we’re building together.”
Rexing and his wife, Ranell, operate New Generation Dairy, near Owensville, IN, milking 1,200 cows and farming 3,500 acres of corn, beans, wheat, and alfalfa. Brian is a fourth-generation farmer. Brian and Ranell have four children. He is the Vice President of Evansville Young Dairymen and received the Indiana Dairy Producer of the Year award 2010. In 2021, Brian purchased a meat processing plant with a retail store. Brian is a member of DFA’s Executive Committee.
Rexing succeeds Randy Mooney, who has served as NMPF’s chairman for the past 17 years. Mooney, who also serves as chairman for Dairy Farmers of America, will remain on NMPF’s Executive Committee, which also was elected Nov. 10.
“It is one of the great honors of my life to work alongside so many dedicated farmer-leaders who care deeply about the future of dairy,” said Mooney. “I’m proud to pass the baton to Brian Rexing — a leader who carries forward the spirit of dedication, vision, and integrity that defines NMPF and our entire industry.”
NMPF’s Officers and Executive Committee will consist of:
- Chairman Brian Rexing — Dairy Farmers of America
- 1st Vice Chairman Cricket Jacquier — Agri-Mark, Inc.
- 2nd Vice Chairman Simon Vander Woude — California Dairies, Inc.
- Secretary Craig Caballero — United Dairymen of Arizona
- Treasurer Pete Kappelman — Land O’Lakes
- Sheryl Meshke — AMPI
- Rob Vandenheuvel — California Dairies, Inc.
- Melvin Medeiros — Dairy Farmers of America
- Randy Mooney — Dairy Farmers of America
- Joel Eigenbrood — Foremost Farms
- Brian Hemann — Lone Star Milk Producers
- Jon Cowell — Maola Local Dairies
- Doug Chapin — Michigan Milk Producers Association
- Frank Doll — Prairie Farms
- Jacob Larson — Southeast Milk, Inc.
Also at the meeting, NMPF’s board of directors approved the organization’s policy positions and elected new members. New board members approved by NMPF delegates, a broader group than the board, include:
- Amy Humphreys — Northwest Dairy Association
- Kurt Williams — Lanco Pennland
- Stephen Mancebo — Land O’Lakes
- Brian Hemann — Lone Star Milk Producers
- Will Dyt — California Dairies, Inc.
The members awarded Honorary Directors for Life recognition to former NMPF board members Jim Werkhoven of the Northwest Dairy Association and Joey Fernandes of Land O’Lakes.
NMPF, the National Dairy Board and the United Dairy Industry Association co-host the meeting. The meeting of roughly 750 farmers also featured breakout sessions on industry topics ranging from an economic outlook and the role of Artificial Intelligence in communications to dairy labor challenges.
