Skip to main content
aerial view of annual meeting registration

CHS Annual Meeting

Thank you to CHS member-owners for participating in the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting, held Dec. 4-5 in Minneapolis, Minn., CHS members conducted CHS governance, elected CHS Board members, gained business insights and learned how CHS is executing on strategic initiatives.

CHS Foundation ag teacher grants

During the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting, attendees voted for their favorite finalists in the CHS Foundation ag teacher grant program. Based on the voting results, these grants were awarded:

  • Ashby (Minn.) Public Schools received $20,000 to develop a greenhouse that will be a living classroom, expanding access to fresh produce and deepening student understanding of agriculture.
  • Madison (Ind.) Consolidated High School received $15,000 to expand the Growing Minds Farm Stop, a student-run farm store and cafe.
  • Edwards County High School, Albion, Ill., received $10,000 to purchase tools and software for its precision agriculture program.
A group of men and women sitting around a table

CHS New Leaders Forum

Young farmers and ranchers are nominated by their cooperatives to participate in the CHS New Leaders Forum where they learn about CHS and the cooperative model, build leadership skills and discover how they can advocate for agriculture and cooperatives.

New Leaders Forum participants are encouraged to stay for the annual meeting. Forum registration is completed in conjunction with annual meeting registration.

If you are a young cooperative owner who is interested in participating in CHS New Leaders Forum, contact the CEO or general manager of your cooperative or email newleaders@chsinc.com.

Watch for future owner events
View events

Annual meeting procedures

  • Annual Meeting Members Committee

    The 2025 CHS Annual Meeting Members Committee included 15 members from across the eight CHS director representation regions. Core responsibilities of the committee:

    • Discuss and provide input on top CHS public policy issues
    • Recommend rules governing member meetings for full membership vote and consider future rules revisions
    • Oversee delegate credentials, including presenting the credentials report for full membership vote
    • Oversee electronic voting processes
    • Review credentials of floor nominees who have not previously declared

    Beginning in 2026, these responsibilities will transition to the newly formed CHS Nominating Committee, which was elected by CHS members at the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting.

    View the 2025 policy briefing.

  • Director elections

    The following candidates were elected to CHS Board seats in the 2025 election:

    Region 1
    Alan Holm, Minnesota

    Region 3
    Kevin Throener, North Dakot

    Region 4
    Hal Clemensen, South Dakota

    Region 5
    Mark Farrell, Wisconsin

    Region 8
    Jerrad Stroh, Nebraska

     

    The CHS Board seats shown in the table below will be elected by CHS members at each year's annual meeting.

      Anticipated seats for election by year
     Region  2026  2027 2028
     1  2 seats    1 seat
     2  1seat    
     3  1 seat  1 seat  1 seat
     4    1 seat  1 seat
     5  1 seat    1 seat
     6    1 seat  
     7  1 seat  1 seat  
     8  1 seat  1 seat  1 seat
  • CHS Nominating Committee

    A nominating committee of CHS members was elected by CHS members at the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting to help lead CHS into the future by assessing and recommending candidates for the CHS Board of Directors. .

    The 2026 CHS Nominating Committee will recommend Board candidates for the 2026 election.

     Region  One-year term  Two-year term
     1  Ryan Mackenthun, Minnesota  Chad Okeson, Minnesota
     2  Wagner Harmon, Montana  Dan Schuler, Montana
     3  Darren Sletten, North Dakota  Adam Leiphon, North Dakota
     4  Miles Mendel, South Dakota  Tyler Fischer, South Dakota
     5  Jeremy Mills, Indiana  Tom Walker, Wisconsin
     6  Adam Clark, Idaho  John Schumacher, Idaho
     7  Glenn Christ, Iowa  Tracy Studer, Iowa
     8  Jeff Loschen, Nebraska  Rick Brune, Nebraska

     

  • Rules of order

    View the rules of order.

  • Voting procedures

    Every owner’s voice matters in CHS governance.

    • Absentee online voting for director elections is available for members who cannot be at the annual meeting in person to cast their votes. Members are not able to vote remotely during caucuses – they must either vote in advance electronically or attend the caucus in person to vote in director elections.
    • Absentee members are able to vote online during the annual meeting general session on any procedural motions brought forward during the meeting.
    • Mobile electronic voting technology will be used for all owner governance actions at the CHS annual meeting.
    • Direct questions related to voting procedures to Megan Bern, CHS corporate secretary.