Skip to main content

Board Leadership

Charles Krause, Chair

Charles Krause, of Krause Holsteins, located in Buffalo, Minnesota, is the chair of Midwest Dairy. Krause Holsteins is a multigenerational dairy farm that first began in 1959 and currently milks around 350 cows. The Krause family has been farming in Wright County for over 150 years, and Krause himself is a fifth-generation farmer. Krause and his wife, Robyn, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1991 and then had the opportunity to join the family farm full-time. Krause also farms with his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Morgan, helps wherever needed. Krause grows his own feed on 500 acres.

Krause plays a prominent role in the dairy promotion industry. In addition to serving as Midwest Dairy chair, he has been an officer on the Midwest Dairy division board since 2007 and a member of the corporate board since 2010. His past officer position includes being the corporate board first vice chair since 2016. He also serves on the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) board as the Secretary and serves the Global Dairy Platform as a United States Ambassador.

In the past, Krause has received recognition as:

  • Farmer Communicator of the Year award from the National Milk Producers Federation
  • National Dairy Shrine Progressive Dairymen of the Year
  • Minnesota Milk Producer of the Year
  • Dairy Farmers of America Members of Distinction
  • Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Inductee

Krause is also involved in a variety of dairy and community leadership positions such as Dairy Farmers of America-Central Area Council Vice Chair, Centra Sota Cooperative Board of Directors and the Buffalo FFA Alumni. In his spare time, Charles enjoys traveling with his wife, Robyn.

Contact Charles

Molly Pelzer, CEO

Molly Pelzer is the CEO of Midwest Dairy, the dairy promotion organization working on behalf of dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states to build trust and demand for dairy products. Pelzer is the organization’s third CEO in its 24 years of dairy history. Her proven experience in developing programs and resources is timely as the organization continues its focus on consumer-centric goals to drive sales and enhance consumer trust for dairy. Her longstanding service to Midwest Dairy, family ties to agriculture and expertise as a registered dietitian root her to an industry she is committed to serving.

In her role as CEO, Pelzer provides strategic guidance to Midwest Dairy’s staff of more than 57 employees as they work to fulfill both the organization’s vision: to bring dairy to life, and its mission: to give consumers an excellent dairy experience. Through her leadership, Midwest Dairy is focusing on maximizing dairy farmers’ investment in the dairy checkoff by strategic collaboration with targeted retailers, foodservice, wellness and industry partners as well as focusing on research that leads to the development of products that meet the needs of today’s changing consumer.

Pelzer also plays the lead role in ensuring the Midwest dairy industry captures its share of the growing global and domestic demand for dairy. Consumers in the U.S. and around the world are increasingly turning to dairy foods because they taste great and offer a strong nutritional profile that includes protein, a nutrient many are looking for in their diets. The U.S. dairy industry is committed to sustainable nutrition, a position recognized favorably among domestic and multinational food companies.

Pelzer joined Midwest Dairy in 1984 and has held various executive leadership roles. In her most recent position as chief experience officer, Pelzer led the development of the organization’s strategic priorities. Prior to Midwest Dairy, she worked with the Midland Dairy Association, as well as Dairy Council, Inc., both former checkoff organizations that are now part of the Midwest Dairy region. A registered dietitian, Pelzer graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Contact Molly

Corporate Board Officers for 2023

Midwest Dairy is directed by a 35-member dairy farmer Corporate board with 11 of those members serving on Dairy Management Inc.’s national board.

Corporate Board members include Dan Hotvedt, First Vice Chair; Charles Krause, Chair; Rita Young, Secretary; Bill Deutsch, Second Vice Chair; and Matt Schelling, Treasurer.

Division Board Leadership

Midwest Dairy has 8 Division boards with leaders representing the farmers in their areas.

2023 Illinois Division

Illinois Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Doug Block, Pearl City
  • Bill Deutsch, Sycamore
  • Kristi Dinderman, Orangeville
  • Frank Doll, Pocahontas
  • Bryan Henrichs, Breese
  • Amy Hildebrandt, South Beloit
  • David Jarden, Staunton
  • Kurt Johnson, Greenville
  • Kappy Koch, Tremont
  • Donald Mackinson, Pontiac
  • Glen Meier, Ridott
  • Craig Meng, Freeburg
  • Brent Mueller, Garden Prairie
  • Steve Obert, Orangeville
  • Toby Probst, Wheeler

Board Officers:

  • Brent Mueller, Vice Chair
  • Glen Meier, Treasurer
  • Bill Deutsch, Chair
  • Amy Hildebrandt, Secretary

2023 Iowa Division

Iowa Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Pam Bolin, Clarksville
  • Doug Carroll, (Ex Officio to Corporate Board), Ryan
  • Gerrit Davelaar, Inwood
  • Dan Dietzenbach, Fort Atkinson
  • Jeff Dresser, Keokuk
  • Jolene Duitscher, Rolfe
  • Alan Feuerhelm, Le Mars
  • Fred Hall (Ex Officio), ISU
  • Robert Horst, Bristow
  • Dan Hotvedt, Decorah
  • Patrick Jones, Spencer
  • Lee Maassen, Maurice
  • Dennis Mashek, Calmar
  • Anthony Nunes, Sibley
  • Josie Rozum, Ely
  • Matt Schelling, Orange City
  • Jonna Schutte, Monona
  • Matt Simon, Dyersville
  • Madison Skubal, Wayland

Board Officers:

  • Jonna Schutte, Secretary
  • Dan Hotvedt, Chair
  • Lee Maassen, Vice Chair
  • Pam Bolin, Treasurer

2023 Minnesota Division

Minnesota Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

Board Officers:

  • Mindi Arendt, Secretary
  • Kristine Spadgenske, Chair
  • Rita Young, Treasurer
  • Kate McAndrews, Vice Chair

2023 Mo-Kan Division board

Mo-Kan Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Alfred Brandt, Linn
  • Amy Dudeck, Oregon
  • Lynda Foster, Fort Scott
  • Brian Haverkamp, Seneca
  • Chris Heins, Higginsville
  • Michael Hemme, Concordia
  • Byron Lehman, Newton
  • Orville Miller, (Ex Officio to Corporate Board), Hutchinson
  • Tom Oelrichs, Mora
  • Steve Ohlde, Linn
  • Alex Peterson, Trenton
  • David Rottinghaus, Seneca
  • Curtis Steenbock, Longford
  • Steve Strickler, Iola
  • Donna Telle, Uniontown

Board Officers:

  • Curtis Steenbock, Treasurer
  • Donna Telle, Secretary
  • Byron Lehman, Chair
  • Steve Ohlde, Vice Chair (not pictured)

2023 Nebraska Division

Nebraska Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Mike Amen, Norfolk
  • Greg Bleeker, Emerson
  • Jodi Cast, Beaver Crossing
  • David Crook, Humboldt
  • Paul Kononoff, PhD (Ex Officio), UNL
  • Doug Nuttelman, Stromsburg
  • Joyce Racicky, Mason City
  • Marshall Reece (Ex Officio), AMPI
  • Larry Schuster, Pickrell
  • Heath Snodgrass (Ex Officio), Orchard
  • Mary Temme, Wayne

Board Officers:

  • Jodi Cast, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Mary Temme, Chair
  • Joyce Racicky, Vice Chair

2023 North Dakota Division

North Dakota Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Johnny Campos (Ex Officio), Cass Clay
  • Terry Entzminger, Jamestown
  • Janal Hoff, Richardton
  • Sue Kleingartner, Gackle
  • Lilah Krebs, Gladstone
  • Nathan Kroh (Ex Officio), ND Department of Agriculture
  • Kim Ledger, Bismarck
  • Denise Rohweder, Wishek
  • Guillermo Scaglia (Ex Officio), NDSU
  • Toby Tormaschy, Richardton
  • Piet vanBedaf, Carrington

Board Officers:

  • Sue Kleingartner, Chair
  • Terry Entzminger, Vice Chair
  • Kim Ledger, Secretary
  • Lilah Krebs, Treasurer

2023 Ozarks Division

Ozarks Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Marilyn Calvin, Mt. Vernon
  • Charles Coblentz, Chouteau
  • Jack Dill, Conway
  • Earl Dotson, Marionville
  • Mark Fellwock, Monett
  • Bill Haak, Gentry
  • Randy Mooney, Rogersville
  • Gene Morrison, West Plains
  • Carrie Rantz, Spokane
  • Nathan Roth, Mountain Grove
  • Scott VanZyverden, Marshfield
  • Craig Westfall, Halfway

Board Officers:

  • Nathan Roth, Chair
  • Marilyn Calvin, Vice Chair
  • Carrie Rantz, Secretary
  • Mark Fellwock, Treasurer

2023 South Dakota Division

South Dakota Division Board Members

Bold indicates Corporate Board member

  • Sanjeev Anand (Ex Officio), SDSU
  • Jogchum Andringa, Brandt
  • Riley Boadwine, Baltic
  • Dorothy Elliott, Lake Norden
  • Evan Grong (Ex Officio), Valley Queen Cheese
  • Cole Hoyer, Bruce
  • Maartje Lemstra, Humboldt
  • Kim Maher (Ex Officio), Agropur
  • Allen Merrill, Parker
  • Doug Ode, Brandon
  • Marv Post, Volga
  • Hunter Roberts (Ex Officio), SD Department of Agriculture
  • Daniel Thyen, Waverly
  • Kevin Van Winkle, Canistota
  • Tom Walsh, Degraff, MN

Board Officers:

  • Maartje Lemstra, Secretary
  • Marv Post, Chair
  • Kevin Van Winkle, Vice Chair (not pictured)
  • Jogchum Andrenga, Treasurer (not pictured)