The board of directors of Heartland Co-op, one of Iowa's largest farmer-owned cooperatives, announced July 9 that Tom Hauschel has been selected as the company's new chief executive officer. Hauschel, was employed at Heartland since 2005 and currently serves as executive vice president of grain and risk management, succeeds long-time CEO Larry Petersen who announced his plans to retire at the end of the calendar year. Hauschel's appointment will be effective on January 1, 2013.

Heartland Co-op Names Hauschel As New CEO

"The Heartland board feels very fortunate to have hired Tom as our CEO," says Art Churchill, Heartland Co-op's board president. "Tom's experience and knowledge of the local and national co-op system will serve our members well. The board looks forward to working with Tom and Heartland staff as our company grows and moves forward."

"I am very excited to have been selected to succeed Larry Petersen," says Hauschel. "Larry has done an outstanding job of building this cooperative that is solidly focused on serving its membership. I look forward to working with the Heartland board of directors, employees and membership as we continue a history of success."

Hauschel to succeed long-time CEO Larry Peterson who retires at end of 2012

Hauschel grew up on a family farm in northeast Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics. He began his career at Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) in Omaha, Nebraska as a merchandiser. During his 18 years at AGP Hauschel was promoted to senior merchandiser, commodity manager, and director of grain marketing. Today, he and wife Shelly have 3 children and reside in Urbandale, Iowa.

"I have worked closely with Tom over the last several years and have the highest degree of confidence in his ability to lead this cooperative as it begins its next quarter century of serving its owners," says Petersen, who has been the first and only CEO at Heartland since its inception in 1987. Through many unifications and acquisitions during Petersen's tenure, Heartland has grown to be one of the largest local cooperatives in the nation.

Heartland Co-op (www.heartlandcoop.com) has corporate offices located in West Des Moines, Iowa and consists of a total of 51 locations in Central and East Central Iowa. The organization serves more than 4,500 members with operations in grain handling and marketing, fertilizer and application, agriculture chemicals and application, livestock feed and processing, agriculture energy products and propane.