The U.S. Wheat Associates board of directors elected Chris Kolstad of Ledger, Mont., as secretary-treasurer, current vice chairman Jason Scott of Stevensville, Md., as chairman and current secretary-treasurer Mike Miller of Ritzville, Wash., as vice chairman at their Feb. 6 meeting in Washington, DC.

They will take office at the USW board meeting in July 2016 in Fargo, N.D., when current chairman Brian O’Toole of Crystal, N.D., will become past chairman. They will serve through June 2017.

U.S. Wheat Associates OfficersWheat leaders, from left, Mike Miller, secretary-treasurer; Roy Motter, past chairman; Brian O'Toole, chairman; Chris Kolstad, secretary-treasurer elect; Jason Scott, vice chairman; Alan Tracy, president.

USW is the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat production industry.

“Wheat has paid the bills on my family’s farm for 100 years and I want to thank the board for giving me the opportunity to give something back to this country’s wheat industry,” Kolstad said.

Kolstad is the fourth generation of his family to farm in Montana’s “Golden Triangle” region. His family grows hard red winter wheat, dark northern spring wheat and durum, plus barley and dry peas. Kolstad has represented his state on the USW board since 2012.

Scott is a sixth generation wheat farmer from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he manages his family’s soft red winter wheat, row crop and vegetable operation. He also owns and operates a Pioneer seed dealership with his father. He has served seven years on the USW board.

Miller is a fourth generation farmer who operates a dryland wheat farm and grows multiple crops on a separate, irrigated farm in east central Washington. He is in his fifth year as a USW director.

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.”

Source: U.S. Wheat Associates