About the Foundation

Bernard Peterson is managing partner of Peterson Farms, a multi-generational grain operation in central Kentucky. The majority of production used in the local bourbon industry, Peterson Farms grows corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, and hemp. Peterson Farms also owns and operates Loretto Grain, a country elevator storing and merchandising corn and wheat for the milling and bourbon industries.

Bernard has served as the Kentucky representative for the National Association of Wheat Growers, and is the past president of the Kentucky Small Grain Growers’ Association. He is a 2011-2012 attendee of “The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers” (TEPAP) program at Texas A&M University, and continues as an active member of the Alumni group. Bernard helped lead Peterson Farms to be named Top Producer magazine’s Top Producer of the Year in 2015.

Bernard is a 1982 graduate of the University of Kentucky where he received a BS in Animal Science, with a minor in Agricultural Economics. While at UK Bernard was active in several organizations including the Dairy Judging team and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.

His hobbies include cycling, traveling and enjoying time with his wife of 37 years, Annette, their two daughters and their families.

Scott Brown farms wheat, barley and mustard with his son-in-law and nephew on an 11,500-acre dry farm in Southern Idaho north of Soda Springs. He is a third-generation farmer. His family farm averages an elevation of 6,000 feet and is blessed with rich fertile soil and normally adequate moisture. Scott is a CPA and graduated in 1980 from Brigham Young University where he earned a master’s degree in accounting.

Scott has been involved in grain industry leadership since the early 2000s, having served in Idaho as the Idaho Grain Producers Association president in 2010. At that time he served on both the National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Barley Growers Association boards. He went on to serve as the National Barley Growers Association president for two years. He most recently served two terms as an Idaho Barley Commissioner. He has been a strong and effective advocate for the nation’s grain farmers.

Scott’s hobbies include traveling, fly fishing, photography and spending time with grandchildren. He and his wife Diane reside in both Soda Springs and Salt Lake City. He has a daughter, a son and 3 stepsons.

Gary has farmed near Rapelje, Montana since 1978, raising wheat, barley, pulse crops, safflower and livestock and is actively involved in his church and community. He has an extensive record of public service in Montana, serving as President of Montana Grain Growers Association in 1998 and President of the National Association of Wheat Growers in 2002.

Gary’s dedication to serving Montana’s agriculture industry continues today with his position as a director of the Montana Grains Foundation where he has been involved in establishing and raising funds for the first endowed chair in the history of the Montana State University College of Agriculture. Gary currently serves as a grower member of the advisory council for that faculty position.

Scientific research plays a constant roll in Gary’s farming operation. He works closely with the MSU Southern Ag Research Center in Huntley, MT by having off station variety trials located on his farm and served on several leadership capacities on the Montana Agricultural Experiment Stations’ Advisory Council. In 2006, Gary was selected by MSU as their Outstanding Ag Leader. An honor awarded to those who have provided extensive leadership in agriculture.

Recently, Gary was selected to participate in a transatlantic dialogue and grower exchange with German farmers, researchers and policy experts sharing ideas on smart farming technologies used in both countries.

Gary is married to his best friend, Sue and they are proud grandparents of sixteen wonderful young men and women.

Carl has been involved in the Grain industry for over 40 years and worked for Siemer Milling Company for the past 34 years.

He is currently Vice President of Grain Supply and is responsible for risk management of Wheat and Co-products for three flour mills with a combined daily capacity of 41,500 cwts. He is a past board member of the National Grain and Feed Association and also serves as of member of the Risk Management Committee. Carl has previously served on the Executive Committee of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.

Carl serves as the Industry Representative on the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association and was previously on the Illinois Wheat Association Board of Directors.

Carl is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Agricultural Economics.

Carl is married to Tina and they have two children, Kara and Christa.

Upon graduation from college in 1969, Ben Scholz began a career in farming/ranching in partnership with his father, which continues today with his wife as partner in B Scholz Farms. In 1999, Ben diversified interest by becoming President/CEO of Producers Compress, Inc., a business offering warehouse space for lease and cotton storage.

Ben graduated from Wylie High and later received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M-Commerce in 1969, formerly East Texas State University.

Ben’s farming business is located in Collin and Hunt counties, around the communities of Wylie, Lavon and Farmersville. The operation consists of wheat, grain sorghum, corn, cotton, soybean and hay in various rotations year to year.

Ben has held positions of leadership with the Texas Wheat Producers Association, Cotton Grower Warehouse Association, Cereal Crops Research Institute, Collin County Farm Bureau, Collin County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Ben has been named ‘farmer of the year’ with Collin County Soil and Water Conservation District; ‘Alumni Ambassador’, the highest award an academic department can bestow upon a graduate recognizing career achievements awarded by the College of Agricultural at Texas A&M-Commerce University; ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ of Texas A&M Commerce recognizing alumnus for having achieved illustrious careers in many different walks of life and the ‘Brother of the Century Award’ from the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.

Jeff Blackwood is Vice President, Government Affairs, at CropLife America, the trade association representing the developers, manufacturers, formulators, and distributors of pesticides in the United States.  CropLife America helps ensure growers and consumers have the technologies they need to protect crops, communities, and ecosystems from the threat of pests, weeds, and diseases in an environmentally sustainable way.

Jeff has been working on public policy in Washington DC for over 24 years, with a specific focus on agriculture policy.

Prior to joining CropLife America, Jeff was the Policy Lead for BASF Corporation’s Agricultural Solutions business.  He previously spent nearly a decade working as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill for Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Congressman Brad Carson (D-OK).  He also worked at the Fertilizer Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Mark is a retired sales leader from Bayer CropScience. He spent his entire career working in agriculture in the Northern Plains.

Prior to retiring, for nearly 25 years he managed the sales force for Bayer and legacy organizations in North Dakota, and at times Northern Minnesota and Montana. While the market in this geography is very diversified, over his career the largest market for the Bayer organization in this key geography was small grains.

Mark had an active involvement in industry organizations including the North Dakota Agricultural Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, and the International Sugarbeet Institute.

In his spare time, he enjoys golf and improving his golf game, spending time with his grandchildren and following NDSU Bison Athletics.

Starting in the Flour Milling business in 1975, working for Seaboard Allied Milling in Kansas City. Cargill acquired this business in 1982. Working in various Quality and Technical Service roles until the formation of Ardent Mills in 2014. And recently retired in a similar role with Miller Milling late in 2021.

The key roles over 45 years have been formulating wheat mixes for nearly every geography in the U.S. for both the needs of our flour mills as well as the customers each serves. This has been in combination of providing Technical Services to customers to identify optimum cost and specifications related to product consistency.

The activities and memberships in the industry include 2 stints as chair of the Cereals and Grains/AACC Milling and Baking Division almost 20 years apart.

Other industry activities were being active with the American Baker’s Association’s FTRAC committee and the North American Millers Association technical committee.

The Wheat Quality Council activities include chairing both HRW and HRS technical boards as well as the Chairman of the Board for the WQC in 2010. Also serving 12 years on the Executive Board or Board of Trustees.

Retired and living in the Minneapolis area, my wife and I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren who provide some of the pure joy in life we enjoy.

Ken is the owner/operator of a farm in North-Central Kansas raising wheat, soybeans, corn and milo. Ken has served on the National Association of Wheat Growers board, budget committee, research and technology committee, nominating committee, operations and planning committee, and been chair of the domestic and trade policy committee. Ken has served in several leadership positions in Kansas. He was president of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership board, school board president, and is involved in several other boards in his community and county. Ken has a bachelors degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University.