Two new faces have joined the Michigan Sugar Company board of directors, two outgoing directors were recently honored for their service, and a new slate of board officers—including a new board chairman—has been elected.
New to the board are Dean Haubenstricker of Frankenmuth and Mike Leen of Carsonville. Both were elected to serve four-year terms during Michigan Sugar Company’s annual meeting held Jan. 9, at Saginaw Valley State University. Also re-elected for another four-year term is incumbent director Warren Bierlein of Vassar.
Haubenstricker represents Michigan Sugar Company’s West District, Leen the East District, and Bierlein the Central District.
Following the annual meeting, officers were elected to serve for the coming year. They are: chairman Adam Herford of Elkton, vice chairman Clark Gerstacker of Midland, secretary Rick Gerstenberger of Snover, and treasurer James Roggenbuck of Harbor Beach.
After 12 years as board chairman, Gerstenberger chose not to seek re-election. He was pleased to be elected secretary, a role through which he will continue to serve on the executive committee.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as chairman for Michigan Sugar Company,” said Gerstenberger, who also is wrapping up his final year as president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, a 10,000-member, 11-state organization. “I am so proud of our cooperative and the talented farmers and world-class management team and employees who run it. I believe we have a very bright future and the right people in place to get us there.
Herford was elected to the board of Directors in 2018, following in the footsteps of his father Bill Herford, who served on the co-op board from 2002 to 2018. Today, Adam Herford oversees the family’s farm operation, which includes about 1,900 acres of sugarbeets, as well as alfalfa, dry beans, wheat, corn, soybeans and cattle.
“I am honored and humbled to be elected chairman and to serve this amazing cooperative,” said Herford. “It also is humbling to follow Rick Gerstenberger in this role, as he is one of the most well-respected leaders in our industry. I know I have enormous shoes to fill, and I’m thankful to have Rick by my side and grateful for his continued leadership to our cooperative.”