Board of Directors
Farm Credit Mid-America is a cooperative owned by its customer stockholders who purchase voting stock, giving them the right to participate in director elections and vote on issues influencing the operations of the Association.
The Board of Directors consists of both stockholder elected directors and two directors appointed by the Board. Terms are four years. The Board meets regularly to set policy and provide overall direction to the Association’s leadership. Elections for open positions on the Board take place each spring.
Interested in serving on the Board of Directors, or have someone you’d like to nominate? Fill out our online form.
If you prefer, you may download the PDF recommendation form. Please send the completed document and any questions to the Corporate Secretary at elections@e-farmcredit.com or fax to 502-791-8198.
Indiana Directors
Dwain “Doc” Cottingham
Attica, Indiana
Grain Farmer
Doc is Vice President of a Family Land Sub S Corporation and Managing Member of a Family Land Partnership, both active farming enterprises. The fifth generation farmer is currently transitioning the 2,400 acre operation to his son, Ray, in Warren and Benton Counties. Doc is a member of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Farm Bureau, and previously served on the Warren County Farm Services Agency County Committee. He serves as a member of the Warren County Sheriff’s Merit Board, Adams Township Advisory Board, and Finance Committee of the Warren County Community Foundation. He serves as Elder and Board Chair, Pine Village Bible Church. He is a past Master, Pine Village F & AM Masonic Lodge, and member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Doc received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University. Doc currently serves on the Farm Credit Mid-America Audit Committee.
Stephanie “Steph” Hopper
Macy, Indiana
Grain, Swine and Cattle Farmer
Steph farms with her family in north-central Indiana raising corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Together they have a wean-to-finish swine operation, run a cow/calf operation and sell farm-to-freezer beef. She is the past Treasurer of the Miami County Farm Bureau Young Farmers. She is currently a Miami County 4-H volunteer, a board member for the non-profit CC’s Closet, and a member of Cornerstone Fellowship Church. Steph received an Associates Degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana Wesleyan University. She serves on the Board for Miami County Farm Bureau. Steph currently serves as Chair of the Human Resources Committee and is the Political Action Committee Chair. She also serves on the Risk Management Committee.
Dale Koester
Wadesville, Indiana
Grain and Dairy Cattle Farmer
Dale is the co-owner and operator of Koester Brothers Farms, Inc., a diversified dairy and grain operation, located in southwestern Indiana. The operation milks 230 cows utilizing robotics and produces wheat, soybeans, white and yellow corn and straw for erosion control blankets. Dale served as a member of the Farm Credit Mid-America Advocate Council. Other leadership roles include serving as the Vice-Chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers National Committee, Dairy Farmers of America Young Cooperators and the American Soybean Association’s Young Leader Program. He has served on the Posey County Drainage Board, the Posey County FSA committee, the Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau Board, the Vanderburgh County Fair and has been a member of the Evansville Young Dairymen, Vanderburgh County Extension Board and St. Wendel Church. Dale received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. He is currently serving as the Audit Committee’s Vice Chair.
Kentucky Directors
David Bates
Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Cattle and Grain Farmer
David raises beef cows, replacement heifers, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, hay, wheat and barley. He is a director of the Bullitt County Farm Bureau. He is a former director of the 1st Kentucky PCA, the Elizabethtown Advisory Committee and the Farm Credit Council. David attended the University of Louisville and Freed Hardeman University. He has served on the Board since 1988 and is the former vice chair. He currently serves on the Governance Committee.
John Kuegel Jr.
Owensboro, Kentucky
Dairy and Grain Farmer
John is a full-time farmer with a grain, hay and dairy heifers operation. He has served as the past state chair of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee. He is a director and past president of the Daviess County Farm Bureau, former chair of the Kentucky Farm Bureau’s second district, past president of Kentucky Holstein Cattle Club and a member of the Daviess County Extension Board. He is a former state president of the Kentucky FFA, the Daviess County Extension Council, Deacon at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, and a former member of the Owensboro Farm Credit Advisory Committee. John received a degree in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky. John serves on the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council and the National Farm Credit Council. He recently served as the Board’s Vice Chair and Chair of the Risk Management Committee and serves on the Human Resources Committee.
Todd Clark
Vice Chair Lexington, Kentucky
Livestock and Hay Farmer
Todd farms full-time with his son on 1,400 acres managing a grass-finished beef and cash hay operation. He also runs a horse boarding business and is actively involved in agri-tourism through farm stays. He is a director and past president of the Fayette County Farm Bureau, chair of the Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center Board, director and treasurer of the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council. He is a former member of the Burley Farmers Advisory Council, Council for Burley Tobacco and the First United Methodist Church in Lexington. Todd is a former member of the Lexington Farm Credit Mid-America Advisory Committee. Todd serves as the Board’s Vice Chair. He recently served as the Human Resources Committee Chair and currently serves as the Risk Management Committee Chair.
Ohio Directors
Lowell Hill
De Graff, Ohio
Grain Farmer
Lowell and his son raise grain on more than 1,500 acres in central Ohio. He is a retired General Superintendent with Thomas and Marker Construction. He is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Soybean Association, the American Soybean Association, Boggs Masonic Lodge #292 and De Graff United Methodist Church. Lowell received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from The Ohio State University. Prior to being elected to the Farm Credit Mid-America Board, he served on the Bellefontaine Advisory Committee. Lowell recently served as the Governance Committee Chair and serves on the Human Resources Committee.
Andrew Wilson
Chairman Somerset, Ohio
Grain, Hay, Pig and Cattle Farmer
Andrew is a full-time family farmer. He raises corn, soybeans, wheat and forages. He is a contract swine grower. He has a wean-to-finish gilt operation. He and his children also raise cattle and sell farm-to-freezer beef. He is a member of Ohio Pork Producers, Fairfield Christian Church, and the Farm Bureau. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness from Wilmington College of Ohio. He is a past director of The Ohio Farm Bureau and county Farm Bureau. At Farm Credit Mid-America, he serves as the Board of Directors Chair.
Rachael Vonderhaar
Secretary Camden, Ohio
Grain and Cattle Farmer
Rachael farms with her family and has a row crop family operation, runs cow/calf operations, installs custom systematic drainage tile and custom mixes and bags bird seed. Rachael was elected to the Board in 2017. Affiliations include the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program Checkoff, Preble County Farm Service Agency, Wheat Foods Council, Ohio Agri-Women, Preble County Farm Bureau, Ohio Federation of Republican Women, Preble County Habitat for Humanity, and the Ohio Corn and Wheat Association. Rachael is a former member of her local advisory committee and Farm Credit Mid-America Nominating Committee. Rachael serves as the Board’s Secretary. She recently served on the Audit Committee.
Tennessee Directors
Jason Moore
Paris, Tennessee
Farmer
Jason raises row crops, corn, wheat and soybeans with his family in Paris, TN. Jason also raises registered and commercial Angus Cattle. His operation also consists of hay production. He raises freezer beef and offers custom cuts for market. Jason is involved in his community as a volunteer for local 4-H and FFA organizations and involvement in Angus Association, Cattleman’s Association, Farm Bureau and Alpha Gamma Rho alumni. He is a former facility manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions. Jason currently serves as Chair of the Governance Committee and Vice Chair of the Risk Management Committee.
Brandon Robbins
Cookeville, Tennessee
Cattle Farmer and Agriculture Equipment Dealer
Brandon has a cow calf operation with cows and feeder calves. He owns and operates R&R Farms and Mountain Farm International, LLC, an agriculture equipment dealership. Brandon is a member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Overton Farmers’ Cooperative. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business with a minor in Computer Information Systems from Middle Tennessee State University. At MTSU, he was alumni vice president for Alpha Gamma Rho, an agricultural fraternity and president of Student Government Association. He currently serves on the Audit Committee.
Dale “Bud” Tucker
Greeneville, Tennessee
Hay, Timber and Cattle Farmer
Bud operates a commercial beef cattle operation, hay and timber on his farm in east Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Agriculture. He is past president of the Greene County Farmers Cooperative and serves as the Treasurer and Deacon at First Baptist Church of Baileyton. He has served on the Greene County Farm Bureau Board, the Greene County NRCS Committee, and the Tennessee FFA Board and is past president of the Tennessee Association of Ag Educators. He is a former member of the Farm Credit Advisory Committee in Greeneville and previously served on the Nominating Committee. Bud recently served as the Board’s Secretary and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee.
Appointed Directors
Steve Bush
Clermont, Florida
Appointed Director
Steve Bush was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of Whitestone Feeds, LLC, a livestock feed manufacturing and sales company with $15 million in annual sales and serves the primary leadership role in new business development for the organization. Bush previously served as the director of business development for Archer Daniels Midland, a Fortune 50 agricultural commodities company, and as the CEO of Lakeland Nutrition Group, LLC. Steve is currently serving as the Audit Committee Chair. He also serves on the Risk Management Committee.
Laura Knoth
Grand Rivers, Kentucky
Appointed Director
Laura served as the Executive Director for both the Corn Growers Association of Kentucky and the Small Grain Growers Association of Kentucky since 2010. She previously worked for Kentucky Farm Bureau for 18 years in a number of areas including Public Affairs, State and National Lobbying, policy development, education, natural resources and commodity activities. Laura is enthusiastic, hardworking and passionate about agriculture and works endlessly to promote the industry. She also partners with her husband on their family farm in Grand Rivers, KY. Laura serves as Vice Chair of the Human Resources Committee.