The Minnesota Farmers Union Executive Committee is elected by the MFU Full Board of Directors every year. Each member represents a specific region of Minnesota and is the president of their county Farmers Union.
Gary Wertish
MFU President
Gary Wertish was elected Minnesota Farmers Union President in a special election in January 2017. He and his wife Jeanne have four grown children and four grandchildren. He ran a diversified grain and livestock farm and now assists his son Tom operating their family farm near Renville. Gary graduated from Renville High School and Willmar Area Vocational Technical Institute receiving a degree in Agriculture Business Management. Since 1991, Gary has served as a supervisor for Emmet Township in Renville County. He also served nine years as a director and president of the Renville Volunteer Ambulance Service. From 1993 to 1999, Gary served on the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Sweeteners in Washington, D.C., and now is a member of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds. From 2001 to 2007, Gary served as Sen. Mark Dayton’s Agricultural Director. He has served on MFU and NFU policy committees and as an MFU field representative and Renville County President.
Bryan Klabunde
MFU Vice President
Bryan Klabunde was elected MFU Vice President in February 2017. He has also served as the Mahnomen County Farmers Union President from 2010-2017 and is a director on the Farmers Union Industries Board. Bryan runs his family’s farm in Waubun, where he grows corn, soybeans and navy beans. When he is not busy with MFU or his farm, Bryan likes to spend time with his twin daughters Lauren and Avery and son Nolan. Bryan is proud of the work that MFU does for rural Minnesota and looks forward to working for the wonderful people of our organization for years to come.
Anne Schwagerl
MFU Secretary
Anne Schwagerl was elected as the MFU Secretary in 2017. She and her husband, Peter, operate a diversified grain and livestock operation near Beardsley in Big Stone County. Their family operates nearly 300 acres and grows certified organic corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa as well as a pastured pork and laying hen operation. Prior to returning home to farm, Anne earned her bachelor’s degree in Geography at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., and worked in the field of nonprofit grant management at National Geographic Society and United Way. Anne currently serves on the board of governors of Farmers Union Industries as well as participating in the WFO-GYMNASIUM Young Farmer Leader Training.
Eunice Biel
Executive Committee Chair
Eunice Biel was elected to the MFU Executive Committee from District 5 in 1999. An administrative assistant for the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Eunie’s education includes a master’s degree from the Hubert H. Humphrey school of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Winona State University. She and her husband, Robert, in partnership with their son, Kevin, and his wife Kelly, operate a dairy farm near Harmony in Fillmore County. Their family operates 950 acres and grows corn, soybeans and hay. Eunie serves as the clerk of Bristol Township and is the Fillmore County Farmers Union President.
Alan Perish
Vice Chair
Alan is Todd County President and was elected to the MFU Executive Board in 2016. He has attended every state convention since 1999 and has worked hard to make sure that there is always a Farmers Union presence in Todd County. Alan has been a multi-year recipient of the Silver Star Award and several Leadership Awards. Alan also serves as Hartford Township Board Treasurer and has a position on the Region 5 Commission and has been the chair of Todd County Township Officer Association. Alan and his late wife, Karen, won the Outstanding Leadership Award in 2011. In 2015, he was presented the Orville L. Freeman Award for Distinguished Service to Greater Minnesota and Agricultural Issues.
Ted Winter
Rock & Nobles County President
Ted was elected to the MFU Executive Committee from District 3 in 2017. He serves as the President of the Rock & Nobles County Farmers Union and has operated his family’s farm in Nobles County for 50 years. He is also an insurance agent with Farmers Union Insurance Agency. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1987 through 2003, advocating for farmers.
Larry Jacobson
Clay County President
District 1 Representative and Clay County President, Larry Jacobson became involved with Farmers Union by participating in youth camps and received the Torchbearer Award for achievement in education programs. He serves on the Town Board and is a member of the Clay County Crop Improvement Board. He has served as Clay County president for 20 years and raises more than 600 acres of crops with his wife, Regina, on their family farm near Hitterdal.
Joshua VanDerPol
Chippewa County President
Josh was elected to the Minnesota Farmers Union Executive Committee from District 2 in 2018 and is Chippewa County president. Josh, his wife Cindy, their children Jacob, Andrew & Kirsten, and his parents operate Pastures A Plenty Farm & Company. Their farm consists of 320 acres of organic crops and direct marketed heritage pork, grass-fed beef and pastured raised eggs. Josh is also council president of Immanuel Lutheran church of Clara City and serves on the media committee, broadcasting services on the internet, public access TV and local radio. He is a past 4-H leader and served on the MACCRAY FFA parent advisory board. He is proud that all three of his and Cindy’s kids have chosen agricultural vocations.