Land O'Lakes, Inc., has named Brad Oelmann executive vice president for Member Relations and Business Development Services, effective Aug. 1.
"Every day, our members are facing new challenges, from decreasing crop prices to bigger competitors in the wake of consolidation. As a cooperative, one of the most positive things we can do is strengthen our members," said Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O'Lakes, Inc. "From this vantage point, Brad will be able to fully develop and implement a superior suite of member products and services, all with the intention of helping members compete in the marketplace."
Oelmann will be responsible for a consolidated view of all Land O'Lakes dairy and ag members. In addition to being CEO of both United Suppliers Inc. and Aligned Ag Distributors, a wholesale crop inputs distribution company, he played key marketing roles for United Suppliers and spent a year with United Agri Products (UAP) as director of products and markets. In addition, he spent 13 years with American Cyanamid in various sales, marketing and management roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Business from Iowa State University and grew up on a farm in north central Iowa.
In August 2015, the owners of Ames, Iowa-based United Suppliers Inc., and member-owners of Land O'Lakes approved a merger. The first step of the merger combined the two companies' seed and crop protection businesses under WinField United. The second step, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017, will combine the companies' crop nutrients businesses.
