As we move forward with the unification, we are pleased to share several leadership updates that strengthen our organization and position us for long-term success. These appointments reflect both the expanded scope of our unified business and our continued commitment to strong, experienced leadership.
“As we bring our organizations together, it’s critical that we have the right leaders in place—people who understand our members, our operations, and our communities,” said John Husk, Chief Executive Officer of Farmward Cooperative. “Each of these individuals brings years of expertise, proven leadership, and a shared commitment to serving patrons at the highest level. I’m incredibly proud of this team and confident they will help guide our unified organization forward.”
Dennis Schreier will now serve as Chief Operating Officer, providing operational oversight across the organization.
Dennis Schreier serves as Chief Operations Officer of Farmward Cooperative, bringing more than four decades of experience in agronomy, energy, and cooperative operations. After graduating from Ridgewater College in 1984, Dennis began his career with Buening Agri Service in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, working with feed and agronomy customers. He joined Harvest Land Cooperative in 1989, a legacy cooperative of Farmward, and has since held numerous leadership roles, including Agronomy Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager from 2012 to 2018.
Following the 2017 merger that formed Farmward, Dennis served as Vice President of Agronomy and Energy and played a key role in guiding operations through Equity Elevator and Trading Company merger. He has led major infrastructure investments across Farmward locations to support growth, improve safety, and meet evolving customer demands. Dennis also serves as a board member and past president of the Minnesota Statewide Manager Association and is a board member of Parthenon Insurance Agency, LLC.
Bill Pelzel has been named Senior Vice President of Energy, continuing to lead and grow our energy business.
Bill Pelzel serves as Senior Vice President of Energy at Farmward Cooperative, bringing nearly three decades of experience in the cooperative energy industry. Bill began his career in 1996 as a propane bobtail delivery driver, later transitioning into refined fuel bulk delivery and serving as an energy transport driver, building a strong operational foundation across all aspects of the business. Prior to joining Farmward, Bill spent 12 years as Energy Manager with a neighboring cooperative. In his current role, Bill oversees all facets of Farmward’s energy division, including staffing, procurement, profitability, sales leadership, and overall departmental operations, ensuring reliable service and strong performance across the cooperative’s energy footprint.
Jo Ann Gumto has been appointed President of AgQuest Financial Services, overseeing the organization’s Crop Insurance and Finance divisions.
Growing up on a farm in southwest Minnesota, Jo Ann (Jo) has been deeply rooted in agriculture her entire life, experiencing firsthand the dedication and hard work that farming demands. A graduate of Minnesota State University, Jo has leveraged her education and childhood experiences to advocate for farmers and the cooperative system for nearly 30 years.
Currently, Jo serves as the President of AgQuest Financial Services, a subsidiary of Farmward Cooperative. AgQuest provides input and crop operating financing, term loans, and machinery and equipment leasing. Additionally, AgQuest’s insurance division offers crop and property & casualty insurance products.
Jo’s previous roles include Chief Marketing Officer at Farmward Cooperative, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at CFS Cooperative, and Marketing Communications Director at WFS, a legacy company of CFS. She also gained valuable experience as a marketing assistant for Golden Sun Feeds, a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes at the time. Throughout her career, Jo has collaborated with employees and farmers to foster a culture of cooperation and has passionately worked with local media and agricultural influencers to share the farmers’ story.
Professionally, Jo has served as the past president of the North Central Region for the Cooperative Communicators Association and as the past chairman of the Martin County Farm and Home Safety Committee, where she helped establish safety curricula for elementary students in surrounding counties. She also served on the board of the Watonwan County Farm and Home Safety Committee. On a personal note, Jo and her husband Jim reside in Jackson, Minnesota, where they enjoy spending time with family and friends at the lake.
Josh Hilbrands, current Ag Plus CEO, will assume the role of Senior Vice President of Operations, effective March 1.
Josh Hilbrands will assume the role of Senior Vice President of Operations at Farmward Cooperative, effective March 1, 2026. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Ag Plus Cooperative, where he provided leadership across agronomy, energy, convenience stores, and auto shop operations, guiding teams through growth and operational change.
Josh grew up on his family farm in Clara City, Minnesota, raising corn, soybeans, and sugar beets, which instilled a strong work ethic and deep appreciation for agriculture. At age 14, he earned an auctioneering degree from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, and later studied business at Ridgewater College. Josh began his professional career with West-Con, advancing through roles including bookkeeper, sales agronomist, and location manager. He later held leadership positions with South Dakota Wheat Growers and Agtegra, overseeing multiple business units as Central Region Manager. Prior to joining Ag Plus, Josh served as Agronomy Department Manager at New Vision Coop. He is recognized for his strengths in team development, strategic planning, financial management, and operational leadership.
Justin Kunkel, Ag Plus Marketing Manager, has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing and Retail Business, effective March 1.
Justin Kunkel will assume the role of Senior Vice President of Marketing and Retail Business at Farmward Cooperative, effective March 1, 2026. He previously served as Marketing Manager and Central Dispatch at Ag Plus Cooperative, where he led marketing, customer communication, and retail promotion efforts across agronomy, energy, convenience stores, and service operations, supporting the cooperative through growth initiatives and organizational change.
Justin grew up in rural northwest Iowa and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2011. He has spent his entire professional career in the marketing industry, building expertise in content strategy, digital marketing, brand development, retail promotion, and internal and external communications—particularly within rural markets.
At Ag Plus, Justin was responsible for developing and executing company-wide marketing campaigns, customer education initiatives, and sales enablement tools. His work included leading digital and social media strategy, managing website and content development, creating retail and agronomy promotional campaigns, and supporting employee and grower communications during complex initiatives.
In his role at Farmward, Justin will lead marketing and retail strategy across the cooperative’s business units, with a focus on brand alignment, customer clarity, and measurable growth. His responsibilities will include unifying marketing efforts across locations and leading retail growth initiatives across convenience stores and shops, with a focus on traffic, margin performance, promotional effectiveness, and customer engagement, while strengthening digital platforms and frontline communication.
As it relates to agronomy, both organizations remain firmly committed to continuity of service for patrons throughout the transition. Josh Hilbrands will continue to lead the Ag Plus agronomy region, while Jim Boyle will lead Farmward’s agronomy operations through the spring season.
This leadership structure is designed to preserve strong local relationships, maintain trusted service, and ensure a seamless experience for patrons as integration efforts continue.