MORGAN, Minn. — Farmward Cooperative is announcing a planned executive transition designed to ensure operational continuity and long-term stability for its member-owners. Dennis Schreier, currently Chief Operations Officer, will become the cooperative’s next Chief Executive Officer on August 31, 2026.
Schreier succeeds John Husk, who is retiring after a distinguished 49-year career in agriculture, including five years steering Farmward Cooperative. To ensure a seamless handover, Husk will remain with the organization through October to support fiscal year-end operations.
The transition marks a historic milestone for the cooperative, coinciding with the planned retirements of three foundational leaders: CEO John Husk, CFO Sadie Reiners, and CIO Randy Ludewig. Together, their combined careers represent nearly a century of dedicated service to regional agriculture and Farmward’s legacy cooperatives.
"Our responsibility as a Board is to ensure Farmward remains resilient for generations to come," said Dave Kadlec, Chairman of the Farmward Cooperative Board of Directors. "This transition is the culmination of years of deliberate succession planning. John, Sadie, and Randy have built an exceptionally robust foundation. Dennis’s deep operational expertise and knowledge of our trade territory make him the natural choice to lead Farmward into its next chapter."
Schreier brings more than 40 years of cooperative and agricultural leadership experience to the role. His career began on the front lines in 1984, working directly with feed and agronomy customers at Buening Agri Service in Sauk Centre. In 1989, he joined Harvest Land Cooperative—a legacy cooperative of Farmward—where he spent nearly three decades managing agronomy, grain, and energy operations.
Following the 2017 merger that created Farmward Cooperative, Schreier helped guide major organizational growth initiatives, including the successful integration of the Equity Elevator and Trading Company and Ag Plus Cooperative mergers. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on leading significant investments in agronomy, grain, energy, and operational infrastructure designed to improve safety, efficiency, and customer service across Farmward's trade territory.
"I am deeply honored by the Board’s trust," Schreier said. "Farmward has never been about individual titles—it is about the member-owners, customers, and local communities we serve every day. I have been fortunate to work alongside leaders who built a rock-solid business, and I look forward to leading our dedicated team as we continue investing in our infrastructure, our people, and the future of agriculture."
Celebrating a Century of Collective Impact
As Farmward prepares for its next era, it honors the deep legacy of the retiring executive team:
Celebrating a Century of Collective Impact
As Farmward prepares for its next era, it honors the deep legacy of the retiring executive team:
- John Husk (CEO): Retiring after 49 years in ag leadership, Husk championed the vision of a unified Farmward, embedding a culture of accountability, training and positioning the cooperative for long-term financial health.
- Sadie Reiners (CFO): Concluding a 25-year career across Farmward, AgQuest, and Northland Capital, Reiners’ disciplined financial stewardship established the liquidity and solvency that allows the cooperative to consistently return equity to its patron-owners.
- Randy Ludewig (CIO): A former dairy farmer who became the cooperative’s first-ever IT employee 25 years ago, Ludewig built Farmward’s modern digital infrastructure, advanced scale automation, and launched its comprehensive information security program.
To support the new leadership structure, Farmward’s Board will initiate a national search for its next Chief Information Officer to steer emerging digital and artificial intelligence strategies. Concurrently, an internal search will be launched for the next Chief Financial Officer, reflecting the cooperative’s ongoing commitment to cultivating internal leadership.
"Leadership transitions are true milestones," added Kadlec. "John, Sadie, and Randy didn't just manage the business—they developed the people and the financial strength necessary for this exact moment. Their legacy is the enduring strength of the cooperative they leave behind."
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About Farmward Cooperative Farmward Cooperative is a diversified, member-owned agricultural cooperative serving producers and rural communities throughout Southwest Minnesota. With core operations spanning agronomy, grain, energy, feed, retail, and financial services, Farmward is dedicated to delivering innovative, field-level solutions while advancing farming for generations.