agricultural economics, spearheaded the 1998 merger of Cenex and Harvest States that created CHS Inc., the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, and served as its first CEO. He retired in 2000 and was on the board of directors for Thrivent Mutual Fund. He was inducted into the national Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the National Farmers Union Meritorious Service Award, an Honorary American FFA Degree and the Cooperative Communicators Association CEO Outstanding Communicator award. He lived in Lakeville, Minnesota.