Board of Direcors of the Maine Beef Industry Council 2008
MBIC’s board of directors is comprised of beef producers and industry leaders.

introducing the directors .... 

Chairman Ed Carter of Richmond
                Ed is a livestock production professional. After managing the beef herd at Four Corners Farm in Richmond for many years, he joined John Deere in sales and service. His travels give him first-hand knowledge of farming in Maine and the issues farmers face today. Ed’s a dedicated supporter of 4-H and youth. He can be found around the barns during shows and behind the scenes at cooperative commercial and purebred sales. He is a director of the Maine Beef Producers Association and has held leadership roles in the Maine Hereford Association. His long tenure with MBIC began in 1994.

 
Vice Chair Jeff Randall of Freeport
                Jeff grew up tending his uncle’s beef cattle and got hooked at an early age. His interest is a benefit to Maine’s industry, as Jeff is both an active worker and leader. When there’s a sale, Jeff's there working -- rounding up cattle, setting up panels, and herding sale prospects into chutes. Although he's on the road much of the time as an environmental engineer with Synagro, Jeff still manages to support Maine’s cattle functions with his keen mind. Jeff is a long-standing director of the MBIC since 1999 and Vice Chair since 2001. 
 

Treasurer Russ Dodge of New Sharon
                Russ’ full-time endeavor over the past decade has been managing his farm retail store near his homestead, Whitewater Farm where he sells local beef and other products and distributes hay and grain. Russ has a long and varied career in beef, dairy, and veal production. He joined MBIC in 1990 as a veal producer for the Rambling Rose Veal label as a Farm Bureau representative. As a purebred Hereford producer, Russ participated in organizing Maine’s first cooperative cattle sales when he was a district supervisor and regional beef leader with the sponsoring Farmington Soil and Water Conservation District. 
 

Secretary and Compliance Chairman Jonathan Mohr of South Bristol
                Jonathan became well-known throughout Maine’s cattle industry by visiting farms and talking with farmers during fairs and events as a Genex representative. Although not a cattle producer himself, Jonathan is one of those rare persons who continues to share his objective and forward thinking, time, and resources for the benefit of the industry as a whole. Jonathan was influential in starting Maine’s BQA program, hauling our traveling exhibit from PA BIC in our initial thrust and helping to set it up and promote its use in production development. He’s been active on the board since 2001. 
 

Ag Com Rep Charles Norman of Brunswick - Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor
                Charles is a strong and steady Maine producer who is influential across associations and organizations. An Angus producer at Riverside Farm, Charles is a district Soil and Water Conservation supervisor under the Farm Service Agency. He represents Maine’s cattle industry on the Agricultural Council of Maine, a cross-commodity advocacy and planning organization which meets at the state capitol and is ready to react to and sway Augusta politics. He was an early consignor when cooperative marketing got started in Maine, and he supports industry growth. The industry can call on Charles when a persuasive spokesperson is needed.

 
Craig Allen of Sidney
    Craig raises Angus cattle (along with Brenda Allen) at their homestead just up the road from Craig’s family’s farm where he grew up with livestock and crops. The healthy and well-conforming purebreds from the Allen Angus Farm are well-known and they have seeded many new herds across the region. The farm's freezer beef is popular and many regular customers return each season for more. Brenda, past president of the Maine Angus Association, remains active in the Association and is also supportive of young Angus growers through their clubs.

 
Past MBIC President Bob Tibbetts of Gray
                Bob recently rejoined the MBIC board after a hiatus of several years. He returns well-informed, as Bob served as MBIC Chairman from 1989 to 1991 during the critical early years when funds were few and founding decisions were carved. Bob and Barbara and their sons are known in the showring with their Angus cattle from Bo-Rik Farm. Barbara is also well-known from her career in Cooperative Extension and as one who could always be counted on to help with any youth or organizing event.  MBIC is lucky that Bob is back in the saddle again.

 Pat Bates of Turner - Maine Angus and Maine Beef Producers Association
                Bates' Norwest Angus Farm gained its long-standing reputation for top conformity and grass-based genetics many years ago starting with Marshall Bates, Pat’s dad, and the reputation lives on today. Bates purebreds have founded many herds regionally. A director of the Maine Angus Association, Pat and now Yvette Bates both bolster the breed, Yvette as Treasurer.  Also serving on the board of the Maine Beef Producers Association and a member of the Maine Grass Farmers Network, the Bates open their farm to show how they convert good grass and timothy hay into high-quality protein. 


Ed Margeson of Westmanland in Aroostook County - MBIC's newest Director 
                Ed Margeson, an ex-dairyman, started in beef in 1975 and runs 21polled Hereford cows which he crosses with Red and Black Angus. He sells naturally-raised freezer beef and naturally-certified calves to Pineland Farms Natural Meat's feedlot. Westmanland, a town of one hundred people, lies northwest of Caribou near the top of the state of Maine. The town's only road runs between mostly 80-acre farms until reaching Irving-owned land and then Quebec. Ed is a member of the Aroostook Beef Producers Association as well as the Maine Beef Producers Association.

Maine Dairy Promotion Board – Ex-Officio
                Dairy Promotion Specialists Cheryl Beyler and Katie Hoffman extend MBIC’s reach in many venues as they represent Maine’s dairy industry. Whether collaborating with exhibits or distributing recipes and professional materials, our partnership is important as resources are limited.

Emeritus Directors
    Don Boutilier of Windham
                Don’s pure-bred Angus herd from his family’s Maple Lea Farm is known regionally, selling to regular freezer customers who return every year. Don has been honored by the industry for his long and active involvement and leadership. Don stood up in 1987 to push for the establishment of a checkoff program in Maine. He, along with a fellow dairy producer, signed the letter initiating Maine’s referendum to vote for or against having a checkoff program. Don is known to try new conservation practices, and he’s always on the lookout for new production technology to improve his outcome. 

    Milton Henshaw
                Milton, a dairyman from Canaan, retired from dairying and the MBIC. He served as MBIC's Chairman  for six years and represented Maine at national meetings. He is missed at MBIC meeting as is his participation. Milton's friendly and appeasing approach served the industry well for many years, and we thank him.