Kincannon & Reed Places CEO at Midwest Dairy Association

March 2, 2016 – Executive search firm Kincannon & Reed has placed Lucas Lentsch as chief executive officer of the Midwest Dairy Association, a non-profit organization which manages dairy farmer checkoff funds in a 10-state region.

Mr. Lentsch will play a key role for the dairy community. In his new position, he will lead the organization, which represents nearly 20 percent of the nation’s dairy farmers. He will also work with Dairy Management Inc. at the national level.

Mr. Lentsch, who is currently serving as South Dakota’s secretary of agriculture, will begin working for the organization in mid-April, transitioning into the group’s leadership post as the current CEO, Mike Kruger, moves toward retirement in July. Previously, he was director of agricultural development at the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

“We’re excited about this new chapter for our organization,” said Jerry Messer Richardton, N.D., Midwest Dairy chairman. “We are looking forward to a seamless transition from Mike Kruger’s legacy of leadership to a new perspective from Lucas Lentsch.

Mr. Lentsch was selected by a search committee of 12 dairy farmers from across Midwest Dairy’s geography and was approved by the organization’s 34 dairy farmer board members who serve at the corporate level. Kincannon & Reed assisted this committee.

Founded in 1981, Kincannon & Reed focuses exclusively on the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors and serves clients from its offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. The firm is currently leading CEO searches for the National Pork Board and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media