Jim Stuever
Mr. Stuever’s farm consists of 2300 acres of row crops that are flood irrigated. Crops grown are cotton, corn, and soybeans. During high school, he worked on various farms including two dairies.  Jim was active in the FFA and received the American Farmer degree. Jim began his farming career during his last year in high school in 1974, renting 160 acres from his mother.  Stuever continued farming while attending Southeast Missouri State University and graduated in 1978 with a degree in Ag-Business. After graduation, he worked with Farmers Home Administration as a loan assistant and later in the ASCS office while continuing to build his farming operation. Stuever currently is on the Stoddard County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Missouri Corn Growers Association Board, Farm Bureau Cotton Commodity Committee, and serves as the Elk Township Road Board Clerk.  Jim is also active in church activities and currently serves as the financial secretary for the local Knights of Columbus Council. Jim has served 15 years on the Bernie Public School Board of Education and has held various positions including vice president and president.  Jim’s wife, Angie, is the administrative assistant for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.  They have three children. 

Gary Branum
Mr. Branum serves on the Missouri Farm Bureau board of directors. Branum, who farms in New Madrid County, has represented southeast Missouri since 1999.  Mr. Branum grows more than 2,000 acres of rice, with smaller acreages of corn, wheat and soybeans. A Farm Bureau member for 17 years, he serves on the New Madrid County Farm Bureau board and has held the offices of county president and vice-president. At the state Farm Bureau level, Branum has been Rice Committee chairman. Branum is vice-president of Great River Soyoil. Activities in other organizations include serving as board member of the St. John’s Bay on Basin Drainage District and the SEMO Water District. Branum is also a deacon of the New Madrid Baptist Church. A former aerial applicator and air traffic controller, Branum also served four years in the Air Force. Branum and his wife, Becky, have one daughter, Elizabeth.

Mike Geske
Mr. Geske currently has a 2,000 acre row crop operation with 3 full-time employees, including son, Tim. Corn is the primary crop with cotton, wheat, soybeans and rice included in the farm operation. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Agriculture Economics. He currently holds positions with the following:  Missouri Governor’s Ethanol and Other Renewable Fuels Commission, Missouri Corn Growers Association Vice-President, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council Board of Directors, National Corn Growers Association Biotech Working Group, Missouri Farm Bureau 6th District Farm Pac Chairman, and New Madrid County Farm Bureau Board Member. He previously served as Secretary, Treasurer of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Farm Bureau State Resolutions Committee, Missouri Farm Bureau Cotton Committee Chairman, New Madrid County Farm Bureau President, Delta Growers Association Board of Directors, New Madrid County Extension Council, Presbyterian Church (Deacon, Elder, Clerk of Session) and Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster.

David Herbst
An experienced manager with a background in various areas, Mr. Herbst is the owner of Tierney Farms, Inc., Fab-Rite Metal Works and Perkins Mini-Mart, LLC. He serves as a director with the Missouri Soybean Association and the Scott County Farm Bureau. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the University of Missouri Delta Center. His past service includes membership on the University of Missouri Scott County Extension Board, Missouri Farm Bureau State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee (Chair), and the Missouri Farm Bureau State Board as an advisory member. Mr. Herbst has been distinguished for his efforts in agribusiness by state and national organizations.  He was the recipient of the American Farm Bureau National Achievement Award and was a member of ALOT (Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow) class 8. He has also received the Dupont State Young Leader Award, Water Management Award (from Cape Girardeau County SWCD).