When PCSE embarked on the progress path to build the $15-million boidiesel plant and soybean crush facility, it relied on the diversity of its Managing Board. The Board, comprised of agribusinessmen and business leaders, brings a wide range of expertise to the company.
In addition to their leadership in the initial phase of Producers' Choice, they have collectively provided thousands of hours to bringing this project to fruition.
Meet the Managing Board of Producers' Choice Soy Energy LLC:
Jim Beckley, Chair
Clarence, Missouri
Jim is a lifelong resident of Shelby County, Missouri. He began farming fulltime after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1974. Over the years, his family raised 300 head of sows and 350 head of beef cows and farmed 1,000 acres of soybeans, wheat and corn. Ag business experience comes from nineteen years of managing Royster, a local corporation-owned farm market.
Currently, Beckley is the owner and operator of Beckley Ag Products, a fertilizer, chemical and seed agribusiness in Shelby County. It’s farm business and family for Jim Beckley. One brother, a son, daughter and three grandchildren are all actively involved in the farming operation of Beckley Ag Products.
Active in his church, the Shelby County Extension Council and the University of Missouri’s Greenley Farm Advisory Board, Jim and his wife Diana have four adult children and ten grand children.
PCSE Board Chair Jim Beckley (left) talks with members of the Boone County Cattlemen's Association in Harrisburg. Beckley promoted the benefits of the high-quality bean meal to be offered at the Soy Crush facility when it goes into production early 2009 in Moberly. In addition to Beckley, Board treasurer Matt Brownfield (center) and Project Manager Deanne Hackman (right) attended the dinner meeting presentation.
Scott Hays, Vice-chair
Monroe City, Missouri
Scott is co-owner of A&H Farms, a 2,000-acre row crop operation near Monroe City. Since 1994, he has also been a partner in Two mile Pork, LLC, a 4,000 sow farrow-to-finish operation.
The list of other ag ventures includes; Timberline LLC, Eagle Point LLC and serving as president of the board for the Farmers Elevator and Exchange in Monroe City, as well as chairman of NEMO Family Pork. Scott was a delegate for the National Pork Producers Association and member and past president, treasurer and state delegate for Monroe City Agri-Leaders. Actively involved in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the FFA Alumni Association member has served on the Marion County Fair Board and was a member of Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow VI class, as well.
He and his wife Riss have six children.
Gary Chinn, Secretary
Clarence, Missouri
Gary is president and co-owner of Chinn Hog Farms and Chinn Feed Mill, which are family-owned diversified agriculture businesses located in Shelby County, Missouri. Gary has been involved with Chinn Feed Mill for over ten years and Chinn Hog Farms for more than 30 years.
Since 2005, he has been a director and president of Newport LLC which is a swine production business. A graduate of the Agriculture Leaders of Tomorrow program, he belongs to the alumni group for that organization. Chinn is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarence. He and his wife, Kathy, a former state representative, have two sons who are both involved in the family farming business.
Matt Brownfield, Treasurer
Moberly, Missouri
Matt is president of Brownfield Oil Company, Inc. in Moberly, a position held since 1990. Prior to joining the family business, he worked in the commercial lending division of United Missouri Bank. He is also actively involved in the family cattle operation.
A member of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Brownfield belongs to the Moberly Rotary Club. He is a past member of the board of both the Randolph County YMCA ad Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce. Matt and wife Melanie have three children.
Kevin Butner
Macon, Missouri
A graduate of Macon R-I High School, Kevin has been heavily involved in food service and retail since the 1908’s. He graduated from corporate management schools for Kentucky Fried Chicken, Super 8 Motels and Hardee’s on his way to a 20 year career with the Ehrhardt Group. During his time with Ehrhardt, the company built, opened and operated 57 Hardee’s stores, four Super 8’s, one KFC and three convenience stores, winning national performance awards along the way.
In 1997, Butner and his wife purchased the Macon Country Mart grocery store and posted sales gain annually until they sold the business in 2007.
Active in the Macon community, Butner has served on the Macon Area Chamber of Commerce, Sheltered Workshop of Macon County, the County Economic Development Board as well as the Associated Wholesale Grocers Advertising Board. In addition to numerous civic clubs, Kevin belongs to the Immaculate Conception Church. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have two daughters.
Larry McDonald
Cairo, Missouri
Larry is a resident of Randolph Country and graduated from Cairo High School. The Moberly Area Community College graduate also attended the University of Missouri. He has farmed in the Cairo-Jacksonville area for more than 30 years.
He raises soybeans now, but has been successful growing corn, wheat, alfalfa hay and popcorn over the years. Larry has worked for the Randolph County USDA-Farm Service Agency for 15 years. The lifetime member of the Missouri Soybean Association belongs to both the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Randolph County Farm Bureau
Ted Sander
Moberly, MO
Ted is a lifelong resident of Randolph County, a graduate of the Moberly Public Schools, and earned an Agricultural Economics degree from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture (’70). He has farmed full time for 37 years, and presently operates 1800 acres of owned and rented land. He and Therese, his wife of 37 years, have 4 daughters and 5 grandchildren, and are lifelong active members of St. Pius X Parish in Moberly. A long time Missouri Farm Bureau member, Ted has served 9 years as a county president, and on the state Resolutions Committee. He has also served as a Commissioner of the Moberly Special Road District for 25 years, and is past president of the Randolph County Pork Producers. Sander’s involvement includes many years on other county committees and commissions.
Kevin Smith
Clark, MO
A successful row crop farmer in southern Randolph County for more than twenty years, Kevin Smith recognizes the benefits of bringing a renewable fuels project into the area. Smith is a graduate of Moberly High School, Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State) and he earned his MPA from the Unversity of Missouri.
He and his wife Brenda have three children. An active member of the New Hope Methodist Church, Smith just completed his tenth year as chairman of the trustee board. Other activities include leadership positions with the Moberly MFA Board, the Southeastern Randolph Fire Protection District, the Boone Electric Community Trust Board and other civic organizations.
Dan Nelson
Atlanta, MO
A veteran of agricultural product and service sales, Dan Nelson has worked for Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Diversified Industries. His background also includes thirty years of farming in northern Macon County. Nelson grew up in Atlanta and is a member of the Atlanta Baptist Church.
He and his wife Rhonda have two children, both married, and two grandchildren. Nelson says he is honored to serve on the PCSE Board and accepts the responsibility to help make the project successful.
Ed Miller
Moberly, MO
After thirty years as an engineer with Southwestern Bill Telephone Co.,Ed Miller retired in 2000 from the corporate world and turned his part-time farming interests into full-time work. He farms 300 acres in eastern Randolph County. After graduating from Bowling Green High School, Miller attended the University of Missouri. He also served in the Viet Nam war.
His career with the phone company moved him around the Show Me state, including stints in Mexico, Farmington, Hannibal, Kansas City and Eldon. He has called Moberly home for the past 20 years. Ed and wife Ellen have two children. Active in the community and his church, Miller is a member of St. Pius Catholic Church and has served on several boards, including the MACC Foundation, Randolph County Fair Board,and the Missouri Farm Bureau at both the state and county level.
Miller says "With my experience in both business and farming, I feel I can lend knowledge and expertise to the PCSE Board."