The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors elected new officers for the organization’s 2025/26 fiscal year (July to June) at their meeting January 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Mike Carstensen of Almira, Wash., was newly elected as the organization’s next Secretary-Treasurer and will take office July in 2025.
At the July board meeting in Boise, Idaho, current Secretary-Treasurer Gary Millershaski of Lakin, Kan., will succeed to Vice Chairman and current Vice Chairman Jim Pellman of McClusky, N.D., will take office as Chairman. Current Chairman Clark Hamilton of Ririe, Idaho, will become Past Chairperson.
USW is the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat industry.
“As a farmer, I believe we have to engage in activities that propel our industry forward,” Carstensen said. “I know the success of our market development efforts is critical to the success and sustainability of my operation. And I’ve seen the great work done by the U.S. Wheat Associates staff. It will be an honor to support these efforts, help guide the organization, and represent wheat farmers across the country.”
Carstensen received a bachelor’s degree in business management and accounting from Whitworth University and an MBA with an emphasis in economics from the University of Phoenix. He worked in farm credit before returning to the family farm in 1985 that he, his wife Lorie, and their son Justin currently operate. They raise soft white wheat, club wheat and feed grains using high-level mulch tillage and direct seeding. Carstensen is a commissioner of the Washington Grain Commission and served as its chairman in 2021-22. He also serves on the boards of HighLine Grain Growers, Inc.; Tri-Cities Grain; the County Conservation District; and the National Wheat Improvement Committee.
Other Officers
Jim Pellman and his wife, Candace, have two children and grow wheat, barley, canola, corn, and soybeans on the farm they started in 1990 near McClusky, N.D. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University, Pellman worked as an ag lender and county supervisor with Farmers Home Administration and then several years as a community banker. He served as Chief and on the board of his community’s volunteer fire department and as chairman of a local non-profit housing organization. Pellman represents Sheridan County on the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC).
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