Sharon Klinger, Vice President
Federated Co-operatives Limited
Mrs. Sharon Klinger was appointed by Federated Co-operatives, Limited to the Board of Directors of Cooperative Research Farms in May 2021. She received her B.S.A in Animal & Poultry Science in 2001, and her Master of Science in Ruminant Nutrition in 2005, both from the University of Saskatchewan. She joined Federated Co-operatives Ltd. in 2005 as a Ruminant Nutritionist. Mrs. Klinger was an active member of the CRF Beef Research Team, Dairy Research Team and Equine & Specialty Research Team, and has represented Federated on the CRF Research Committee. In 2016, she moved to her current position, Animal Nutrition and Compliance Manager, and is responsible for leading the Nutrition Team at Federated, administering the HACCP / FeedAssure program at all Federated feed plants, overseeing customer complaints, and also does some ration formulation for ruminants.
Being a member of CRF allows us access to cutting-edge research and a network of world-class nutritionists. This allows Co-op Feeds to offer solutions to our livestock customers that will help them realize optimal production, and ensure they are viable in the industry long-term. Co-op Feeds has built our feeding programs and recommendations on the research conducted within CRF for over 60 years, and are proud to be members of this unique group. We look forward to providing high quality feeds and outstanding solutions to our livestock producers and the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) for many years to come.
Mario Boivin
Sollio Agriculture
Mr. Mario Boivin is the Senior Director Ruminant – Livestock Production with Sollio Agriculture and was appointed to the Board of Directors of Cooperative Research Farms in June 2021. Mr. Boivin received his Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science in Animal Sciences from Université Laval. He has worked within the Sollio Agriculture network for 31 years; and has been a past member of CRF’s Dairy Research Team and the Research Committee. Mr. Boivin is based in Sollio’s office in Lévis, Québec.
Sollio Agriculture believes innovations allows our customers and us to meet the market expectations and go beyond. Research data from many CRF research trials has been successfully implemented in our line of products for the benefit of all.
Paul Kalmbach, Treasurer
Kalmbach Feeds, Inc.
Mr. Paul M. Kalmbach is the current President of Kalmbach Feeds, Inc. Mr. Kalmbach is a proud Ohio State University Alum in which he received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S) and his Master of Science in Agriculture (M.S).
His thirty-nine years in the industry has taught him much about the industry and how it relates to CRF. Mr. Kalmbach feels that the future success in the business of producing high quality meat, milk, and eggs will require real solutions, properly researched and delivered to farmers. CRF is the best model to efficiently deliver these scientific and practical solutions that will be required by our customers.
paul.kalmbach@kalmbachfeeds.com
Michel Layus
MiXscience
Mr. Michel Layus is the General Manager of the Innovative Feed solutions business line of MiXscience. He received a Masters of Science in Animal Science in 1989 from INAPG (University Paris-Grignon). He started his career in Glon-Sanders company and occupied different positions such as swine genetic activity Manager, swine feed activity Manager and Global Manager for the premix and feed additives activity in Sanders until the creation of MiXscience 2014. Michel is currently the president of the AFCA CIAL (French association of feed additives and premix producers).
Mr. Layus noted that MiXscience base line is “Innovate for life”, MiXscience owns and manages its MiXscience Research Center (MRC) in West of France, the biggest private experimental farm in UE, so innovation is our DNA, and our partnership with CRF is a very important open window to the North American nutrition science that will increase the value that we bring to our customers worldwide.
Todd Steen, President
Tennessee Farmers Cooperatives
Mr. Todd Steen is currently a Ruminant Nutritionist with Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, specializing in dairy nutrition since 1990. He also provides technical service support for all animals. Mr. Steen received his Bachelor of Science from Abilene Christian University and Masters of Science from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Steen has nine 9 peer-reviewed publications including six CRF research reports. He has also been member of the CRF organization since 1990 and has served as Coordinator of the CRF’s Dairy Research Team, Beef Research Team, and Equine & Specialty Research Team; as well as Chair of the CRF Research Committee.
CRF has great value to TFC, as we have implemented many feed products and developed ration principles based on CRF’s research.
David Ott, Secretary and General Manager
Cooperative Research Farms, Inc.
Mr. David Ott has served as the CRF General Manager and Secretary since 1999. Prior to that time he was employed by a CRF member as the Manager Swine Feed Sales & Marketing, and as a Technical Services Specialist. Mr. Ott grew up on a swine operation in Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture in 1985 and a Masters of Science in Animal Sciences (Swine Nutrition and Management) in 1986.