Mid America CropLife Association Elects 2025-2026 Leaders, Honors Industry Leaders

With a strategic view on the future of agriculture and the crop protection industry, the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has announced the election of the 2025-2026 Board of Directors approved during the Annual Members Meeting held September 4, 2025, in Kansas City, MO.

Newly elected officers are, President Aaron Deardorff, Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC; Vice President Matt Lawrence, Valent USA, and Secretary/Treasurer Aaron Locker, Kincannon & Reed.

“MACA is on the move with a lot of valuable programs for our members and their employees, including Lunch & Learn sessions, the Young Leader Scholarship Program and our Developing Professionals Program. We will continue to build on our successes and this coming year we will be refocusing our efforts on the distribution & warehousing area of our membership. Through these efforts we are reinforcing the foundation which has served our membership since MACA’s inception with offerings that will serve them even better. It’s an exciting time at MACA and our future is bright,” newly elected President Deardorff shared during the Annual Meeting.

Continuing his service to MACA, Mike Lehman, AMVAC, will serve as Immediate Past President, advising on important topics and the direction of MACA initiatives. During the Annual Meeting, Board of Director members elected to three-year terms were Sarah Betzhold, BASF; Matt Wagner, Green Leaf, Inc; and Jaime Yanes, Albaugh, LLC.

Continuing Board members are, Brian Clark, Schuetz Container Systems, Inc; Drew Ratterman, Corteva Agriscience; Steve Sloan, Lamberti Agriculture; Jane Hanson, Rosen’s Inc; Mitch Reed, KOVA Fertilizer Inc; and Randy Stookey, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association.

MACA Award Winners

MACA also honored the following award recipients at the annual meeting:

2025 Educator of the Year: Mike Gaul, Director, Agriculture & Life Sciences Career Services at Iowa State University (retired)

MACA awarded Mike Gaul the prestigious 2025 Educator of the Year award. The honor was presented by MACA President Mike Lehman during the association’s Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Gaul, now retired, was the Director, Agriculture & Life Sciences Career Services at Iowa State University. He was recognized for his significant contributions to American agriculture, particularly for his involvement in teaching, advising, placement and recruitment activities for undergraduate students.

The Educator of the Year award celebrates individuals who have made substantial impacts through published works, public appearances, and consistent efforts in educating the public on the value of production agriculture.

Mike was recognized for his efforts in these areas with the Iowa Regents Award for Staff Excellence in 1998. In June 1998, he was appointed Director of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services at Iowa State and was actively involved with full-time and internship placement of college students and alumni.

He is a three-time consultant for the 5 year USDA/NIFA Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Renewable Energy, and the Environment, United States report and for the past 17 years has coordinated the annual regional entry-level salary report for agriculture and related disciplines graduates.

In May 2015 he was recognized with the Iowa State Alumni Association Faculty-Staff Inspiration award.

Each October his office hosted the nation’s largest Ag Career Day, with a record-setting 293 companies and nearly 1,800 students in attendance in fall 2024.

Collectively, during the twenty-seven-year period his office hosted 28 fall career fairs, 12 spring career fairs, 32,061 on-campus interviews and graduated a total of 21,314 undergraduates with an average annual placement rate of 98.2%.

MACA Board Member Drew Ratterman praised Gaul’s dedication to his students and the impact he had on the entirety of the agricultural industry.

MACA is also extremely appreciative of Mike’s support of the Young Leader Scholarship Program throughout the years.

The Mid America CropLife Association congratulates Mike Gaul on this well-deserved recognition and his ongoing contributions to agricultural education and research.

2025 Dean Roy Achievement Award Recipient: Russel Associate’s Jerry Van Oort

MACA announced Jerry Van Oort, CEO at Russell Associates, as the recipient of the 2025 Dean Roy Achievement Award. MACA President Mike Lehman presented the award during the MACA Annual Meeting held in Kansas City, MO from September 2-4, 2025.

The Dean Roy Achievement Award, MACA’s most coveted honor, recognizes individuals for exceptional service to MACA and the crop industry. Established in 1982, the award is named after Dean Roy, a past MACA member who served two terms as MACA president from 1976 to 1978. Van Oort is the 43rd recipient of this prestigious award.

With over 4 decades in the industry, Van Oort has been an active and dedicated MACA member. He currently serves on the Education Committee as the Chair for the Developing Professionals Program.

Van Oort’s contributions to MACA are numerous and impactful. He has been a strong advocate for the Young Leader Scholarship Program, hosting recipients for many years. He has also promoted the Agriculture Academy program (formerly CropLife Ambassador Network) and helped recruit speakers and new members.

“Jerry exemplifies the spirit of the Dean Roy Achievement Award. His unwavering commitment to MACA and the industry, paired with never ending pursuit to professional development of others, makes him an outstanding recipient. We are grateful for his continued service and leadership,” shared MACA President, Mike Lehman

Outside of his professional commitments, Van Oort enjoys outdoor activities, and spending time with his wife Kathy and his family.

Industry Vision Award of the Year: Mark Ripato, Tenkoz and Wilbur Ellis Company (retired)

MACA presented its prestigious Industry Vision Award to Mark Ripato, former President & CEO Tenkoz and former President of Agriculture Division Wilbur Ellis Company, during the Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri held September 2-4, 2025.

With a career spanning almost 45 years Ripato has supported MACA, its people and programs. His dedication to preserving, improving, and protecting the crop input industry has been unwavering throughout his various roles within the company.

Ripato received his Bachelors of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Kentucky and went on to receive master’s degrees in business and management at Salisbury University and McGill University (Montreal Canada) respectively.

Mark is still strongly involved in agriculture after retiring from Wilbur Ellis Company in 2023. Since then, he runs Ripato Farms specializing in his passion, the cattle business. During his comments at the MACA Annual Meeting he jokingly shared with the audience at Ripato Farms he is the President / CEO / Accountant / Veterinarian / Laborer / Equipment Operator / etc.

Ripato shared the keys to his career success and advice that he says has served him well in helping to advance the crop protection industry with attendees.

First presented in 1982, the MACA Industry Vision Award recognizes individuals who have devoted their careers to promoting and protecting the interests of the entire crop protection industry, supporting American and Midwestern agriculture, and demonstrating leadership within their company and other industry-wide organizations.