Luke Carlson

My farm operation includes irrigated corn and soybeans in York County, Nebraska.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Northwest Missouri State University. During that time, I held leadership positions in multiple organizations. I was given the opportunity to attend leadership training seminars that focused on the traits and qualities required to be an effective leader. I have served on the board of directors for York County Farm Bureau for the past seven years and the Polk County Recreation Association (Ryan Hill) for ten years. I served as an Associate Director on the CVA board for one year before being elected to the board by the patrons. I have completed all four phases of the cooperative council director training and have attended FC Services Advanced Governance Series Director Training.

His first and foremost a farmer, but also a patron-owner of CVA. The landscape in agriculture is changing rapidly. The way farmers make decisions and purchase inputs will not be the same even a few years from now. Much of this change is due to advancements in technology. I believe that CVA is well positioned to adapt to these changes to better serve the patrons of the co-op. I would like to be an integral part of ensuring CVA is making the right decisions and making the necessary changes to remain relevant and serve the customers of CVA well into the future.

He often see things from angles that others might not. I am not afraid to speak up, even if it might not make me the most popular person in the room. I am firm in my beliefs and will base my decisions on what is best for the patrons of CVA.

He have learned a lot about the cooperative system as a director. The concept of “one member, one vote,” ensures that everyone’s voice is heard no matter how large or small their operation might be. One of the remarkable things about a co-op is the ability to make decisions based on what is best for the customers and patrons, not what is best for the bottom line.

His vision is that CVA will continue to serve the patrons in a first-class manner as it has in the past. I do not want CVA to be a place to do business. I want it to be the BEST place to do business. I want CVA to continue to hire top-notch employees and to be an important part of the communities that it serves.

His wife, Terri, and him have three children: Creighton, Landry, and Beckett.