Mark Philips

My farm operation includes corn, soybeans, cereal grains and alfalfa in Plymouth County, Iowa. I also have a cattle feeding and finishing operation.

Prior to serving on the CVA board for five years, I served on the Farmers Cooperative Company board for seven years. I have been a full-time cattle feeder and farmer since 2008. Before farming I worked as a product engineer for 12 years. I hold a BS from Iowa State University. I am also serving as a director for Producers Livestock of Omaha, Regional Council for Land O'Lakes and the Akron Community Theatre.

Farmer-owned cooperatives are vital to our rural economies, communities and producers. As suppliers of inputs and end-users in agriculture continue to grow and consolidate, collective bargaining through a cooperative allows individual and independent producers to become part of something much bigger. As a director of your co-op, I will work to ensure we continue to provide relevant services and invest in assets to help you succeed.

I like to listen, learn and base decisions on facts. I am also willing to speak up and share my point-of-view when necessary.

Independent producers are the backbone of American Agriculture. Cooperatives like CVA give the independent producer leverage in the market through assets and provide valuable information through technology and people, enabling each independent member to stay relevant in agriculture.

My vision for CVA is to be the industry leader in service to its member-owners. The key to this is through technology, innovation, and people of high integrity that make fact-based decisions.

A successful cooperative depends on successful members. Keeping CVA relevant in assets and technology will enable success to our members.

My wife, LeAnne, and I live on a feedlot east of Akron, Iowa. We have three children: Sam (18), Ben (16), and Elizabeth (12). I am passionate about sustainable methods and new technology in agriculture. I like to snow ski, hike, am fascinated by all things mechanical, and love to raise just about anything that grows. A good share of my free time is spent watching our kids participate in sports and extracurricular activities.