Born in Bozeman and raised in Great Falls and Glasgow, Steve has been farming on his family’s farm NE of Great Falls since 2007. Steve worked summers on the farm from junior high through the first round of college. He has an electrical engineering degree from MSU and an MBA from the University of Washington. Prior to returning to farming, Steve worked for 20 years on the west coast in the aviation and high-tech industries. Steve and his wife Michele are proud parents of Taylor, Nathan, Nicole and granddaughter Mackenzie. He has proudly served on the MGGA board since 2016.
Dale farms outside of Bozeman with his wife and daughters. He is 4th generation on his family farm. They run a cow-calf operation and raise a vast variety of crops, including alfalfa, barley, canola, corn, peas, sunflowers, wheat, and hemp. Dale is the Board President of the Pacific Northwest Canola Association, a Board member of the US Canola Association, and a Farmer’s Canal Board Member
Paul is a 3rd generation farmer, born and raised in Garneill, MT. He grew up doing all things farming and ranching with his dad and two uncles. Paul attended high school in Moore, MT and studied Petroleum Engineering at Montana Tech in Butte. In 2015 Paul had the opportunity to take over the family farm and has been fortunate enough to lease a couple neighboring farms since. During the slow times on the farm Paul owns and operates a trucking company hauling grain, cattle, and equipment. He is active in the Judith Gap Volunteer Fire Department and dispatches cattle trucks for JBC Farms in Hobson, MT. Paul’s hobbies include snowmobiling and golf. He has proudly served on the MGGA board since 2022.
Trevor grew up on the family small grains farm outside of Vida, Montana. He attended high school in Circle and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Ag Business at MSU. After several years of working in the crop insurance industry, he returned to the family farm to continue to raise crops and children as a 4th generation farmer.
Klayton is a 4th generation farmer, born and raised on the Lohr family’s original homestead south of Devon, Montana. Klayton had the opportunity to lease a neighboring farm in 2014 and started farming with his dad until 2019 when he took over his family’s farm as well. In doing so, Klayton has received an education in experience, and by attending informative cropping seminars and conventions like the MGGA’s Annual Convention. MGGA is especially important to Klayton as his Great Uncle Ray Lohr was on the founding board of MGGA in 1956. Klayton has served on the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee and currently serves as a director on the US Durum Growers Association board. Klayton farms 3,000 acres with the occasional help of his parents and siblings, raising durum, spring wheat, barley, pulses and grain hay.
Kera was born and raised in Great Falls. She grew up in an agricultural family and it has always been a passion of hers. She’s been married to her husband, Lars Birkeland, for 22 years. They have six children, three dogs and several horses. Over her career Kera has started several small businesses and worked in a Utah based law firm. More recently Kera has served in the Utah Legislature.
Loree was raised in Butte, and attended Concordia College in Portland, OR, where she earned an AA with emphasis on Accounting. She worked for a bank, a local CPA and a doctor prior to joining the Montana Grain Growers Association staff as bookkeeper in 2006. Loree and her husband have 4 adult children and one grandchild. She is active in her church and also enjoys camping with family and friends.
Shawna was born in Butte and moved to Great Falls, Montana at a young age where she currently resides. She married her high school sweetheart and they have two daughters and one son that keep them on their toes. Shawna brings a wealth of experience to her role as Interim Executive Vice President of the Montana Grain Growers Association, having served as Office Manager and Event Coordinator for MGGA where she developed a deep understanding of the organization’s mission, members, and operations. Prior to joining MGGA, Shawna spent thirteen years in the pipeline industry as a Project Coordinator and Estimator.
Always up for any excuse to bring people together, Shawna has a lengthy background in event coordinating both personally and professionally. She enjoys concerts, attending her children’s extracurricular activities, making new connections, camping, fishing, traveling, and football is her favorite season.
