Meet the Board

Kristin Pronschinske, President
Master of Science Agricultural Education, 2005
Ag Marketing Communications major, Animal Science Minor, 2004

Background: Kristin grew up on a dairy farm in Western Wisconsin where she was heavily involved with the family business. Starting at eight years of age, Kristin was found in the dairy show rings showing her Holsteins and judging dairy competitions for 4-H and FFA. 

After Graduation: Kristin attended the University of Wisconsin – River Falls and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communications with an Agricultural Emphasis in May of 2004, and a Master of Science in Agricultural Education with an Extension option in May of 2005. In 2017, Kristin was accepted into graduate school at Colorado State University where she received her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership specializing in Training and Staff Development. Currently, Kristin is working on her MBA in Strategic Leadership at UW – River Falls with a May 2024 commencement.

Kristin has a passion for people, training, coaching, developing employees and strategic business growth. Kristin has been in sales for 18 years where she has developed new business markets and territories, managed sales teams, developed and executed corporate strategies and international business. Additionally, she has coached and trained sales teams and leadership development across North America.

Kristin resides close to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul where she is heavily involved with her community. She currently serves as the Vice President to the Board of Directors for Basics for Local Kids and coaches the UW – River Falls’ collegiate sales team. Kristin enjoys spending time with her Family, traveling, skiing, snowshoeing, motorcycling, golfing and being active with her dairy genetic business.

Gary Beastrom
Agriculture Education, 1966
Background: Grew up on a dairy farm in rural Ellsworth.
Student Involvement: Charter member of the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho and hold the Number One Pin.
After Graduation:
Served as an Officer and President of the WAVAI (WAAE) and the Wisconsin FFA Alumni and am currently a Life member. Gary is currently a Supervisor on the Marathon County Board and has served the Athens Fair as Secretary for 53 years. He has also been and EMT with the Athens Area Ambulance for 47 years.
Employment: Taught at Athens High School, North Central Technical Institute/College, Tomorrow River Schools and returned to Athens to finish my career. Gary was also an Ag. Loan Officer at the Bank of Athens for 6 years.

Erin (Nelson) Kamm, Secretary
Agricultural Business major, Dairy Science minor, 2004
Background: A native of Dassel, MN.
Student Involvement: Dairy Club and Delta Theta Sigma Little Sisters. She says that CAFES made her college experience so memorable. The friends and acquaintances from her time at UWRF continue to be her friends and contacts in the agriculture industry.
After Graduation: After graduating from UWRF in 2004 with a degree in ag business and minor in dairy science, Erin spent 10 years working for Tom Morris, LTD and the Cattle Connection in Amery. She has been with Compeer Financial for 10 years in the Dairy Consulting and now the syndications department.
Employment: Erin currently works for Compeer Financial out of the Baldwin, WI office as the Team Leader Agency Desk, working on syndications. Erin lives in New Richmond with her husband and son on their dairy and crop farm.

Sara Schaefer
Master of Science Agriculture Education, 2009
Animal Science, 2007
Student Involvment: In her spare time, Sara judges horse shows around the Midwest at various levels and train and show my own horses. She gained those skill sets while at UW-RF from participation on the Horse Judging Team.
After Graduation: After earning her Masters Degree in 2009, Sara spent nearly 8 years working for UW-Extension as a 4-H Youth Development Agent. She received tenure in the UW System in the Dept of Youth Development in July of 2015. Following the time working in the UW System, Sara spent two and a half years at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI teaching courses in Animal Science, Agronomy, and Horticulture. When she got engaged to her now husband, also a UW-RF alumni, they moved to Iowa and Sara began teaching at NICC in Calmar, IA. where she was responsible for courses in Animal Science, Agronomy, and Ag Business. She advised all students and served as the program director for the Beef Science Technology program.
Employment: Sara currently works for Zoetis Animal Health in US Commercial Operations in Learning & Development. She facilitates product portfolio training for new field force sales hires in beef, dairy, and equine markets.

Marcus Qualle
Agriculture Business - Crop Science, 2020
Background: Balsam Lake, WI
Student Experience: Marcus wants to serve to help brighten the experience of the students through faculty connections. He didn't grow up on a farm but now has a passion for agriculture, attributing a lot of that to his experience at the university level. Marcus states - "Part of the reason I would like to be on the board is just that - I want to encourage students who didn't grow up on a farm to have the same passion River Falls taught me to have."
Employment: Burnett Dairy - Sales Agronomist 

David Nonemacher
Agriculture Business, 2022
Background: Grew up in the Dairy Industry on a 100 cow dairy with variety of crops in the small town of Clayton, WI. In High School David was also an active athelte in both football and basketball.
Student Involvment: Chancellor student ambassador, crops and soils club, ag business club, Farm Beareau.
After Graduation: Worked for Bayer Crop science in corn production research for a year, was then recruited by Loam Bio for seed treatment research.
Employment: David serves as the lead agronomist for Loam Bio and is studying seed treatment fungus that assists the plants to sequester more carbon to build soil organic matter so the farmer can market carbon credits.

Cary Sifferath
Agribusiness major, Animal Science minor, 1998
After Graduation: Before joining the Council in 1993, Sifferath was a district sales manager for Kent Feeds, Inc., of Muscatine, Iowa.
Employment: Cary Sifferath serves as the Vice President for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the global use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including ethanol and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). In this capacity, Sifferath is responsible for oversight of the Council's 10 international offices and all worldwide programs.

Sifferath has held various positions within the Council since joining in 1993. Besides his current position, he has been Senior Director of Global Programs, Regional Director for Middle East, Africa and Europe, China Director, Japan Director and Southeast Asia Regional Director among other positions.

Chad Petersen
Ag Engineering Technology, 1986
Background: Grew up on a corn, soy, beef, hog farm in Redwood Falls, MN.
Student Involvment: Intramural sports, AET club, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity 
After Graduation: Chad began his career in the feed/grain industry for the first 11 years after graduation.
Employment: In 1997 Chad began his engineering career and currently works for Toro, Standards Engineer V.
Chad states: "I look forward to promoting this amazing college, encouraging Alumni to remain connected, and creating measurable career links for UWRF graduates by engaging Alumni."

Derek Husmoen
Agricultural Engineering Technology major, Soil Science minor, 2008
Background: Grew up on a dairy farm in west-central Wisconsin
Student Involvement: Alpha Gamma Rho, Crops and Soils Club, McNair Scholars program and Alpha Zeta.
After Graduation: Attended Texas A&M University where he earned his M.S. degree in Soil Science. Derek also farms with his family. While they no longer have dairy cattle, they still raise corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
Employment: Since 2011, Derek has worked with the USDA-NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). He started out in north central Kansas, then moved to southeast Minnesota and now work in western Wisconsin.