Key Cooperative Board of Directors Candidates

Voting members will elect new directors prior to the Annual Meeting in January 2025


Ben Sommers | Northwest District Candidate

Ben and his wife, Rebecca, live in Granger with their three little boys. His farm is just west of Ames, south of Highway 30. Ben started his farming career in 2020 when he partnered with a former customer as they transitioned into retirement.   Ben did not come from a farming family but was eager to begin farming – successfully growing his relatively small row crop operation each year. Ben worked for a John Deere dealer for 12 years and now works for Dose Manufacturing in Story City. He also owns and operates a large commercial snow removal business based in the Des Moines metro area. Ben is active in numerous groups within the Woodward Granger community including Beaver Creek Wrestling Club and 10 Squared Men of Granger.

1. Why is it important to you to serve the cooperative members?

Having a healthy co-op provides tremendous value to us as farmers and members. Having a strong local team that customers and members can rely on for service, support, agronomy, marketing and inputs is crucial. Additionally, having a strong board that can help guide the co-op in the right direction is very important. I feel that having worked for large ag businesses as well as being a beginning farmer, I bring a potentially different vantage point to the board.  

2.  What should Key Cooperative’s top three priorities be in the next two years?

  • Continue to maintain a strong and healthy balance sheet - enabling Key Co-op to remain nimble and agile in navigating the uncertainties of the current agricultural market.  
  • Explore new opportunities to support our customers - particularly in the realm of application. Implementing technology solutions that deliver value and positively impact everyone’s bottom line.
  • Attract new talent while continuing to invest in the growth and training of our current employees who are dedicated to serving our customers.

Nathan Voight| Northwest District Candidate

Nathan and his wife, Allisha, live a few miles southwest of Nevada with their three children. Nathan farms in and around Cambridge, Huxley and Slater. He raises corn, soybeans, hay and is also part of a cow-calf operation. Additionally, Nathan’s operation includes trucking and other custom farming applications. He grew up on a farm outside of Osage, IA and worked on a hog farm. Following graduation from Iowa State University, he chose to reside in the Story County area. Nathan has been serving as an Associate Board Member for Key Cooperative since 2023.

1. Why is it important to you to serve the cooperative members?
I look forward to serving the members of my cooperative and having been an associate director for the last year, see what is important to the member-owners. I want to play a role in moving our cooperative forward and building that future.

 2.  What should Key Cooperative’s top three priorities be in the next two years?

  • Since the co-op is relationship driven, I think Key’s top priorities should be focused around those relationships. They must be strong, member focused and we must listen to the needs of our customers/members.

Ryan Bell | Southeast District Incumbent

Ryan and his wife, Jordan, live in Newton with their two daughters. Ryan is a fifth-generation farmer and after receiving his Agricultural Engineering degree from Iowa State University, he returned to farm full-time with his father.  Ryan’s farm is located a few miles west of Newton and his operation primarily focuses on corn and soybeans. Ryan served a term as an Associate Director from 2016-2017 and has now been serving as an elected director for Key Cooperative since 2019.

1.  Why is it important to you to serve the cooperative members?
Key Cooperative has provided me with many opportunities throughout my life, from scholarships to training and the chance to gain valuable experience as an associate board member. Serving the cooperative members by representing them on the board has been a great way for me to give back to the cooperative that invested in me. As agriculture continues to change and evolve our members’ needs do as well. As directors we can help shape the vision for the future, ensuring the next generation has a strong local cooperative they can rely on.

2.  What should Key Cooperative’s top three priorities be in the next two years?

  • Keep innovating to find new ways to help both members and employees. In the coming year, as Key navigates through the challenge of modernizing our accounting software, there will no doubt be a few hurdles along the way. But the end result of this change will allow our members to easily view their account online and have access to features that weren't possible with the old system.
  • Continue investing in speed and efficiency, both by new equipment and diligently maintaining existing equipment.
  • Grow our market share with members and non-members by providing a high level of service at a competitive price.

Todd Van Manen| Southeast District Candidate

Todd and his wife, Sara, live on their farm operation property, northeast of Newton. They have three daughters. Todd grew up on his family's farm, just west of Kellogg.  His operation includes row crop of corn and soybeans, farmed in Jasper County.  From a young age, Todd assisted with daily operations and along with his wife & daughters, currently have an Angus cow-calf herd, which they raise and feed out.  Most are sold directly to the consumer, either through custom processing or their on-farm warehouse business.  Todd is a retired firefighter and paramedic for the City of Newton. He’s also a Trustee for Kellogg Township, past volunteer firefighter and paramedic for Kellogg Township, Deacon at his church and a member of the Newton FFA Alumni. 

1.  Why is it important to you to serve the cooperative members?
Being a representative for cooperative members is important to me because I enjoy being a voice for agriculture.  It’s important to me that cooperative members have a voice in the development of Key's long-term planning and goals.

2.  What should Key Cooperative’s top three priorities be in the next two years?

  • Continue to build and preserve the quality of the infrastructure and equipment.
  • Maintain competitive prices and continue using innovative technology while still upholding proper conservation practices.
  • Retain and hire high-quality employees to maintain and improve service, quality and customer satisfaction.



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