Dennis Friest, Chair

Dennis Friest raises corn and soybeans, maintains a sow herd and runs a farrow-to-finish operation near Radcliffe in Hardin County where he has been farming for 51 years.

Dennis currently serves as an Iowa Corn Growers Association Chair and serves on the Grassroots Network, Membership & Checkoff Committee.

He is past president of the Iowa Soybean Association, current president of the Hardin County Corn and Soybean Association and served on the Hardin County Pork Producers Board. Dennis chaired the Middle East International Marketing Committee for the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health for the American Soybean Association. He completed nine years on the American Soybean Board and is a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Dennis currently also serves on the U.S. Grains Council Value Added A-Team. He has served 20 years on the Hardin County Extension Council and three years on the ISU Extension Advisory Committee.

Dennis has served as a trustee and current president for Zion Lutheran Church and is a past commander of the Radcliffe American Legion. He sees possible regulation of nutrient and chemical use as the biggest challenge facing Iowa farmers and wants to work with environmentalists to achieve workable solutions. He is also interested in expanding foreign trade and especially in promoting livestock and value-added products to increase corn use.

Dennis graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Animal Science. He and his wife, Helen, have three children and their son, Brent, farms with him.