WES SPOHR
OC BOARD PRESIDENT
President & CEO, Ag Partners Cooperative, Inc.
SENECA, KS
Having grown up in rural Southwest Kansas and working in ag finance and the cooperative system for more than 15 years, Wes has a passion for a strong agriculture that supports local communities.
WILLIAM J. NELSON
OC BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT
Chair, Ralph K. Morris Foundation William J. Nelson, LLC.
St. Paul, MN
Having worked for decades with educational organizations, membership associations, cooperatives, and nonprofits, William is focused on building outreach that can be both e!ective and sustainable.
JEFF OCHAMPAUGH
OC BOARD SECRETARY
President, Agrilead, Inc.
RUSSEL, KS
With deep roots in Northwest Kansas, Jeff is active within his local community and professionally with his business that manufacturers seed care products for broadacre crops throughout the U.S.
SANDRA TAYLOR-SAWYER, ED.D
OC BOARD TREASURER
Director, New Mexico Small Business Development Center
Clovis, NM
Through service on her local City Commission and having started a business with her husband, Sandra has over 30 years of business operation and educating business in eastern New Mexico.
DELA ESQUEDA
Ex. Director, Guadalupe-Parkway
Sommerville Centers
LUBBOCK, TX
After growing up in a migrant worker family, Dela attended college, had a career in law enforcement, and now directs an urban-based afterschool program in Lubbock, Texas.
BERTHA MENDOZA B.S., M.S.
EFNEP/SNAP-Ed Extension Agent Kansas State University
Southwest Research-Extension Center
Garden City, KS
Building on her upbringing in Chihuahua, Mexico, Bertha’s fields of expertise are education, youth/family development, nutrition and health—as well as creating partnerships to address important community issues.
TIANA SUAZO
Ex. Director, Red Willow Farm
Taos, NM
After completing college and three OC Community Internships, Tiana is applying her skills back in her home pueblo, working on youth empowerment, leadership development, and food sovereignty.
ELAINE BELANSKY
Director of the Center for Rural School Health & Education
Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver
DENVER, CO
Having worked with rural communities across Colorado, Elaine understands the important role of healthy, happy schools on the lives of students, families, and educators.
Calley Runnels
County Extension Agent-Family & Community Health
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Swisher County Extension Office
Tulia, TX
In more than two decades working in rural communities as a County Extension Agent-Family & Community Health, Calley has spent 15 years working with OC programs, and really appreciates building elective partnerships that add value to our towns and residents.
