Organic Valley names new CEO

LA FARGE, Wis. — March 28 ushered in a new era at one of the nation’s leading organic farmer-owned cooperatives when Organic Valley announced Shawna Nelson as the cooperative’s CEO. 

Nelson, a 20-year veteran of the company, is the fourth CEO in Organic Valley history, and the first female to lead the cooperative. Nelson takes over for Jeff Frank, who became CEO of Monogram Foods earlier this year. 

“This is something I have been working towards,” Nelson said. “I am really looking forward to the next year and the next decade.” 

The Viola native began her career at Organic Valley as an intern with human resources and advanced to a full-time position with the marketing, sales analysis and planning department. She jumped back to a role in HR before her career took on a new trajectory in 2016. 

“That year we were looking for a role on the membership side and we couldn’t find the right fit,” Nelson said. “It was suggested that I take on that role, and with my limited background, I took some time to develop within the cooperative and demonstrated myself as a leader.”

After a year in the new position, Nelson knew that working on the membership side was where her heart was. She ascended to the position of vice president of the dairy pool and served as the executive vice president of membership for the last 18 months. But it took a push from the leadership team before Nelson realized that the CEO position was within reach.

“A few years ago, we had the conversations with my leaders, and we finally put CEO on my development plan,” Nelson said. “I wasn’t sure where I wanted my career to go. Sometimes life has these amazing moments where people see things in you that you don’t see, and I’m thankful for our leadership team for encouraging me to take on those challenges.”

Working across different departments throughout her career at Organic Valley shaped a unique perspective for Nelson. A former CEO who had a similar background across multiple departments with Organic Valley was George Siemon, the first CEO in the company’s history.

“I always admired George and how he helped build this place from the ground up,” Nelson said. “He knew all those elements, so when it came to strategy and leadership, he knew the cooperative and how it fit together.”

Those experiences from different departments helped provide a unique frame of reference for Organic Valley’s new leader. She gained a perspective that helps see the broader picture, while also understanding how each brush stroke can affect the next. 

“I’ve seen how we assemble milk routes, how we engage with farmers, how we work through supply chain issues,” Nelson said. “I’ve had the opportunity to be on many of our member-owner farms, and I know our employees because of my time in HR. When you can connect those, it’s a well-rounded approach.”

Growing up near Organic Valley’s headquarters, Nelson knows the impact that the company has on Wisconsin’s Driftless Region.

“As Organic Valley started to grow, you saw Main Street getting busier and busier,” Nelson said. “You were seeing a commitment to our rural communities. Our rural communities are so important not only to agriculture, but to all of us. Seeing how we can show up in our community — that’s always been a tenet for Organic Valley.”

Within the first month of her new position, Organic Valley held its annual meeting, bringing more than 700 employees and farmers together as Nelson had the chance to discuss 2024 and look towards the company’s future under her guidance.

“I left our annual meeting incredibly inspired,” Nelson said. “Having that opportunity to bring your membership and employee base together to talk about the future was tremendous. 

The mission of helping the family farm is Nelson’s primary reason for staying loyal to the company that provided her with an opportunity during college and committed to her development through her professional career.

“This company is in my backyard,” Nelson said. “I can look out my window and see my in-laws’ farm or drive 6 miles down the road and spend time with my family. I know the importance of this place to our communities, the people and member-owners that work with us.”

Those member owners are another driving force for Nelson. Spending greater than eight years on the membership side, Nelson had the unique position of visiting Organic Valley farms. Having those relationships with farmers and the people she represents personifies what Organic Valley is working towards. Fighting for those farms is exactly what she plans on doing as CEO. 

“I know that I get to fight each and every day to provide a vibrant future to family farms, where the next generation is excited about taking over,” Nelson said. “When you have those things — an opportunity for family farms and good food — it’s a winning combination.”