Who are we?

The Montana Grain Elevator Association

The mission of the Montana Grain Elevator Association is to provide a forum for all facets of the Montana Grain Industry. We discuss common issues and, when appropriate, take action.

The Association provides networking opportunities for professionals in the grain industry and serves as a resource for members and others about the grain industry.

Discuss common issues 100%
Legislative action 95%
Boring meetings 12%

CREATING CONNECTIONS

 

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

 

AWARDING VALUABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

 

145+
Member Locations
46
Years since we were founded
Well over 50000
dollars awarded for scholarships
1
Great convention each year

What we do

Our Goals

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCY

To develop and maintain an organizational structure that addresses the needs of members, is financially healthy, and enables the highest volunteer and staff competency.

LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY RELATIONS

To monitor and influence state and federal legislation and regulation which affect the grain elevator industry.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ETHICS

To enhance the professional competency and knowledge of members and to foster high standards of ethical conduct.

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION

To collect and effectively disseminate information on changing technical, governmental and other conditions affecting the grain elevator industry.

NETWORKING

To encourage interaction and the understanding of the issues affecting our members and to provide opportunities for this exchange.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

To maintain cooperation with the university system; state, regional and national agricultural, natural resource and business associations; state and federal agencies, and other groups in pursuit of MGEA’s mission.

PUBLIC INFORMATION AND AWARENESS

To enhance the recognition of agribusiness as a profession and the public’s understanding of the positive contribution we make to society.

Meet the team

The MGEA Board of Directors

MGEA Executive Director
Jayson Hauer, President

Jayson Hauer, President

Belle Pulses, USA
Jayson comes to Montana by way of Tennessee. He has a diverse background that includes time spent as a paratrooper in the US Army, a Senior Manager for an oil field service company, and an owner / operator of a small family cattle ranch. He currently is the general manager of Belle Pulses USA in Hingham, MT where he runs all the daily operations and buys pulse crops. He spends most of his time away from work coaching sports, including both football and wrestling. He and his wife Jana live in Chinook, MT with their 6 kids.
Brad Kantorowicz, Vice President

Brad Kantorowicz, Vice President

Stricks Ag
Brad has been around agriculture all of his life.  He was born in Chester Montana and grew up on the family farm south of Joplin.  He started a trucking company that he operated for almost 17 years transporting agricultural products.  He got into the elevator business 6 years ago and is currently the General Manager and Partner at Stricks Ag.  Brad lives in Chester with his wife Tesla and their 2 kids.  In their free time they like to travel and spend time at the lake.
Derek Gibson, Treasurer

Derek Gibson, Treasurer

Columbia Grain
Justin Hager

Justin Hager

Montana Specialty Mills
Justin Hager grew up on his family’s irrigated farm and ranch on the Fairfield Bench before continuing onto MSU Bozeman where he obtained a degree in Agricultural Business Management and a minor in Economics.  After graduating from MSU Bozeman, he managed grain elevators for General Mills and Columbia Grain for 7 years, followed by 2 years managing a grant and loan program for the Montana Department of Agriculture.  Justin has been with Montana Specialty Mills since 2007, trading specialty crops such as mustard, flax, canola, safflower, coriander, and caraway.
Reed Gibson

Reed Gibson

Malteurop
Reed grew up in southern Idaho on a Tulip farm.  He went to the U of Idaho studying Folklore History and was an active member of Phi Delta Sigma.  He then worked in Jerome at a yogurt factory before becoming interested in the grain industry.  His first job was in Rupert at an Edamame bean factory with Peavey grain.  After 12 years he was promoted and moved to Carter, MT with Peavey Grain, where he managed the facility and fashioned the idea of no-entry bin sweeps.  In 2002 he took a job with Malteurop as the Country Elevator manager and currently holds that role.  He has a collection of Volkswagon Beetles and enjoys his time tinkering in his shop on them.  His fantastic wife Sonia and 3 boys reside just outside of Fort Benton and enjoy their time traveling national parks.
Terry Bartelt

Terry Bartelt

Gavilon
I started my career in the grain business at the Kershaw elevator in 1983 back when that location was owned by U.G.C.

I worked there as an elevator operator and moved up to superintendent.

From 1985 through 1986 I relocated to a U.G.C. facility in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado where I worked as assistant manager.

Being born and raised in Great Falls, Montana I soon couldn’t stand being away from my home state and returned to work at Kershaw.

I continued work at the Kershaw elevator until 1993 as Superintendent.

July of 1993 I accepted a job as manager of Moore, Montana for Peavey / Conagra which became Gavilon in 2008 where I managed for the next 25 years.

I have seen a lot of change in the grain business and have always enjoyed the challenges.

I recently relocated to Billings, Montana where I work as an area manager for Gavilon.

Katelin Standley

Katelin Standley

Anheuser-Busch
Katelin was born and raised on a wheat and cattle ranch in Molt, MT.  She then graduated from MSU-Bozeman with an Agricultural Business degree.  She is now the elevator manager for Busch Ag in Fairfield and Conrad.  She lives on the Fairfield bench with her husband and son where they raise cattle and horses.
Michael Killen

Michael Killen

MolsonCoors
I am the Southern MT Agronomist for Molson Coors Beverage Company located at the Huntley, MT elevator.   I was born and raised in Miles City, MT.  After receiving an Agronomy degree from Montana State University, I spent 23 years in Powell, Wyoming working at the University of Wyoming Seed Certification Program, Wyoming Department of Agriculture and as Farm Manager at the University of Wyoming, Powell Research and Extension Center.  In 2013, I moved to Huntley to begin working for Miller Coors.  My wife Judy is originally from Billings, MT and works at the Huntley Project Museum.  We have two daughters, Ann and Carrie. We enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hunting, and fishing.  I look forward to representing Molson Coors on the board.
Gordon Holt

Gordon Holt

EGT - Sidney
Gordon grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia on a cattle, poultry and hay farm.  He attended Montana State University where he obtained his degree in Agricultural Business before beginning his career in the grain industry.  He currently manages EGT’s elevator in Sidney, where he resides with his wife, Liv, and two dogs, Deets and Newt.  When Gordon’s not buying grain or loading shuttles, he can be found hunting or helping his in-laws on their registered Simmental cattle operation.
Jarvis Frank

Jarvis Frank

Scoular Grain
Darren Fischer

Darren Fischer

United Grain - Moccasin
I started my elevator career in 2000 with Peavey Grain. I then had a very lengthy career in corrections before joining on with Gavilon. I currently manage Basin Seed Elevator in Stanford, MT. I enjoy hunting, fishing and camping and spending time with my kids.
Greg Thayer

Greg Thayer

Montana Milling
Greg graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Business with an accounting emphasis and is a CPA.  Greg is CEO of Montana Milling, Inc specializing in certified organic and conventional grains, flours, flakes, cracked products and specialty mixes.

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The Blog

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Did you know each bushel of wheat has about one million kernels?