The Advisory Board’s core functions are to 1) advance the HICAHS vision and mission and 2) ensure HICAHS is grounded in the needs of the regional agricultural community. The Advisory Board’s representation is from across sectors, commodities, and geographies, enabling HICAHS to better meet its mission and further our regional and interdisciplinary approach.
Advisory Board Members 2022-2027
Agricultural Industry/Producer Organizations
AJ Ferguson
VP Membership Analysis and Information Technology
Utah Farm Bureau Federation
Rick Naerebout
Chief Executive Officer
Idaho Dairymen’s Association
Agricultural Producers
Juan Velez, MV, MS
Chief Agricultural Officer
Aurora Organic Dairy
Extension and Academia
Jeff Bender, DVM, MS
Professor and Director
Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH)
University of Minnesota
Gilbert John, PhD
Assistant Dean for Research
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Colorado State University
Angie Johnson
Farm and Ranch Safety Coordinator
North Dakota State University
Peter Kolb, PhD
Associate Professor
Forestry Extension
Montana State University
Maristela Rovai, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor
Dairy Extension Specialist
South Dakota State University
Government
Wade Werbelow
Foreign Labor Certification Program Manager
Wyoming Workforce Services
Insurance and Workers’ Compensation
Trent Brewer
Safety Consultant
Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado
Worker Health and Advocacy
Bethany Boggess Alcauter, PhD
Director of Evaluation and National Agricultural Worker Health Program
National Center for Farmworker Health
Jenifer Rodriguez
Managing Attorney
Migrant Farm Worker Division
Colorado Legal Services
The HICAHS Leadership Team acknowledges, with gratitude, the service of long-time advisory board members who completed their terms in September 2022, including Ragan Adams, Shawn Archibeque, Keith Belk, Kevin Dole, Jeff Edwards, Alvaro Garcia, Herb Gibson, Paul Gunderson, Robert Hagevoort, Dan Hair, David Knell, Jessica Lemmel, Matt Nonnenmann, Brian Schiller, and Mike Taylor.