Board of Directors

John was first elected to the board in 2013, with his current term expiring in 2025. 

John P. Knopf is the principal owner of Fa-Ba Farms, LLC in Canandaigua, N.Y. Fa-Ba Farms is a dairy business consisting of 580 milking cows, 400 replacements and 800 acres of land devoted to forage production.

John is also a member of the Town of Canandaigua Board of Assessment Review and has prior service with the Soil and Water Conservation District Northern Watershed Committee and Ontario County Farm Bureau.

LouAnne King, of Madrid, N.Y., was elected to the board in 2017, with her current term expiring in 2025.

LouAnne is an owner of Mapleview Dairy LLC, along with her brother, David Fisher, and extended family. The family operates multiple businesses which encompass a 3,100-cow dairy, a 2,800-replacement heifer facility, and approximately 5,000 acres for forage and grain. LouAnne serves as office and financial manager, while providing human resource functions, management support, and mentoring the next generation of managers. 

LouAnne is a past member of the NEDPA board, the NYS Dairy Promotion Advisory Board, Pro-Dairy Advisory Board and the St. Lawrence County Dairy Promotion Committee. She currently serves on the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation Board, the St. Lawrence County Workforce Development Board and the Scotch Presbyterian Church Session.

Timothy Benjamin, of Naples Fla., was appointed as an outside director in 2023 to a term expiring in 2027.

Timothy is retired from Seneca Foods Corporation where he was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 2012 to 2023. Prior to that he was with Birds Eye Foods, Inc. for 15 years in increasingly responsible financial positions, reaching the position of Vice President and Treasurer. Previously he was with Price Waterhouse, LLP for nine years ultimately reaching the position of Senior Tax Manager. 

Michael N. Brooks, of Elmer, N.J., was first elected to the Farm Credit East Board in 2014, with his current term expiring in 2025.

In partnership with his parents, William and Diane Brooks, he owns Dusty Lane Farms, LLC . Dusty Lane Farms is a diverse, 2,000-acre irrigated operation producing white potatoes, peppers, spinach, cabbage, sweet corn, corn, wheat and soybeans. The farm also includes 27,000 square feet of heated greenhouse space for vegetable transplants. 

Mike serves on the executive committee of the Salem County Board of Agriculture and is the president of the New Jersey White Potato Association. He is past chair of the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Agricultural Education Advisory Committee and is a life-long supporter of the FFA Organization.

David Folino has served as a Farm Credit East director since 2022. His seat expires in 2026. He was formerly a director of Yankee Farm Credit, serving since 2018. 

David and his wife Sue own and operate Hillsboro Sugarworks in Starksboro, Vermont. While spending 20 years in the publishing industry, working as a marketing director, general manager and co-owner, he started a small sugaring operation, which grew into a small business. He is now full-time in the maple business, with about 15,500 trees currently tapped. He and his wife market throughout central Vermont and worldwide through their website. 

In addition, David volunteers as a Director for the Vermont Maple Sugarmaker’s Association and serves on a committee with the Northeast Organic Farmers Association. He also teaches classes to other sugarmakers on maple economics and management. 

Laurie K. Griffen was elected to the board in 2011. Her current term expires in 2028.

Laurie and her husband Steve are co-owner-operators of Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc., a 600-acre turfgrass farm in Stillwater, N.Y. In addition, Saratoga Sod provides sod installation services, sales of seed and fertilizer products, and the Big Yellow Bag garden soil product to assist its customers across the Northeast. Saratoga Sod also grows roughly 500 acres of corn and soybeans as part of the crop rotation.

Laurie is also presently vice chair of the Town of Saratoga Planning Board, co-chair of the Schuyler Park Committee, trustee of the Quaker Springs United Methodist Church and serves on the New York Farm Bureau Labor Committee.

Philip "Jamie" Jones, of Shelton, Conn., was elected director in 2018 to a term expiring in 2026.

Jamie is owner and founder of Jones Family Farms Winery, LLC, which he established in 2004. He is the sixth generation to work the land of the Jones Family Farms. He manages the business with his wife, Christiana, and his parents, Terry and Jean Jones. Jamie oversees a diverse agricultural and farm hospitality operation focused on harvest your own berries, vineyards, pumpkins and Christmas trees.

Jamie serves as a director of the Fairfield County Farm Bureau, the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association and the Governor’s Council for Agricultural Development as well as on the Shelton Zoning Board of Appeals.

Brett D. Kreher, of Clarence, N.Y., was elected director in 2023 to a term expiring in 2027.

Brett is partner at Kreher Family Farms (and related entities), an egg production business raising approximately two million hens that produce conventional, organic and pastured organic eggs across three locations. The business also has conventional and organic grain operations along with a conventional fresh-market vegetable/greenhouse operation and produces and sells organic fertilizer. Brett is responsible for advising the crop operations and administrative functions for all owned entities.

Brett is chair of the Erie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, serves on the Town of Clarence Municipal Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Committee, and is vice president of the Board of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. He has also served as trustee of his church, is past president of the Erie County Farm Bureau and past board member of the Western New York Land Conservancy. 

Jay McWatters, of Hamburg, NY, was appointed as an outside director in 2021 to a term expiring in 2025.

Jay is the Executive Account In-Residence for the Wehle School of Business at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where he teaches auditing and accounting. Previously, he was an assurance partner at Dopkins & Company, LLP and KPMG LLP where he served multiple cooperative clients.

Jay has served various cooperative organizations including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Society for Accountants and Cooperatives, and the Northeast Cooperative Council. He has also served on the board of directors of Catholic Health System, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, and Canisius College Council on Accountancy. Jay is a certified public accountant.

James A. Robbins II, of Searsmont, Maine, was elected director in 2019 to a term expiring in 2027.

Jim is president of Robbins Lumber, Inc., a fully integrated log yard, sawmill, dry kilns and planer mill that produces Eastern White Pine. Robbins Lumber owns and manages 27,000 acres of timberland. Additionally, Jim is the manager of Georges River Energy, LLC, a biomass power plant that burns wood waste in order to produce electrical power.

Jim is also member of the Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA). Previously, he was chair of Maine’s SFI Implementation Committee and past president of the Maine Wood Products Association.

Lisa P. Sellew was first elected to the board in 2013, with her current term expiring in 2025.

Lisa and her family own Prides Corner Farms, in Lebanon, Conn., a wholesale nursery growing more than 2,200 varieties of nursery stock, perennials, roses, trees, herbs and vegetables that has been in business for more than 30 years. Prides Corner supplies plants throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Prides Corner also grows and supplies prevegetated green roof product called LiveRoof®.

Lisa has also served on the Agriculture Policy Committee for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s transition team.

Douglas W. Shelmidine, of Adams, N.Y., was first elected to the board in 2012 with his current term expiring in 2028.

Doug owns Sheland Farms, a multi-generational family business that Doug runs in partnership with his brother, Todd, and sons, Erik and Devon. The family farms 3,000 acres and milks 920 cows. They also operate Sheland Farms Services, doing field work for other farms. 

Doug served five two-year terms on the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, has been a member of Pro-Dairy/New York Farm Viability Dairy Advisory Committee, New York Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Jefferson County Farm Bureau President. Doug is the Town of Ellisburg Supervisor, serves on the New York Agriculture Commissioner’s Dairy Marketing Advisory Committee, the Jefferson County Agricultural Council, and also chairs the Jefferson County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.

Kyle Thygesen has served as a Farm Credit East director since 2022. His current term expires in 2026. He was formerly a director of Yankee Farm Credit, serving since 2017. 

Kyle, along with his wife Jennifer and son Keenan, own and operate the Farmstead at Falls Hill, LLC, in Tunbridge, VT. Currently, he is also the Director for Dairy Operations for Vital Farms. In his role, he manages the entire dairy portfolio and ownership of its long-term growth. 

Kyle also actively volunteers with 4-H and FFA. He and his wife Jennifer were awarded the 2017 Ed Gould Memorial award by Vermont 4-H for their work with their 4-H club and support of the state dairy program.

Peter H. Triandafillou was appointed to the Farm Credit East Board, as its forestry expert, in 2016. His current term expires in 2026.

Peter retired as vice president of woodlands for Huber Resources Corp, a timber management firm managing 980,000 acres in six states.

Peter is also past president and current member of The Maine Forest Products Council, past chair and current member of the Society of American Foresters (Maine division), past president and current member of the North Maine Woods Corporation and past chair of the Advisory Committee of the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit. In addition, he is also a member of the Empire State Forest Products Council and serves on the board of the Farm Credit Council.

Amy Walker-Bailey, of Fort Ann, N.Y., was elected to the board in 2023. Her current term expires in 2027.

Amy is chief financial officer of her family’s three businesses: Walker Farms, LLC, a 1,300-cow family dairy operation with 2,700 crop acres of hay and corn; MGK Enterprises, LLC, a  contract hauling trucking company; and Walker’s Farm, Home & Tack, a retail farm store. For each entity, Amy is responsible for hiring, financial decisions and other day-to-day operations. 

Amy has served as a delegate for Dairy Farmers of America and, along with her husband, was the 2007 National Milk Producers Federation Young Cooperator Chaircouple. She has been active in the Dairy Princess Committee and the Agricultural Stewardship Association. She has also been involved with her local PTSO and booster club, taught Junior Achievement, and served on the Fort Ann Central School Board for 10 years, including three years as president. 

Terry R. Zittel, of Eden, N.Y., was elected as a director in 2018, to a term expiring in 2026.

Terry is corporate secretary and business manager of Amos Zittel & Sons, Inc., a wholesale vegetable, flower and retail market business growing 400 acres of hand harevsted fresh market vegetables, including sweet corn, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, grape tomatoes and squash. In addition, they grow rooted liners and finished spring flowers in a 3-acre greenhouse range.

In addition, Terry is on the board of directors of Eden Community Foundation and Harvest Malawi, an irrigation/education project in Africa.