President I Download Bio
Chuck Lippstreu is president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA). He leads advocacy on a range of local, state and federal issues affecting the Association’s members.
During his career in the agriculture industry, Chuck has worked with some of the nation’s largest agribusinesses and served at the highest levels of government. Prior to his current position, Chuck served on the communications team at Land O’Lakes, Inc. Previously, he led strategic communications for MABA and other Michigan agricultural organizations. Chuck also spent several years as a White House appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he served as speechwriting director for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Chuck has worked on political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.
In addition to leading MABA, Chuck is active in efforts to bolster the U.S. agricultural sector and grow Michigan’s economy. He is a member of the Agricultural Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee of the National Grain and Feed Association and the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Chuck was appointed in 2020 and reappointed in 2022 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to represent agriculture on Michigan’s Environmental Rules Review Committee.
Chuck is from Lincoln, Nebraska and received a bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Monica and their son.
Director of Member Services
Kara Boring is the director of member services of the Michigan Agri-Business Association and has been with MABA since April 2012. She handles several association activities including communications, events, website, newsletters, directory, calendars, billing, and CCA designations. She also coordinates special events such as regional AgClubs and various educational events.
In May 2016, Kara graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture & Natural Resources with a bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business Management. She resides in Stockbridge with her husband Tim and their son and daughter, where she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Intern, Summer 2025
Sara Dammann is a sophomore at Michigan State University, studying Agribusiness Management and Public Policy. She serves as the 2024-2025 Michigan FFA State Vice President. She currently interns with MSU Extension, managing behind-the-scenes preparations for industry events across Michigan. From New Lothrop, MI, Sara comes from a nontraditional ag background and is passionate about sharing the industry’s story. In her free time, Sara enjoys running, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Maddy Garza is a junior at Michigan State University, studying Agribusiness Management. Garza grew up on her family’s farm in Palms, MI, growing sugarbeets, soybeans, dry beans, and alfalfa, and raising beef cattle and show steers. Her hobbies include working with livestock and spending time with family and friends. Garza’s passion for agriculture began at the age of nine when she started showing cattle at the local 4-H fair, and has continued to grow both through studies at MSU, and internships at Nutrien Ag Solutions and Walther Farms.
Trade Show Coordinator
Since 2022, Rose Plummer has served as the Trade Show Coordinator at the MABA Winter Conference & Trade Show, the organization’s flagship conference bringing together nearly 800 professionals from across Michigan and the Midwest. Rose brings a wide range of professional experiences to MABA ranging from project management, HR and payroll leadership, to construction and vendor management, logistics and beyond. Among her many professional accomplishments is leadership of a $100m+ agribusiness expansion in the Eastern U.S. Rose is the go-to point of contact for all those participating as exhibitors at the Trade Show and leads on-site operations during the show.
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