Board
Laurel BioComposite, LLC is managed by a eight person board of managers. The backgrounds of our current managers are as follows:
Boyd Ebberson - President
OCCUPATION: Producer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Ebberson is an agriculture producer involved in corn and soybean production doing business as Ebberson Farms. He also serves as president of Quest, Inc. and DAC, Inc., Nebraska agricultural corporations. He attended Wayne State College with an interest in economics. Mr. Ebberson brings agricultural business management, knowledge and experience to the project. He serves on the board of directors for Frontier Bank based in Madison, Nebraska. He has previously served as a director for the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and the Cedar-Dixon Chapter of Thrivent.
Mike Dunklau - Vice President
OCCUPATION: Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Dunklau, was born and raised on a farm NW of Wayne. He attended country school district 61 through 8th grade and then graduated from Wayne High School in 1974. He received a degree in Industrial Education from Wayne State College in 1978, but following the sudden death of his father in 1977, he returned to the farm to begin his farming career. In 1978, he married Kim Chace in Laurel and they have 3 Children. In Mr. Dunklau's first years of farming, he farmed 400 acres and today has grown to 4000 acres. He has always looked to diversify and try new things. Over the years, his operation has included custom farming, custom silage chopping, custom tiling, back grounding Holsteins, raising Holstein heifers, a cow-calf operation and custom feeding. Currently he serves on the Central Valley Ag board of directors. In the past he has served on District 51 school board, Redeemer Lutheran church council, Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers president, and as a representative to the Nebraska Corn board. He was a 10 year 4-H members and 4-H leader. He is a current member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, volunteer Wayne High football assistant coach and an avid tractor puller.
Daniel Grams
OCCUPATION: Agricultural Producer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Grams is an agricultural producer and holds a BS degree in General Agriculture from the University of Nebraska. As a progressive ag producer, he recognizes the potential that value-added agriculture has not only for the local economy but also nationally and supports projects such as this to encourage further green and independent efforts that can create broad consumer benefits. Mr. Grams has served on the Minden School Board, the Kearney Area Ag Producer Alliance Board and the local volunteer fire department.
Dr. Dave Felber
OCCUPATION: Physician
BACKGROUND: Dr. Felber is a family practice physician with an MD and BS degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska. He has served as president for both the Physician Advisory Board for Mercy Medical Services and the Medical Staff for Providence Medical Center.
Jeff Torluemke
OCCUPATION: Banker & Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr Torluemke is a banker and a farmer and holds a BS degree in Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University. He is a fifth generation ag producer in charge of both irrigated and dry land farm ground in Sheridan and Decatur Counties in Kansas. Along with his banking and financing experience, Mr. Torluemke brings a unique perspective that blends ag and business development. Mr. Torluemke was the original CEO of Western Plains Energy in Campus, KS and currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. He also serves on the board of the State Bank in Hoxie, KS.
Terry Wilkerson
OCCUPATION: Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Wilkerson is an agricultural producer. He and his wife own and operate Wilkerson Pork Inc. which is a farrow to wean swine operation. They also raise corn and soybeans. Mr. Wilkerson received a BS degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska. Prior to returning to the farm he spent three years working for Farm Credit Services . He has served on the Coleridge School Board of Education, Coleridge Educational Foundation Board, local church council and Rural Fire District Board.
Cecil Obrate
OCCUPATION: Chairman and CEO
BACKGROUND: Cecil O’Brate, moved from Enid, Oklahoma to western Kansas in his teens and began farming. He returned to Oklahoma to study engineering at Oklahoma State University. Mr. Obrate came back to western Kansas and has farmed land and managed businesses in the area since. He is currently and has been for over 40 years the Chairman and CEO of Palmer Mfg & Tank, Inc., a Garden City manufacturer of steel and fiberglass storage tanks that are sold nationwide. He has been an owner, director and officer of a number of companies, including over 30 years with Garden City Farm Equipment, Inc., a Case implement dealership, and over ten years with Great Bend Farm Equipment, Inc., a John Deere dealership. He owned, operated and subsequently sold various businesses, including banks in Dodge City, Ingalls, Greensburg and Mullinville. He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of several oil and gas companies, including over 20 years with American Warrior, Inc. and Mid-Continent Resources, Inc..
Seth Harder
OCCUPATION: General Manager Husker Ag, LLC
BACKGROUND: Seth Harder has been General Manager for Husker Ag since January 2006. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Harder served as the Company's Plant Manager from September 2004 through December 2005. Mr. Harder was an ethanol trainer and plant startup specialist from April 2004 through September 2004 Of ICM, Inc. Mr. Harder was the Production Manager from November 2002 until April 2004 for Husker Ag. From December 2001 through November 2002, Mr. Harder manager a small ethanol plant for Kuester Ag, LLC, which was owned by Gary Kuester, a former member of the Board of Directors of Husker Ag. Mr. Harder has an Associates Degree in agribusiness and a Bachelors Degree in business administration.
Boyd Ebberson - President
OCCUPATION: Producer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Ebberson is an agriculture producer involved in corn and soybean production doing business as Ebberson Farms. He also serves as president of Quest, Inc. and DAC, Inc., Nebraska agricultural corporations. He attended Wayne State College with an interest in economics. Mr. Ebberson brings agricultural business management, knowledge and experience to the project. He serves on the board of directors for Frontier Bank based in Madison, Nebraska. He has previously served as a director for the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and the Cedar-Dixon Chapter of Thrivent.
Mike Dunklau - Vice President
OCCUPATION: Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Dunklau, was born and raised on a farm NW of Wayne. He attended country school district 61 through 8th grade and then graduated from Wayne High School in 1974. He received a degree in Industrial Education from Wayne State College in 1978, but following the sudden death of his father in 1977, he returned to the farm to begin his farming career. In 1978, he married Kim Chace in Laurel and they have 3 Children. In Mr. Dunklau's first years of farming, he farmed 400 acres and today has grown to 4000 acres. He has always looked to diversify and try new things. Over the years, his operation has included custom farming, custom silage chopping, custom tiling, back grounding Holsteins, raising Holstein heifers, a cow-calf operation and custom feeding. Currently he serves on the Central Valley Ag board of directors. In the past he has served on District 51 school board, Redeemer Lutheran church council, Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers president, and as a representative to the Nebraska Corn board. He was a 10 year 4-H members and 4-H leader. He is a current member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, volunteer Wayne High football assistant coach and an avid tractor puller.
Daniel Grams
OCCUPATION: Agricultural Producer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Grams is an agricultural producer and holds a BS degree in General Agriculture from the University of Nebraska. As a progressive ag producer, he recognizes the potential that value-added agriculture has not only for the local economy but also nationally and supports projects such as this to encourage further green and independent efforts that can create broad consumer benefits. Mr. Grams has served on the Minden School Board, the Kearney Area Ag Producer Alliance Board and the local volunteer fire department.
Dr. Dave Felber
OCCUPATION: Physician
BACKGROUND: Dr. Felber is a family practice physician with an MD and BS degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska. He has served as president for both the Physician Advisory Board for Mercy Medical Services and the Medical Staff for Providence Medical Center.
Jeff Torluemke
OCCUPATION: Banker & Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr Torluemke is a banker and a farmer and holds a BS degree in Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University. He is a fifth generation ag producer in charge of both irrigated and dry land farm ground in Sheridan and Decatur Counties in Kansas. Along with his banking and financing experience, Mr. Torluemke brings a unique perspective that blends ag and business development. Mr. Torluemke was the original CEO of Western Plains Energy in Campus, KS and currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. He also serves on the board of the State Bank in Hoxie, KS.
Terry Wilkerson
OCCUPATION: Farmer
BACKGROUND: Mr. Wilkerson is an agricultural producer. He and his wife own and operate Wilkerson Pork Inc. which is a farrow to wean swine operation. They also raise corn and soybeans. Mr. Wilkerson received a BS degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska. Prior to returning to the farm he spent three years working for Farm Credit Services . He has served on the Coleridge School Board of Education, Coleridge Educational Foundation Board, local church council and Rural Fire District Board.
Cecil Obrate
OCCUPATION: Chairman and CEO
BACKGROUND: Cecil O’Brate, moved from Enid, Oklahoma to western Kansas in his teens and began farming. He returned to Oklahoma to study engineering at Oklahoma State University. Mr. Obrate came back to western Kansas and has farmed land and managed businesses in the area since. He is currently and has been for over 40 years the Chairman and CEO of Palmer Mfg & Tank, Inc., a Garden City manufacturer of steel and fiberglass storage tanks that are sold nationwide. He has been an owner, director and officer of a number of companies, including over 30 years with Garden City Farm Equipment, Inc., a Case implement dealership, and over ten years with Great Bend Farm Equipment, Inc., a John Deere dealership. He owned, operated and subsequently sold various businesses, including banks in Dodge City, Ingalls, Greensburg and Mullinville. He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of several oil and gas companies, including over 20 years with American Warrior, Inc. and Mid-Continent Resources, Inc..
Seth Harder
OCCUPATION: General Manager Husker Ag, LLC
BACKGROUND: Seth Harder has been General Manager for Husker Ag since January 2006. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Harder served as the Company's Plant Manager from September 2004 through December 2005. Mr. Harder was an ethanol trainer and plant startup specialist from April 2004 through September 2004 Of ICM, Inc. Mr. Harder was the Production Manager from November 2002 until April 2004 for Husker Ag. From December 2001 through November 2002, Mr. Harder manager a small ethanol plant for Kuester Ag, LLC, which was owned by Gary Kuester, a former member of the Board of Directors of Husker Ag. Mr. Harder has an Associates Degree in agribusiness and a Bachelors Degree in business administration.