Meet the Six Board Candidates Seeking to Shape Oneota Co-op's Future

Voting is March 1 through April 1, 2025 Branded Content-- Oneota Community Food Cooperative conducts its annual board of directors election each March. From Saturday, March 1 through Tuesday, April 1 members may vote for who will serve as incoming board members. Democratic member control - internationally recognized as Cooperative Principle 2 - is a fundamental tenet of the cooperative business model. Simply put: one owner, one vote. Each member/owner carries an equal voice when it comes to elections and other proposed initiatives. Oneota Co-op has adhered to the cooperative model since its inception in 1974. There are over 5,500 individuals with equity in this organization. The Co-op's democratically elected board of directors plays a crucial role in upholding its cooperative principles. Oneota Co-op practices the Carver Model of Policy Governance; an appointed general manager is responsible for store operations; a democratically elected, seven-member board of directors represents the member/owners in ensuring appropriate organizational performance. This includes management of its organizational Ends, governance process, board - general manager delegation and the establishment of executive limitations. This year's election has three board openings, as current board members Bee Lutz, Bill Iverson and Steve Peterson finish their terms. The following six Co-op member/owners have filed applications to serve as our next board members. These individuals bring a myriad of skill sets to the table. All have welcomed the opportunity to participate in community-driven decision making, and the Co-op is grateful for their desire to serve. Voters may cast a ballot for three of the six candidates. Meet these individuals via the following candidate statements: Brigitte Cornelius Brigitte Cornelius I was a high school biology teacher, and now (so far) I am still an active substitute teacher in the Decorah area. I have marketing/customer experience with my Indoor Air Quality (TGi Clean Air) business. I also work with businesses to help them find available benefits for their employees. I volunteer where I can be a positive influence for people or causes. Environmental sustainability is a huge part of what we do on our FriedenHof farm, located just south of Decorah. We tend an active orchard of a large variety of berry bushes, fruit trees and vegetables, and have laying hens, three sheep, 11 ducks and four geese. I am interested in being a member of the Co-op board because our Co-op is looking for people to serve. I am good at following through with what I agree to do, especially if it is kind, right, and honest. I have belonged to the Co-op for the past 10 years. I enjoy access to organic food, meats, the availability of specific items (like organic almond milk) and of course the friendly people - both staff and customers. I envision the Co-op's future to include continued incredible fresh and frozen food offerings displayed well for customers and the friendly customer service that the Co-op is known for. Additional interests: I serve on the boards of the NEIA Peace and Justice Center, Decorah UCC and the Decorah Senior Citizens Center. I help Decorah's Immigration Working Group as I'm able. We are vendors at Decorah Farmers Market and we belong to the Iowa Food Hub. Andrea Eger Andrea Eger I have lots of experience in farming from working on diversified veggie farms and managing farmer cooperatives. I assist my sister on her sheep farm just over the border in Minnesota. I currently work in a nonprofit where I write grants and create partnerships with public and private institutions. I am a good facilitator and problem solver. I've been a member of the Co-op for three years. I love knowing that I can find great locally produced and healthy products every time I stop in to shop. I also love knowing that more of the money I spend is circulated locally and supports organic agriculture. I would love to expand outreach to get more members and increase the number of customers in the store. I would also work to expand support for local producers through grants and marketing opportunities. I'd also like to see more events and cooking classes or demos. Additional interests: I love hiking, knitting, hanging out with my partner and cat and figuring out creative ways to use everything in a CSA box! Amy Grinna Amy Grinna I was raised on a small dairy farm in central Wisconsin and learned early on the value of member-owned cooperatives. I also spent part of my working career at a wonderful credit union reinforcing for me the importance of service to membership in a cooperative organizational structure. When I saw an opportunity to join the Co-op board, it seemed like a logical way to become more involved in our great community and lend my years of business background to help grow the organization for the future. I spent my career in the financial services industry with a degree in accounting and many years in technology and operational leadership roles. I've also served on a variety of nonprofit boards. My business background includes experience in leading strategic and annual planning sessions, reviewing financial metrics, developing policies, and implementing process improvements. My skills compliment the current board expertise and help fill areas that would benefit from additional depth. My husband and I joined the Co-op about a year ago when we moved to Decorah. With family in the area, we have visited the Co-op regularly over the past two decades and always appreciated this community gem. I enjoy the access to local producers the Co-op offers. It's a convenient way to buy local. The staff is always warm and welcoming too. Overall, I appreciate access to local, organic foods in our area communities, and while I'm not directly involved in our local food system, I regularly support our local farmers' markets, the Iowa Food Hub, and, of course, the Oneota Co-op. I believe the Co-op is a real asset to our small community. It's one of the many features that attracts people to Decorah. As a board member, I would work to both ensure the continuation of this strong community resource and explore new opportunities to grow the Co-op's reach over time. The impact will be more people who feel connected to the source of their food and contribute positively to food sustainability. I'm energized by the mission and vision this board has created and look forward to the opportunity to serve and learn from this group! Additional interests: I spend my free time exploring the local parks and trails with my husband, Scott, and our ever-energetic dog, Rainey. Since building our home in 2023, we are working to reestablish prairie on our land and create walking trails through our woods. There always seems to be a project in process! As a volunteer, I help maintain the specimen plots at the Decorah Community Prairie Butterfly Garden and recently joined the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. I look forward to an opportunity to serve on the Oneota Co-op Board! Steph Hughes Steph Hughes I grew up on a farm just outside of Decorah and have always had a strong interest in local food and agriculture. This was reinforced after working at Seed Savers Exchange 20 years ago. While I learned over the years I don't have what it takes to be a farmer myself, I do have nothing but respect for those willing to do the most important work of feeding their community, especially in a sustainable manner. Today, I work in IT. I love to analyze numbers, data, and trends and ask a lot of questions. I spend a lot of time volunteering in the community: seven years at HSNEI and the last two-plus years with the Decorah Community Food Pantry. I also co-organize the Pulpit to Pulpit 5K for the past six years to raise funds for local organizations. My hubby and I have been Co-op members since 2003 and the Co-op is the single most important organization in Decorah in my life. I am so grateful for all those who worked to create it and those who keep it going and it feels like now is the right time to get more involved. I value the availability of food and goods that are sustainable and very often, local. The Co-op feels like a true community gathering place - I rarely make a trip without running into someone I know. I hope to see the Co-op continue as a pillar of downtown Decorah, where shopping feels personal and interactive, and doesn't contain self-checkout lines. And I hope that it continues to support local and regional producers, giving them a chance to grow and provide for their communities. Additional interests: I teach youth woodcarving at Vesterheim, read voraciously, and garden (sometimes successfully). Erin Shaw Erin Shaw I'm interested in serving on the Co-op board for several reasons. I'm a strong supporter of the local food movement and local farmers as well as organic and sustainably-grown food. I deeply care about the town of Decorah and want to see it thrive. I believe in giving back to your community by volunteering your time. As a community college administrator, helping improve community vitality is also important to me professionally. As a lifelong learner, I haven't served on a board for many years and this role presents the opportunity to learn more about policy governance and the business/grocery industry side of the Co-op while contributing my skills to the board. My early career was in public relations and nonprofit community relations before moving into higher education administration. I'm the strategic planning project manager at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), leading their current strategic planning process. I have also managed several grants for NICC. I've been a community college administrator for many years which requires leadership, fiscal management, collaboration/consensus, communication and the ability to understand policies, laws, regulations, and more. I have recently been developing my grant writing as a member of Decorah Human Powered Trails (DHPT). I have more knowledge about local foods and sustainable agriculture than the average person. Finally, I do all of the grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking in my household so I can also contribute a customer perspective. I have a lot to learn from other members here. I don't have any preconceived vision for the future going into this role. Focusing on sustainability (as a business and a planet), local support, quality, and adaptability are all important to me. The impact would be celebrating the Co-op's 100th anniversary in a thriving community if successful. My husband and I became members of Oneota Co-op as soon as we were able to after moving here in late 2020. What I enjoy most about being inside the store is bumping into so many friends in the aisles. It is truly a hub of our community. As far as store departments, my favorite is the cheese section, followed by the bulk items and the local vegetables. During the Decorah Farmers Market season, I round out my weekly CSA orders and market purchases with local veggies from the Co-op. Since moving to Decorah, I've waited to step forward for any board opportunities until I found one where my skills and interests would align well with the organization. I am excited to lend my talents to the Co-op Board if I am elected to do so. Additional interests: I'm an ultrarunner and I spend many hours each week on the trails around Decorah. I organize the Decorah Running Club weekly group runs, swim with the Masters Swim Team, volunteer for DHPT and at local races, and I'm a coach and coach trainer for Girls on the Run. I also love cooking, traveling, and reading with our cat, Pliny, on my lap. Carly Zierke Carly Zierke I'm an organic vegetable farmer at Sweet Season Farm, and I'm running for the Co-op board because I believe in the power of local food to strengthen our community. The Co-op isn't just a grocery store—it's a cornerstone of a thriving, connected, and resilient local food system. I want to help ensure it continues to grow and support farmers, small food businesses, and everyone who walks through its doors. As a small business owner and former nonprofit communications professional, I bring a unique blend of skills: firsthand experience in local food systems, entrepreneurial background, and a deep understanding of community engagement. With a degree in journalism and mass communication, I know how to amplify the voices of farmers and food producers—helping tell the story of why local food matters I see a future where the Co-op is an even stronger hub for local food—offering more vibrant, diverse products and strengthening its role in supporting farms and food businesses. When food producers thrive, our whole community benefits. That's why I'm excited about the potential of the Co-op to drive both healthy business development in our region and deeper connections between shoppers and local food producers. My husband Ethan and I joined the Co-op in 2022, and every time I step inside, I feel that sense of community—of shared values, of people who care about what they eat and where it comes from. The Co-op makes our corner of Iowa better, and I'd be honored to help shape its future. I'd love your vote to help grow the Co-op's impact. Let's keep supporting local food together! Additional Community Involvement: I serve on the board of the Decorah Farmers Market, strengthening my connection to local farmers, food makers, and the broader community. Voting Information Member/owners in good standing will be notified with election details beginning Saturday, March 1. Those with a valid email on file will receive voting materials via email from Simply Voting. Those for whom the Co-op does not have an email address on file, yet has a physical mailing address, will receive information via USPS. This information will contain a personal ID and password unique to each member/owner which will be used by the member/owner to vote electronically in the 2025 election, as well as information regarding the upcoming annual meeting of Co-op membership in April. An iPad will be available at the store for those in need of digital access and instruction. For those interested in submitting a paper ballot, these along with printed candidate statements may be picked up beginning Saturday, March 1. These materials may also be mailed by request; please reach out to vote@oneotacoop.com or call the Co-op at 563-382-4666 and ask to speak with Nate or Tanya. Co-op member/owners will find complete voting information here. Oneota Co-op's most recent annual report indicates that local producers account for 26% of total store sales. Come #growthegood With Us Hear from Blazing Star Eats owner, and Co-op member/owner Hannah Garry, on the ways in which the Oneota Co-op Board of Directors has worked to "grow the good" for her sustainable, locally-grown and farmer-focused eatery in downtown Decorah. Follow @oneotacoop on Facebook and Instagram, and learn more at https://oneotacoop.com/. More from Oneota Community Food Coop: Come #growthegood with Us at Oneota Community Food Coop Branded Content published on DecorahNews.com produced by Oneota Community Food Co-op.