Staff
Karen Schwalbe is the current Executive Director of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), a non-profit organization that advocates for farmers and their families throughout the state of Massachusetts. She is also the MFBF Board of Directors Clerk. She has been with MFBF since 2022. Before…
Read MoreFor over 10 years, Kim Ashe has served as the Membership Coordinator for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), a non-profit farming advocacy organization representing family farms and individual members across the Commonwealth. In this capacity, she maintains the membership database,…
Read MoreSabrina joined the MFBF staff in 2023 and serves as Communications Coordinator for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, handling accounts, marketing, and any various and sundry matter that may arise. As a former hobby farmer, she still is happiest spending time in the outdoors, preferably on horseback…
Read MoreMark Amato is the Bookkeeper for Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation. He most recently served as Treasurer, and in the past, President, for the Board of Directors. In 2025, he retired from his farm manager position at Verrill Farm, where he managed 150 acres of vegetable production for retail…
Read MoreLeadership
Warren Shaw serves as President of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), a non-profit farming advocacy organization representing almost 3,000 family members across the Commonwealth. In this capacity, he assesses the overall direction and strategy of MFBF.…
Read MoreSteve Ward serves as Vice President of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He works at Sure-Cran Services, which operates more than 500 acres of its own cranberry bogs and provides services for an additional 300 acres. He also owns his own 100-acre cranberry…
Read MoreHeidi Cooper serves as Treasurer on the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). She is also Assistant Treasurer. Heidi is Vice Chair on the American Farm Bureau Federation Promotion & Education (P&E) Committee. She was first elected…
Read MoreRobert Kilmer serves as Berkshire County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He owns and operates Twin Rivers Farm, LLC, a dairy farm in Ashley Falls, MA, with his sons.
Read MoreDarrin Mendes serves as Bristol County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreDavid Ross serves as Cape & Islands Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreDevon Smolak serves as Essex County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MorePeter Melnik serves as the Franklin County Representative on the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreRichard Woodger serves as Hampden County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreKarl Norris serves as Hampshire County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreBrian Athearn serves as Martha's Vineyard Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreLaura Abrams serves as Middlesex County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreEdward Lawton serves as Norfolk County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreJim Hayward serves as Plymouth County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreMichael serves as Worcester County Representive of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). Michael is the Worcester County Farm Bureau president as well.
Read MoreHeather serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreAlex Dowse serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He is the owner/manager of Dowse Orchards in Sherborn, MA, where he manages all operational aspects of the 240-year-old family farm.
Read MoreRandy Jordan serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreRyan MacKay serves on the Budget Committee of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). Ryan was appointed to the American Farm Bureau Federation 2024-2026 Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee in 2024 and elected Chairman in 2025.…
Read MoreMichael Sabatini serves on the Budget Committee of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreWill Pickard serves on the Budget Committee of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).
Read MoreMeghan Gennings is the Chair of the Young Agricultural Professionals Committee of Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). She works at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a Departmental Assistant, where she instructs in the Department of Veterinary & Animal Science. Meghan holds…
Read MoreKarina Laurenitis serves as the Young Agricultural Professionals Committee Chair on the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). She is also Co-Vice President of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. She works full time in the tech industry, but comes home…
Read More