Loren Koeman has joined Michigan Farm Bureau as Lead Economist and Manager of the Industry, Conservation and Regulatory Relations Department.
In his role, Koeman is responsible for monitoring agricultural markets, coordinating industry relationships, and leading the development and coordination of economic research and policy analysis in support of MFB’s member policy efforts.
Koeman has a wealth of experience within the agricultural sector growing up and working on his family’s cash crop and hog farm in Allegan county before going on to own and operate a business management consulting firm representing farms around the Midwest.
Most recently, Koeman was with Stryker Corporation, a Fortune 500 international manufacturer and provider of medical devices and technology based in Kalamazoo, serving as Finance Manager with responsibilities for mergers & acquisitions and global plant network strategy.
He has also worked as a business development and integration manager at Wilbur Ellis and advised senior management on the identification, analysis and execution of strategic acquisitions, expansion and divestitures.
“Loren’s economic perspective and agricultural business savvy builds upon our team’s strengths,” said MFB Public Policy and Commodity Division Director Matt Smego.
“He now leads a group of talented and experienced staff with extensive knowledge in conservation, energy, livestock, and traditional and specialty crops.”
Beyond his professional career, Koeman is no stranger to Farm Bureau having served on the State Young Farmer and State Policy Development Committees. He is also a past member of the Michigan Farm Bureau Farm Bill Advisory Committee and a former winner of the MFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
“I’m very excited about this role,” Koeman said. “There are no better people to work for than Michigan farmers.”
Koeman has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economic and Mathematics from Calvin University, an MBA from Indiana University and a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University.
The experience of working on his family farm, consulting with farmers across the Midwest, working in ag retail and agribusiness and for a Fortune 500 company gives Koeman a unique mix of expertise on the issues farmers face today.
“It's one thing to have the academics, but it's another to kind of know how that applies in the real world,” Koeman said.
“The theories generally hold, but the way they're really applied in the real world is sometimes a little different than, than what you'd learn in school. I think there’s a lot of perspective that I can bring to the role and I’m excited to do that.”
Koeman and his wife Dana live in Caledonia and enjoy traveling with their three children.