Latin America Board Team
February 27 – March 11, 2011
Mike Schulte, CEO, Oklahoma Wheat Commission. Mike Schulte has been
involved in wheat production with his family farming operation since childhood, and
has been working for the Oklahoma Wheat Commission in his current position for
approximately one and a half years. Mike currently serves on the Food Aid and
Sanitary/Phytosanitary committees for U.S. Wheat Associates. In the past, Schulte has
helped host Mexican millers at his family farm, and looks forward to assisting in
building and increasing the export markets in Central and South America for Oklahoma
wheat and its products. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural
Communications from Oklahoma State University. Mike has also been active with the
Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership organization and currently attends Saint Charles of
Borromeo Catholic Church in Warr Acres, OK. He and his wife Heather live in Yukon,
OK, and in their spare time enjoy raising both wheat and cattle.
Larry Hunn, Wheat Producer, Clarksburg, California. Larry Hunn is a thirdgeneration farmer managing a diversified operation in northern California’s Sacramento
River Delta. Larry farms with his brother Peter and their cousin John Merwin. In
addition to wheat, they grow tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, corn, safflower, alfalfa for
hay and landscaping ground cover crops. Their wheat is hard red winter planted in
October and November that moves to export and local milling markets. As an
agricultural leader, Larry has been active in the California Farm Bureau and is a past
president of the California Wheat Growers Association. He is the current chairman of
the California Wheat Commission and represents his state on the U.S. Wheat Associates
Board of Directors. In addition, Larry serves on the board of directors of the San
Joaquin Valley Hay Growers Association. Larry earned a bachelor’s degree in
agriculture from California State University, Chico. He and his wife Debbie have been
married for 36 years and have two grown children.
Steve Mercer, Director of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates
Arlington, Virginia. Steve Mercer joined U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) in September
2006. He plans and implements producer communications and serves as media liaison
on U.S. wheat export development. Steve edits Wheat Letter and writes news releases,
opinion columns and articles for media sources and state wheat commissions, as well as
speeches and presentations for USW staff and board members. Steve has worked as an
account manager for public relations and advertising agencies serving clients in
agricultural supply industries. He was also a senior communications manager with
Sandoz Crop Protection. He is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association,
the National Association of Farm Broadcasters and the American Agricultural Editors
Association. A 1978 graduate of the University of Illinois in Agricultural Journalism,
Steve grew up in a small farming community in Illinois. Steve and his wife Kim live in
Arlington, VA, and have two married children and one grandchild.