MFBF Staff & Leadership

Executive Director

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 has been with MFBF since 2022. Before joining MFBF, Karen worked as the Executive Director…

Deputy Director

T. Nicolas John "Nick" serves as the Deputy Director and Government Affairs Director for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), a non-profit farming advocacy organization representing farms and family members across the Commonwealth. Nick has been with MFBF since 2021. Prior to joining…

Membership Coordinator

Since 2015, 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, dues and…

Administrative Assistant

Sabrina serves as Administrative Assistant to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, handling accounts, marketing, and any various and sundry matter that may arise. She comes to MFBF from the Tufts University Cummings School of Vet. Medicine, where she assisted faculty and students in the Dept. of…

MFBF President

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 more than 3,000 family members across the Commonwealth. In this capacity, he assesses the overall direction and strategy of…

MFBF Vice-President

Ryan MacKay serves as Vice-President of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He is the owner/operator of Lilac Hedge Farm in Rutland, MA. The operation now includes 200 head of beef, 420 head of swine, 20,000 broilers, 2,500 turkeys, and 2,500 layers…

MFBF Treasurer 

Wayne Smith serves as Treasurer of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He is President of Littlefield Inc. and also serves as Treasurer for Suburban Enterprises, Inc. and Director for Crescent Ridge Dairy, Inc. Wayne holds a degree from the UMass Stockbridge…

MFBF Immediate Past President

Mark Amato serves as Immediate Past President of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). He works at Verrill Farm as farm manager, where he manages 150 acres of vegetable production for retail and restaurant sales. Verrill Farm is a 100-year-old family farm…

MFBF BOD Berkshire County Representative

Robert 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.

MFBF BOD Bristol County Representative

Skip Vadnai serves as Bristol County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).

MFBF BOD Cape & Islands Representative

David Ross serves as Cape & Islands Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Essex County Representative

Barbara Rogers-Scharneck serves as Essex County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Franklin County Representative

Lenny Roberts serves as Franklin County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Hampden County Representative

Richard Woodger serves as Hampden County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Hampshire County Representative

Karl Norris serves as Hampshire County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Martha's Vineyard Representative

Dan Martino serves as Martha's Vineyard Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). In 2014 he co-founded Cottage City Oysters, the first open ocean shellfish farm in New England. The 4-acre aquaculture farm is located off the coast of…

MFBF BOD Middlesex County Representative

Charlie Tully serves as Middlesex County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Norfolk County Representative

Edward Lawton serves as Norfolk County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).

MFBF BOD Plymouth County Representative

Jim Hayward serves as Plymouth County Representative of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF BOD Worcester County Representative

Heidi Cooper serves as Worcester County Representive of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). Heidi didn't grow up in agriculture, but after spending years in corporate offices in management roles, she decided to branch out and join the farming community.…

MFBF Director-at-Large

Alex 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.

MFBF Director-at-Large

Meghan Gennings serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the 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…

MFBF Director-at-Large

Laura Abrams serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF Budget Committee

Steve Ward serves on the Budget Committee 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…

MFBF Budget Committee

Michael Sabatini serves on the Budget Committee of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).

MFBF Budget Committee

Will Pickard serves on the Budget Committee of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF).  

MFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair

Heather Bonanno-Baker serves as the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair on the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). Bonanno-Baker works on her family’s farm, Pleasant Valley Gardens in Methuen, MA, alongside her grandfather and mother. The…