Director Spotlight: Chris Eymer
Mar 26, 2026
Chris Eymer and his wife, Gayle, have been married for 41 years. Together, they raise cattle, sheep and dairy goats on their family farm. Chris and Gayle have two sons and two daughters-in-law — Conrad and McKenzie and Corwin and Kadi.
Deeply rooted in his community, Chris serves as township supervisor and president of his church board and is actively involved with the local fire department and the Reliance Area Community Development Club.
Chris has also dedicated 17 years to serving as a director for Agtegra Cooperative and previously held the role of secretary for the Kennebec Farmers Elevator Board.
“My seat was appointed as part of our merger agreement,” Chris explained. “After my first term, I realized how much I enjoyed representing my district and serving as a director, so I’ve run in all subsequent elections.”
With over 40 years of experience in farming and ranching, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge, a deep belief in the cooperative system and valuable board experience to his role as director. His enthusiasm for the cooperative model is personal and longstanding.
“My grandfather invested in the start-up of our local cooperative,” Chris said. “It’s been part of our operation since I started farming. As a smaller-scale farmer, being involved in Agtegra’s governance allows me to serve something much larger than myself, and it helps me to be a better producer. Compared to doing business with a private company, working with a cooperative is a no-brainer — we own it."
For Chris, the most rewarding part of serving as a director is helping shape the cooperative’s direction to meet the needs of its patrons — both today and in the future. He encourages others to get involved with their cooperative, sharing: “You’ll be more satisfied and knowledgeable than you can imagine. Plus, you’ll meet remarkable people who are passionate about agriculture.”
When asked what he loves most about agriculture, Chris doesn’t hesitate: “Everything. There’s so much variety in our rural lives. We’re constantly learning and evolving to stay ahead of change. Growing crops, livestock, and our families — it’s the greatest job ever.”
Deeply rooted in his community, Chris serves as township supervisor and president of his church board and is actively involved with the local fire department and the Reliance Area Community Development Club.
Chris has also dedicated 17 years to serving as a director for Agtegra Cooperative and previously held the role of secretary for the Kennebec Farmers Elevator Board.
“My seat was appointed as part of our merger agreement,” Chris explained. “After my first term, I realized how much I enjoyed representing my district and serving as a director, so I’ve run in all subsequent elections.”
With over 40 years of experience in farming and ranching, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge, a deep belief in the cooperative system and valuable board experience to his role as director. His enthusiasm for the cooperative model is personal and longstanding.
“My grandfather invested in the start-up of our local cooperative,” Chris said. “It’s been part of our operation since I started farming. As a smaller-scale farmer, being involved in Agtegra’s governance allows me to serve something much larger than myself, and it helps me to be a better producer. Compared to doing business with a private company, working with a cooperative is a no-brainer — we own it."
For Chris, the most rewarding part of serving as a director is helping shape the cooperative’s direction to meet the needs of its patrons — both today and in the future. He encourages others to get involved with their cooperative, sharing: “You’ll be more satisfied and knowledgeable than you can imagine. Plus, you’ll meet remarkable people who are passionate about agriculture.”
When asked what he loves most about agriculture, Chris doesn’t hesitate: “Everything. There’s so much variety in our rural lives. We’re constantly learning and evolving to stay ahead of change. Growing crops, livestock, and our families — it’s the greatest job ever.”