Our Staff

Justin Gilpin - Chief Executive Officer

Justin Gilpin became Kansas Wheat CEO Sept. 1, 2009. From 2000 to 2006, Gilpin was International Marketing Specialist for the Kansas Wheat Commission. During his tenure at the KWC, Gilpin was the primary contact for international trade teams, was the KWC's lead for research and other contractual investments and coordinated harvest quality samples, tests and grading in conjunction with KWC partners. In 2006, Gilpin began working at General Mills, Inc., where he coordinated logistics for three flour mills. He executed daily wheat market orders at the Kansas City Board of Trade, worked with General Mills' flour sales, elevator and mill management, and sourced wheat from various classes. He has been involved in a number of U.S. Wheat Associates committees, is past-chair of the Kansas City Board of Trade Cash Basis committee and was an adjunct research scientist for Kansas State University's Department of Grain Science and Industry. He currently serves as Chairman of Heartland Plant Innovations. He is a 1998 graduate of Kansas State University's milling science and operations program. Justin and his wife, Angie, have two young children.
 

Aaron Harries - Marketing Director

Aaron Harries has been the director of marketing with Kansas Wheat since July 2006. Prior to joining Kansas Wheat he was employed by the Kansas Grain and Feed Association in Topeka for 10 years. While at KGFA, he also had responsibilities with the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, the Kansas Certified Crop Adviser Program and the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors. Harries was raised on a diversified crop and dairy farm in Marshall County in Northeast Kansas. He graduated with a degree in agriculture communications from Kansas State University.
 

Cindy Falk - Nutrition Educator

 

Julie Owens - Office Manager

Julie Owens rejoined Kansas Wheat as Office Manager in October, 2005 after spending several years on staff at Kansas State University in the Department of Grain Science and in the Communications Department. Julie grew up in northeast Kansas. She resides in Manhattan and enjoys spending time with family and friends, her cats and working on handsewing projects.
 

Dana Peterson - Producer Policy Specialist

Dana Peterson joined Kansas Wheat as producer policy specialist in June 2005 after spending several years on the staff of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. She monitors state and national policy and regulations impacting wheat producers, directs producer outreach and membership services, and develops producer-leaders for the industry.Dana grew up in north central Kansas on a wheat, grain sorghum and livestock farm and attained her degrees from Kansas State University, Department of Agricultural Economics. She resides in Manhattan and enjoys serving her church, gardening and spending time with her family.
 

Bill Spiegel - Communications Specialist

Bill Spiegel joined Kansas Wheat in June, 2008 after spending several years on the staff of Kansas Farmer magazine. s communications specialist, his priority is weekly press releases, Web site maintenance, newsletters and radio and television correspondence. Bill grew up in north central Kansas, where he still maintains a farm. A 1993 graduate of Kansas State University, he is married to Julie and they have two children. Interests outside of work are reading, music and family. He has been a member of the American Agriculture Editors Association, and serves on the boards of the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, No-Till on the Plains and Kansas State University College of Agriculture Alumni Association.
 

Julie Winsor - Financial and Human Resource Specialist

Julie Winsor joined the Kansas Wheat Commission in July 2000 as its receptionist and later became financial and human resource specialist. Her previous experience includes Kansas State University and Kansas Farm Bureau. A native of Michigan, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky where her family still resides. Julie has three children, ranging in age from 17 years to 3 years old. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, baking and continuing her human resources education.