Aaron Putze
Executive Director-Public Relations Officer
Phone: 515-225-5531
Phone: 1-800-932-2436
Email:aputze@supportfarmers.com

Aaron Putze, APR serves as Executive Director-Public Relations Officer for the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers.

The Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers provides individualized, farm-specific services to help farm families that raise livestock prosper and remain active on the land and in their communities. The effort was launched in May 2004 by six farm and commodity organizations including the Iowa cattle, corn, soybean pork and poultry associations and Farm Bureau. To date, the Coalition has provided a helping hand to more than 650 farm families.

Putze works with multiple publics and constituencies to enhance awareness and understanding of responsible livestock farming and its importance to Iowa’s economy and quality of life. He directs strategic communications, public relations and media relations activities, serves as the Coalition's primary spokesperson and oversees the organization's daily efforts.

Prior to his appointment as CSIF executive director, he served 10 years as a member of the Iowa Farm Bureau marketing and communications team including eight years as Public Relations Director.

He grew up on a grain and livestock farm near West Bend in north central Iowa and graduated with honors from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in communications & public relations and minor in journalism. While at UNI, he was executive editor of the “Northern Iowan” and served as UNI Student Government vice president.

Putze received his accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America in 2001. He currently serves as Immediate Past President of the West Side Kiwanis Club of West Des Moines. Hobbies include golfing, reading, traveling and monitoring important political issues.

He, wife Crystal and sons Garrett and Grant reside in West Des Moines.

Megan Ritter
Field Specialist
Phone: 515-225-5481
Cell Phone: 515-229-8275
Email:mritter@supportfarmers.com

Megan Ritter serves as Field Specialist for the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers. She was appointed to the position in February 2007.

The Coalition was launched in 2004 and assists farm families in growing their livestock farms responsibly and successfully. It is a collaborative effort of six Iowa farm and commodity organizations including the cattle, corn, soybean, pork and poultry associations and Farm Bureau.

Ritter provides one-on-one assistance to farm families who have questions about raising livestock. She offers farmers information on regulatory issues and provides insight on properly locating new livestock farms, safeguarding the environment and enhancing relations with neighbors. She also helps lead the organization’s farmer education efforts – including CSIF’s popular Farming Matters Forums – and networks with the state’s cattle, dairy and turkey leaders to provide timely assistance to farm families.

Prior to her role with the Coalition, Ritter served as national legislative counsel for the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB). In addition to serving as the MFB’s primary spokesperson on national legislative issues, she also assisted in implementing voluntary environmental management programs on farms through partnerships with the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. Ritter also organized farmer education initiatives on environmental management and regulatory compliance and worked as the regional representative for five Michigan county Farm Bureaus.

Ritter grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm in Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her husband Matt reside in Bondurant and are partners in their families’ purebred livestock enterprise