CHS Inc. | 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 | Phone: 651-355-6000

John Johnson’s upbringing on a western North Dakota ranch and early career as a livestock feed salesman provided him with anunderstanding of the importance of agriculture in our economy and of American agriculture’s link to the global economy. As president and chief executive officer of Harvest States, he was instrumental in the groundbreaking 1998 merger of that farmer-owned cooperative—a grain and foods company—with Cenex, an energy and agricultural supply co-op, to create CHS Inc. Since becoming president and CEO of CHS in 2000, he has led the company to four consecutive years of record earnings, revenues, and cash returns to owners. CHS revenues have more than doubled from $8.4 billion in fiscal 2000 to $17.2 billion in 2007, and the company has expanded its business operations through the addition of renewable fuels production and global grain trading offices, investments in its petroleum refineries, and expansion of its processed-foods businesses.


Born: September 24, 1948 in Rhame, N.D.

Spouse: Shirley, married June 6, 1970

Children: Jason, Leslie, Stacia, and one grandson

Education: BS degree in Business, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D., 1970

Career History:President and CEO, CHS Inc., 2000–present; president and general manager, CHS, 1998–2000; president and CEO, Harvest States Cooperatives, 1995-1998; group vice president, farm marketing and supply division, Harvest States Cooperatives, 1992-1995; vice president and general manager, GTA Feeds, 1989-1992; director, sales and marketing, GTA Feeds, 1986-1989; central region sales and marketing manager, GTA Feeds, 1981-1986; feed consultant, GTA Feeds, 1976-1981; district sales manager, ConAgra, Formax Feed Division, 1974-1976; production supervisor, Western Electric, 1970-1974.

Activities: Director, Ventura Foods, LLC; director, CF Industries Holdings; director, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, active campaign volunteer for United Way of Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul, member, St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi.

Awards: 2003 CEO Communicator of the Year award from Cooperative Communicators Association, 2005 inductee Scandinavian Hall of Fame.