STAYING VIGILANT A new public affairs guru is on point for farmers and cooperatives. By Lani Jordan John Engelen, vice president, Government Affairs, joined CHS in February 2012, bringing to the company decades of experience in government relations ns and public policy. In a recent one-on-one interview, Engelen shared his thoughts ughts on the role of government relations; its importance to the CHS system; ; and issues on the horizon for cooperatives, agriculture and energy. Q A Q A What led you to pursue a career in government relations? As a college graduate with a political science degree, I had the opportunity to work on the staff of U.S. Sen. David Durenberger (R-Minn.). I’d never been to Washington, D.C. It was an exciting and heady time for a young person. I stayed in Washington for 13 years. What are some of the lessons you learned during that time? Many Americans are cynical, but my experience gave me tremendous respect for our elected offi cials. Whether they’re Republicans or Democrats, at the state or federal level, elected offi cials make tremendous personal sacrifi ces that include disrupting their lives and working long hours. I’m thankful for the people willing to do that. That dedication extends to the government relations community. Lobbyists play a very important role, especially in agriculture, because the last census showed our population is 80 percent urban. If you don’t have someone to be your advocate and educate members of Congress, who else is going to do it? What led you to agriculture and CHS? I grew up in rural Minnesota. My grandfather was a brick mason who built silos. My wife is from a South Dakota cattle ranch. As a result, I learned a lot about ag and became an advocate. I am excited to join CHS, a diverse and growing company with roots in rural communities. Q A > Your CHS Connection 23