Northampton County farmer Dennis Koehler has been elected as a new member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) State Board of Directors.  As a representative on the board, Koehler will serve on behalf of farmers in the Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton/Monroe County Farm Bureaus.
      Koehler is a ninth-generation grain farmer who is part of a family farm operation which grows corn, soybeans, wheat and hay on more than 2,000 acres of cropland.  He has been a member of PFB’s State Young Farmer & Rancher Committee and has been serving as Vice President of the Northampton/Monroe County Farm Bureau.
     Koehler credits the opportunity for grass-roots policy development for first getting him involved in Farm Bureau.  “We farm in an area that is completely surrounded by suburban sprawl.  Maintaining good relationships with our non-farm neighbors has been a great asset in continuing our farm operation,” said Koehler.
     Koehler succeeds Arland Schantz, who had reached the tenure limit of eight consecutive years on the board, representing PFB’s District 2.
     Koehler was nominated by caucuses of county Farm Bureaus in the 2nd district during PFB’s 58th Annual Meeting held November 17-19 in Hershey and was approved by PFB Voting Delegates.