News

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President dies in plane crash

The President of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, and a key player in manure management education, and helping farmers manage the Grassland milk crisis has died.

Indiana officials say John Pagel, his son-in-law Steve Witcpalek, and pilot Nathan Saari died in a plane crash northwest of Indianapolis Thursday night.

Pagel along with family members and more than 100 employees operated Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, a 53-hundred cow operation in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.  He was the President of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, formerly called the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative, which is the 6^th largest dairy co-op in the country.  Pagel also represented the Town of Casco on the Kewaunee County Board of Supervisors.

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative issued the following statement Friday afternoon:

This is a tremendous personal and professional loss for the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative family. John was a cherished friend and visionary leader who helped create the cooperative and its sister organization, the Dairy Business Association. John was a champion for the dairy community who worked tirelessly to put farmers in a position to succeed.

As president of Edge since its beginning in 2010, John led with enthusiasm and commitment. Under his guidance, the cooperative grew to the sixth-largest in the country, representing hundreds of farmers throughout the Midwest. In recent years, Edge has strengthened its advocacy in Washington, D.C., where John often traveled to talk to members of Congress about the impact of federal actions on farmers back home.

John was a pioneer and entrepreneur who built a thriving multifaceted business and inspired others in the industry to try new approaches. The Edge board and staff will deeply miss John’s friendship and energy, but his vision and spirit will continue to inspire and guide us.

From the families:

The Pagel and Witcpalek families are heartbroken over this tragic loss. John and Steve were wonderful family men and dedicated dairymen who brought joy to the lives of so many people. They valued their community, loved their neighbors and lived life to the fullest. Although it’s unimaginable to think of a future without them, we know that their loving spirit will guide us. We sincerely thank the countless people who have showered us with love and support. We also grieve for the loved ones of the pilot who was lost, Nathan Saari, as they try to bear the terrible pain of this tragedy. We appreciate your respect for our privacy as we wait for additional information.