CropLife America Welcomes Steve Petersen as New Board Chair

Arlington, Va. — CropLife America (CLA) is pleased to announce that Steve Petersen, President of Gowan USA, has been named Chair of the CLA Board of Directors.

“Our industry is built on innovation and resilience. I am honored to help guide CLA’s efforts as we advocate for policies that enable farmers to thrive, protect our food supply, and support rural communities across the country,” said Petersen. Founded in 1962 and based in Yuma, Arizona, Gowan is a family-owned company that has grown to include 45 entities in 19 countries. Petersen is based in Overland Park, Kansas.

With more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural crop protection industry, he brings deep expertise and a strong understanding of CLA’s mission and priorities. Petersen served on CLA’s Executive Committee for eleven years and was active on the Finance Committee, while contributing to numerous strategic initiatives that advanced the pesticide and crop protection industry and supported America’s farmers.

CLA leadership expressed confidence in Petersen’s ability to guide the organization during a pivotal time for agriculture and regulatory policy.

“As agriculture navigates evolving regulatory and policy landscapes, Steve’s insight and collaborative leadership will be invaluable,” said Alexandra Dunn, President and CEO of CLA. “He understands both the operational realities facing our member companies and the broader policy environment shaping our industry.”

CLA extends its sincere appreciation to Paul Rea, Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions at BASF, who returned to serve as CLA Board Chair from 2025 to 2026. Rea’s willingness to return to the role demonstrated the organization’s confidence in his leadership and his personal commitment to dedicating time and energy to the industry in a dynamic policy environment. Rea will now serve as Immediate Past Chair.

As Chair, Petersen will help lead CLA’s ongoing work to advocate for science-based regulatory decisions, timely access to crop protection tools, and policies that enable farmers to grow safe, abundant, and affordable food.

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Established in 1933, CropLife America (www.croplifeamerica.org) is the leading national trade association representing the pesticide industry. Our members drive innovation and sustainability by discovering, producing, selling, and distributing the essential pesticide products that empower American farmers to grow the world’s food. CLA can be found on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) at @CropLifeAmerica.