Legacy of leadership

From his early career on the accounting side of the business to the past decade as president and CEO, Verslues has helped shape MFA Incorporated with humility, vision and a steady hand—always keeping farmers, employees and the cooperative’s mission at the heart of every decision. 

“My whole purpose on serving on the board was to leave the company better than I found it, and Ernie’s vision aligns with that as well,” said Don Schlesselman, MFA Incorporated board chairman. “He has a strong passion for MFA, the employees and the members. And that shows in his actions and words.” 

Verslues officially retired Sept. 1, but his commitment to MFA’s future continues as he works with his successor as CEO, Bob Huffman, in a strategic advisory role during the leadership transition.

“It’s not about me. It’s never been about me,” Verslues said. “It’s about the team. It’s about making opportunities for others in the organization. It’s about the farmers we serve. I feel like I can walk out of here sometime this fall as humble as the day I came in.”

Indeed, throughout his distinguished MFA career, what set Verslues apart wasn’t just what he did—but how he did it. Authentic. Calm. Consistent. And yes, humble.

“He’s always been a really good leader, but in his role as CEO, it went to a different level,” said Karen White, MFA Incorporated chief financial officer. “He leads by example. He would never ask anyone else in the company to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself.”

For a farm kid and numbers guy, MFA proved to be a place where Verslues could thrive. Raised on a dairy outside Jefferson City, he graduated from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with a degree in accounting—a first-generation college student. 

After working for a CPA firm in Kansas City for a few years, Verslues was hired in 1987 as MFA’s manager of tax and local accounting services. Specifically, he was tasked to help implement provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, a landmark overhaul of the U.S. tax code. 

In 1992, Verslues moved into the role of retail controller and later the Region 2 manager’s position. Both of those experiences, he said, gave him an invaluable look at MFA’s operations at the grassroots level.

His penchant for accounting eventually called Verslues back to MFA’s home office, where he took on the role of corporate controller and then chief financial officer. When then-CEO Bill Streeter announced his retirement in 2014, Verslues was among four internal candidates who applied. He was named president and CEO in 2015.

“When I came to MFA, becoming CEO wasn’t something that was on my mind. Things just progressed,” Verslues said. “What I do know is that you can’t go into a role like this just for the title. It’s work. There are really good days and some really bad days. But I felt like I could make a difference, and hopefully I have over the years.”

Under his leadership, the company embraced innovation, strengthened its workforce and expanded its support for farmer-members across the territory. Verslues said he focused on making sure employees were well equipped to do their job and that the company was positioned to thrive in an evolving industry and meet the needs of a new generation of farmers.

“When I took over in March 2015, we were coming out of what had been termed the ‘golden years’ of ag. Things were good, but we knew that cycles happen in agriculture all the time,” Verslues said. “If you look at where we’re at now, we’ve had some significant upgrades, we’ve rationalized assets and we’ve found better ways to go to market. At the end of the day, all of those things are about providing service to the producer. That always has to be our end goal.”

Building a stronger, more cohesive company culture was also a priority for Verslues. With a team-first philosophy, he emphasized collaboration and empowered employees to contribute, lead and grow. 

“Everyone has a different definition of culture, but it’s really how we interact with others in the organization and the behaviors that drive our decisions,” Verslues said. “I really think the culture within the company, up and down the organization, is stronger today than it was when I started as CEO.”

Key to that culture shift were new “Mission, Vision and Values” statements adopted by the board of directors. Verslues made sure that employees know they’re more than just words on the wall. They drive MFA’s purpose and commitment to each other and customers.

“The importance of our mission, vision and values is something that we all understand at the foundational level because that’s what will keep us focused on meeting the member-owners’ needs both today and tomorrow,” said Stefan Knudsen, MFA general counsel and corporate secretary. “Ernie has shown exceptional leadership in making that crystal clear and remaining at the forefront of our efforts.”

The mission, vision and values have also helped MFA navigate many challenges over the past decade: droughts, floods, financial losses, volatile markets, restrictive regulations, restructuring decisions and even a global pandemic. Verslues helped steer the organization through it all with steady, deliberate leadership.

“Under pressure, Ernie is as calm as they come,” Knudsen said. “In those moments, he has the unique ability to laser focus on what you can and cannot control. He gets the right folks in the room with the right information, surveys the options and then executes a decision.”

During his tenure as CEO, Verslues pushed for innovation, drove fiscal discipline and helped position the cooperative for a sustainable, forward-thinking future. Sometimes, that meant difficult decisions, like closing locations or shuffling personnel. Sometimes, that meant ambitious undertakings, like investing in new technologies and infrastructure, including the cooperative’s first shuttle-loader facility at Hamilton and state-of-the-art agronomy centers in Ravenwood, Higginsville and now Macon.

“One thing you have to know about Ernie is when we agree we’re going to do something, he will put all of his effort toward it,” said Jason Weirich, MFA vice president of operations. “We’ve been able to do some significant projects, and we have several more planned. Those projects would not have been possible without Ernie. He was willing to allow me and my team to come in with an idea and then find a way to help us get it done. That is something that will live on as his legacy.”

Verslues didn’t just help build a stronger company—he helped build a stronger board, empowering directors to grow in their roles and welcoming thoughtful collaboration. For example, recognizing the need for deeper dialogue and shared vision among the board and management, he led the move to a committee structure—creating dedicated groups for strategy, governance and risk.

“When you’ve got 14 individuals sitting around the table at a board meeting, having detailed conversations takes up a considerable amount to time,” Verslues said. “With a committee structure, the smaller groups can get together outside the boardroom and meet with members of the management team about those key areas of the company. I think it has allowed the board and management to function better.”

While Verslues’ leadership was thoughtful and measured, sometimes it was also unexpectedly funny. Those who worked closely with him knew he had a quick wit and a sharp sense of humor—from light-hearted moments on board trips to competitive golf games to flippant conversations with coworkers.

“He texted me once while brush hogging and said, ‘I just got sprayed with Trend-B and fungicide—will it make me taller?’” Weirich said. “I told him no, but it might make his hair grow.”

Casual or formal, ultimately Verslues said he viewed himself as a “servant leader.” And that didn’t stop at MFA’s walls. From national cooperative advocacy to rural philanthropy, Verslues has given generously of his time and talents across Missouri agriculture and far beyond.

“Ernie has always been a guy who stepped up and took a lot of care for our industry, more than the average,” said Jon Ihler, CEO of MFA Oil Company. “That’s what I appreciate the most in him. It was never about Ernie. There was never any personal gain for Ernie. It was always about cooperatives or agriculture or education.”

Verslues has been an active voice in the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, which helps advance the business and policy interests of farmer-owned enterprises. He helped establish the Emerging Leaders Conference in partnership with MFA Oil to support young producers and cooperative members. He serves as chairman of the MFA Foundation, which supports scholarships and educational initiatives, and the MFA Charitable Foundation, which uplifts rural communities with grants for critical needs.

“MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company both have the same philosophy, and that is paying it forward and educating the next generation of agriculture leaders,” Ihler said. “And I think that was one of Ernie’s guiding principles—making sure they understand who not only both MFA Oil and MFA Incorporated are, but that we’re here to support agriculture and our members at the farm gate.”

Verslues has also been a champion for agricultural education. He’s a longtime supporter of 4-H and FFA and was awarded both the State and American Honorary FFA Degrees. He’s a trustee of the Missouri 4-H Foundation and a devoted partner to the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).

“One thing that struck me was Ernie’s commitment to the student experience in agriculture,” said Chris Daubert, CAFNR dean. “He values what our college attempts to deliver in terms of students for the workforce, and he’s been a leader in employing students, whether in internships or co-op opportunities.”

Though Mizzou isn’t his alma mater, Verslues has supported the university like one of its own. He helped establish the MFA Chair in Agribusiness, served as an executive-in-residence, and has been deeply involved with CAFNR through its Foundation, MFA’s Ag Experience internship programs and the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership. He was even named an honorary CAFNR alumnus and received the Mumford Award for Distinguished Service in 2024.

“Ernie and other leaders were instrumental in reimagining the CAFNR Foundation to position it to best serve the university, the college and Missouri agriculture,” Daubert added. “We are thankful for his leadership.”

Though he will no doubt be sought after by such entities after retirement, Verslues said he plans to devote himself to spending quality time with his wife of 43 years, Jan, their children and grandchildren.

“I’m excited about being a better husband, a better father and a better grandfather going forward,” Verslues said. “Whether it’s me or anyone in the ag business, there are a lot of demands on time and a lot of distractions out there. I’m fortunate that I’m to a point where I can retire and focus on those things. I have no regrets, and I look forward to what’s waiting for me in the years to come.” 

View more articles from this October/November 2025 Today's Farmer magazine.