MGGA announces chief executive transition

Press release

GREAT FALLS — The Montana Grain Growers Association has announced that Executive Vice President Lola Raska will retire from the organization at the end of this calendar year, and that Alison Vergeront has been hired as MGGA’s new executive vice president, effective Jan. 1.

“We could not be more pleased that Alison has agreed to become our new executive vice president,” MGGA President Vince Mattson of Chester said. “I am confident that her qualifications, experience and dedication to agriculture are attributes that will help steward MGGAs legacy during this time of transition.” 

Lola Raska has been on staff at MGGA for 21 years, serving as the organization’s farm policy associate and website manager before being hired as executive vice president in 2006. Prior to joining the staff, Raska represented District 9 on the MGGA board of directors from 1997 to 2001.

She grew up on the family farm near Plentywood and, after receiving a degree in agricultural science from Montana State University, has been involved in the Montana agricultural industry for more than 40 years. 

Alison Vergeront was raised near Polson on the family farm that was homesteaded in 1910. She has served as agricultural liaison and field representative for U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., for the past six years, regularly meeting with producers and other stakeholders across the state.

Vergeront previously worked as administrative support in the Montana Senate for several sessions and has coordinated national young leadership conferences as well as Montana state wide summits. Her professional, legislative and leadership experience at various levels of political and public service and her dynamic organizational skills will serve MGGA well.

Montana Grain Growers Association is the primary trade organization representing Montana wheat and barley producers who, by combining their strengths, voices and ideas, are working to insure a better future for themselves, their industry and the consumer.