United Producers to Seek Next President & CEO
Mike Bumgarner plans to retire in June 2027, and the cooperative's board has launched a search for his successor.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
United Producers, Inc., the Midwest's largest livestock marketing cooperative, announced that President & CEO Mike Bumgarner plans to retire in June 2027. The Board of Directors has begun a search for his successor, with applications accepted through January 8, 2027.
Why it matters
The leadership transition affects a cooperative serving 30,000 members across six states and handling roughly 2.7 million head of livestock annually. Bumgarner will continue leading day-to-day operations until his planned retirement, giving the board time to select a successor.
United Producers serves 30,000 members in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Tennessee and handles approximately 2.7 million head of livestock per year. The Board will define the qualifications for the next leader with input from directors and stakeholders, and candidates will be evaluated against the same criteria.
The players
United Producers, Inc.
A Midwest livestock marketing cooperative headquartered in Ohio that serves members across six states.
Mike Bumgarner
President & CEO of United Producers, Inc., who plans to retire in June 2027.
Gallagher Consulting Group
A consulting firm engaged by the United Producers board as strategic advisor and facilitator for the leadership search.
The details
The Board has appointed a Search Committee and engaged Gallagher Consulting Group as strategic advisor and facilitator. The position will be posted in December, internal and external candidates will be considered, and United Producers anticipates announcing its next leader by spring 2027.
Timeline
December 2026: President & CEO position to be posted
January 8, 2027: Application deadline
Spring 2027: Expected announcement of next President & CEO
June 2027: Mike Bumgarner's planned retirement
Market Landscape
Livestock marketing cooperatives like United Producers operate in a sector where leadership continuity shapes relationships with producers across multiple states. A formal, board-led search with an outside facilitator follows the pattern many agricultural cooperatives use when a long-serving chief executive steps down.
Members and producers who rely on United Producers' marketing services will see continuity, since Bumgarner remains in charge through his planned June 2027 retirement. The search timeline gives the cooperative a defined window to name a successor before the transition takes effect.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at member-owned cooperatives are typically planned well in advance, and the timeline here gives members a clear view of when the new leader will be named. Watching the spring 2027 announcement will show who the board selects to steer the cooperative forward.
What happens next
The position will be posted in December 2026, applications close January 8, 2027, and the board expects to name a successor by spring 2027.
Further reading
Explore more leadership changes in the People section of Business coverage.
More information
Visit the United Producers company website for more details about the cooperative.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal.
