Annual Meeting

Julie Anna Potts

Julie Anna Potts is the President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, where she leads the Institute in the implementation of all programs and activities for the association. An agriculture veteran, Potts previously served the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as its executive vice president and treasurer. Potts first joined AFBF in 2004, serving as general counsel until 2009. In late 2009, she was named chief counsel of the Senate Agriculture Committee, serving under then-Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Earlier in her career, Potts was an associate in the environmental law groups of the Washington, DC, law firms Mayer Brown, LLP, and Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal. She also clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 1997-1998.

Potts earned her law degree at The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, and her bachelor of arts in English at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She is a trustee of The Pennsylvania State University and chair of the American Enterprise Agriculture Sector Committee at the Smithsonian American History Museum.

Michael & Gwyn McCormack
Estate and Succession Planning Specialists
Lincoln Financial Agribusiness Services

Mike is a 4th generation San Franciscan whose family has worked over 100 years supporting agriculture. Mike is a graduate of University of California Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial psychology and business management. Gwyn is native New Englander educated at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts/Graphic Design. Gwyn started her corporate finance career during college and rapidly worked her way up to VicePresident specializing in corporate communications. Gwyn joined Mike’s personal practice over 20 years ago and their son Connor joined the team in 2017.

The McCormack’s strive to teach the importance of communication and proactive planning to support today’s ranch owners while defining a clear path for future generations; and hopefully minimizing conflicts along the way.

Sierra Simpson Medlin 

Specializing in agriculture land sales such as ranches, acreages, cropland, and wildlife retreats. Sierra has been actively involved in agriculture her entire life, since she is fifth generation on the family farm.  Growing up on a farm, Sierra learned determination, persistence, and hard-work.

There aren’t many jobs and lifestyle that require the discipline of rising before sun daily; delivering a baby animal in sub-zero temps at 3 a.m. or never having a day off the way ranching does. These life experiences have proved Sierra with the framework to become a successful entrepreneur and a real estate agent.  Sierra uses the USDA Farm Services Agencies to educate and give opportunities to first time farmers that are starting out. Using several of the agencies within the USDA has gave Sierra the opportunity to provide unique resource to farmers and ranchers who otherwise might not be able to start or grow their operations. Being an active member and state officer of the Oklahoma Cattlewomen Association, and a supporter of FFA and 4-H youth groups, Sierra continually gives back to the agriculture industry that has given her so much.