Board Members and Meetings

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is guided by a seven-member citizen board appointed by the governor. Board members serve four-year terms and may be reappointed. Under Minnesota Statutes, three of the board members must be practicing veterinarians, one of whom specializes in companion animals, and four of the board members must be livestock producers, one of whom must be from a federally recognized tribe.

The board members elect a president and vice-president and also annually appoint a veterinarian to serve as the state veterinarian and executive director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The board meets quarterly. Board meeting notices are posted on the Board’s website and meetings are open to the public.

Board Members

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Headshot of Erica Sawatzke

Erica Sawatzke | Board President, Poultry Producer, Kensington


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Headshot of PeggyAnne Hawkins

Peggy Anne Hawkins, DVM | Board Vice President, Veterinarian, Northfield


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Headshot of Jessica Koppien-Fox

Jessica Koppien-Fox, DVM | Veterinarian, Marshall


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Headshot of Alex Stade

Alex Stade | Cattle Producer, Prior Lake


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Headshot of Steve Neil

Steve Neil | Livestock Producer, Northfield


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Headshot of Brandon Schafer

Brandon Schafer | Livestock Producer, Goodhue


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Headshot of Abigail Maynard

Abigail Maynard, DVM | Veterinarian Specializing in Companion Animals, St. Paul Park


Click here to email members of the board

Video Recordings

September 17, 2024 Board Meeting

Remote video URL

Special Meetings of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health

No special meetings currently scheduled.

Next Meeting of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health

The next quarterly meeting of the Board of Animal Health will be held on Tuesday, December 10 in Snyder Auditorium at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318), and on Microsoft Teams.

Some board members may be attending this meeting remotely.

Remote Access:

Agenda Items

Start time 9:30 a.m.

Erica Sawatzke
Call meeting to order
Notice of Meeting
Approval of Minutes from September 17, 2024
Approval of Agenda

Brian Hoefs
Board of Animal Health Update

Michelle Medina
Legislative Update

Hemant Naikare
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Update 
College of Veterinary Medicine Update

Stephan Schaefbauer
USDA Update

Stacy Holzbauer
Minnesota Department of Health Update

Mark Lyons
H5N1 National Overview and Outlook

Nikki Neeser
Milk Surveillance Planning

Shauna Voss
Poultry Update

Katie Cornille
Electronic ID (RFID) Requirements

Denise Bonilla
New World Screwworm Situation

Peggy Anne Hawkins
Board Bylaws Changes: Discussion and Approval

*Agenda subject to change prior to meeting.