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

Erica Sawatzke | Board President, Poultry Producer, Kensington

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

Jessica Koppien-Fox, DVM | Veterinarian, Marshall

Alex Stade | Cattle Producer, Prior Lake

Steve Neil | Livestock Producer, Northfield

Brandon Schafer | Livestock Producer, Goodhue

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

Click here to email members of the board

Video Recordings

December 6, 2023 Board Meeting

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 Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Hocokata Ti, 2300 Tiwahe Circle, Shakopee, MN 55379, and virtually on Microsoft Teams. 

Some board members may be attending this meeting remotely.

Connect Remotely:

Agenda Items*

Start time 9:30 a.m.

Peggy Anne Hawkins
Call meeting to order
Notice of Meeting
Approval of Minutes from September 27, 2023
Approval of Agenda

Board Members
2024 Board Meeting Dates

Brian Hoefs
Board of Animal Health Update

Michelle Medina
Legislative Update

Stephan Schaefbauer
USDA Update

Joni Scheftel
Minnesota Department of Health Update

Laura Molgaard
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and
College of Veterinary Medicine Updates

Shauna Voss
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Update

Krista Lautenschlager
HPAI Control Areas Overview

Jason Gilsdorf
USDA HPAI in Wildlife Research Update

Veronica Bartsch
Companion Animal Update

Courtney Wheeler
Field Inspection Opportunities for Board Members

Addie Evans-Engelke and Michael Oehler
White-Tailed Deer Authority Transfer to DNR

Lucia Hunt
Incident Management Team Structure

*Agenda subject to change prior to meeting.