McFarland elected new leader of the American Malting Barley Association
The Board of Directors of the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) has elected Ashley McFarland to the role of president and CEO of the organization. McFarland served as the association’s vice president and technical director for the past four years. As president and CEO, McFarland will focus on advancing AMBA’s mission to strengthen the malting barley industry through research, quality assurance, and collaboration across the supply chain. McFarland joined AMBA in fall 2021 to oversee the Quality Evaluation Program, the rigorous process through which new malting barley varieties are evaluated and approved for industry adoption. Under her leadership, the association expanded communications across multiple platforms and advanced a comprehensive strategic planning initiative. In her new role, she will continue to provide leadership for the National Barley Improvement Committee, a diverse stakeholder coalition seeking sound federal policy and robust funding to support barley research infrastructure. She has been instrumental in securing increased funding to support public research, most recently, $1 million for the newly developed Resilient Barley Initiative. “Ashley brings a rare combination of technical expertise, policy insight, and collaborative leadership,” said Shannon Ambrosio, chair of the AMBA Board of Directors. “During a time when investment in research, quality assurance, and grower confidence is critical, the Board is confident she is the right leader to guide AMBA forward.” Prior to joining AMBA, Ashley held various roles in University extension programs across four states and has worked in nonprofit executive leadership. Most notably, she served as director of an agricultural experiment station for Michigan State University where she managed a diverse research portfolio spanning across multiple agricultural sectors. Her work on small grains led to a statewide applied research program and diverse outreach and education efforts targeting farmers, grain processors, and end users. McFarland became very active in national efforts to strengthen the malting barley crop, including active participation on the National Barley Improvement Committee, and serving on the board of directors for the Craft Maltsters Guild. McFarland succeeds Scott Heisel, who announced his April 2026 retirement, and will continue to serve as senior advisor. Heisel has been with AMBA for 39 years in various capacities, most recently appointed president and CEO in 2021.
