_edited.png)
the team
U.S. Board
.jpeg)
Treasurer
Jim Maixner
Jim’s interest in agricultural development stems from a passion for food insecurity issues and a desire to help those most in need. He has been on five short-term mission trips and spent three years working in a public health clinic. Those experiences along with a recent trip to a Zambian village convinced him that closing the knowledge gap with Zambian farmers can lead to lasting change.
​​​​​​
​
​
​
​
.jpeg)
President
Maria Maixner
Maria grew up on a farm in Iowa, walking beans and bottle feeding the occasional calf or lamb left orphaned. She and her family spent summers working in the garden and freezing enough sweet corn to last the winter. Though she left the farm for a career in nursing, Maria spent ten years working with an agricultural nonprofit. She was also involved in a community garden whose produce went to community meals. Empowering farmers to achieve self-sufficiency while partnering with like-minded Zambians is the inspiration behind her work.
​​
_JPG.jpg)
Vice President, Director of Agriculture
Tracy Blackmer
Tracy Blackmer is a research agronomist with over 30 years of research experience. He has worked for the USDA-ARS, Monsanto, Asgrow, Iowa Soybean Association and other ag businesses. Tracy currently runs a non-profit called Iowa Gardening for Good which focuses on organizing volunteers to assist in growing vegetables to donate to food pantries. Tracy has a passion for working with growers on implementing practical improvements on their farms utilizing data driven adaptive management strategies. For the last year, Tracy has been working on ag outreach to benefit Zambian farmers near Petauke.​​
.jpeg)
Secretary
Doug Wibholm
Doug Wibholm, lives in Ankeny, IA with his wife Charlotte, son Anders and daughter Anna. They attend Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny. Doug is the secretary of the Zambia-Iowa Agricultural Partners organization. In addition, he is an engineer at John Deere, and is actively involved with his family’s corn and soybean farming operation in Blairsburg, IA.
​
​​​​
​
​
​
​
Zambia Team
Pastor Moses Banda
Zambia Team Lead, Agriculture Trainer
Village: Kayawa
Church: Simambwe Church
Moses Banda is pastor of a growing church in his local village and is active farming near his
home. His parents both farmed and he learned to farm from them. More recently, Pastor Moses spent time learning conservation farming and is dedicated to teaching those principles to local farmers. He also has a passion to see school children learn modern agricultural methods and self-sufficiency. Pastor Moses seeks to build relationships with and disciple community members, eliminate food insecurity, and promote financial self-reliance. He is married to Agnes and has four children.
​
​
Pastor Stackson Timbo
Village: Kalizya
Church: Grace Baptist Church
Stackson Timbo, pastor at Grace Baptist Church, felt called into the ministry. He, like most in his village, participates in farming as a source of food and income. Pastor Stackson grows corn,soybeans, ground nuts, and sunflowers as well as vegetables. He also has the knowledge to grow oranges. The goals for a partnership with ZAIP reflect Stackson’s desire to pursue modern farming practices,a successful farming enterprise, and sustainable community development. Pastor Stackson is married to Rosemary and has six children.
​
​
​
​
Pastor Vincent Banda
Village: Riverside
Church: Faith Fellowship Baptist
Vincent Banda has been farming all his life learning agriculture from his parents. He dreamed of becoming an engineer when God grabbed his attention, and everything changed. He loves pastoral ministry, teaching God’s ways and church planting in villages across the Petauke District. Pastor Vincent recognizes that the gospel must be holistic, meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of the people as the early church demonstrated. His vision is to teach improved farming methods so there is no more hunger. He has also learned to manage scarce resources, sharing with the poor and teaches others to do the same. Pastor Vincent is married to Prisca and has one small son.
Pastor Godrick Mwanza
Village: Minga
Church: Grace Bible Baptist Church
Godrick Mwanza is bi-vocational, working both as a pastor and farmer. Pastor Godrick learned farming from his parents and has continued to improve, applying conservation farming practices to his own business. He also owns a poultry business selling both eggs and fryers. Pastor Godrick has worked in the solar panel industry and received training in entrepreneurship and project management. Pastor has identified the needs in his community and, in addition to preaching the gospel, is passionate to change farming methods, teach business practices, improve living standards and in turn help feed others in need. He is married to Sarah and has three children.
Bishop Abiuld Banda Kalito
Village: Petauke
Church: Bethel Baptist Church
Abiuld Banda Kalito started his first church in 1970 after completing three years of seminary. He then transferred to a church in Petauke where his parents had settled. His ministry has grown and now Bishop Abiuld oversees 23 churches in the Petauke District, encouraging pastors and coordinating joint projects, such as building new church buildings. Living in a rural farming community, the bishop equates farming with many challenges. It means living without enough food, and children attending school without uniforms, shoes or enough books.It means great suffering for widows and orphans. Bishop Abiuld envisions a time when farmers will learn improved methods so that both spiritual and physical needs will be met. He sees a partnership with ZIAP as a means to this end. The bishop is married to Lynness and has seven children.