Enhancing Our Members’ Ability to Succeed
in Their Rural & Agriculturally Related Professions!
2025-2026 Committees
| Committee Name | Committee BL = Board Liaison | Responsibilities – Comments | |||
| Annual Meeting Planner | President Travis Shaykett Amanda Sawyer – Planner | Organize and coordinate with Membership, Education, Social Chairs & PAASD regarding meeting details at meeting location hotel. | |||
| Communication | Amanda Sawyer – Chair & Board Liaison, Newsletter Curtis Brooks – Newsletter Editor Adam Nelson – Website Barb Hegerfeld – Publicity | Distribute communication to members via e-mail and help develop and distribute newsletter. Develop newsletter with Secretary. Maintain chapter website. Assist members and the chapter with website video, social media, and published news releases. | |||
| Education | Matthew Pullen – Chair & Board Liaison Matthew Pullen- Lead Andrew Gudajtes, ARA, Amanda Sawyer, Troy Swee, AFM, Pat Wyatt, Tom Young, Don Zacher Jesse Ball, Kim Larson | Develop education opportunities for chapter membership. Secure continuing education credit with Appraiser Certification Program and Real Estate Commission. Annual Meeting Seminars – Offerings will utilize ASFMRA seminars, if possible, or be chapter developed. At least some offerings. Handle registration at offerings. Tech Support – Zoom Process for hybrid offerings. | |||
| Government Relations | Paul Sickler, AFM / Wade Druin – Co-Chairs Wade Druin – Board Liaison Jeff Barker, ARA, Brad Johnson, Terry Leibel Don Zacher Kim Larson, Paul Reisch, ARA | Committee Co-Chairs are chapter communication link to ASFMRA. Monitor State Legislature activities and respond / communicate to members as needed. Coordinate with PAASD on pertinent issues. Communicate Advisory Board activities and issues to members through chapter newsletter. | |||
| Kjerstad Member Scholarship | President – Travis Shaykett President Elect – Wade Druin Past President- Jeff Barker, ARA Secretary –Amanda Sawyer Treasurer- Adam Nelson | Make determinations of awarding scholarships to qualifying Members. | |||
| Membership | Jeral Gross – Chair & Board Liaison David Baker Curtis Brooks Rick Gullickson, AFM Paul Reisch, ARA Dennis Reyman, AFM, ARA Paul Sickler, AFM Craig Sommers Justin Uhrig Bradee Pazour
| Promote membership to selected individuals. New Member Activation & Orientation. Chair sends welcome e-mail to new member within 30 days of joining. Have in person or phone visit with new member within 60 days of welcome e-mail. Retention Monitoring – Have ongoing activation / communication with assigned chapter members (8 to 15). The communication would involve encouragement to attend chapter activities including education offerings, breakfast meetings, and social events as well as discussion on future committee member interest. Diversity & Inclusion – Take questions and address issues of inclusion and diversity from chapter members. These members will also stay informed of happenings on the national level that may affect the local chapter. | |||
| Mentor | Brandon Kirk, AFM & Paul Reisch, ARA – Co-Chairs Travis Shaykett – Board Liaison AFM Mentors Rick Gullickson, AFM Brandon Kirk, AFM Dennis Reyman, AFM, ARA ARA Mentors Jeff Barker, ARA Ron Ensz, ARA Allan Husby, ARA Paul Reisch, ARA Shawn Weishaar, ARA | Make members and prospective members aware of the opportunity to have a mentor help them get started in the appraisal and / or farm management business and help them through the accreditation process. Identify associate members who are interested in pursuing accreditation. Make personal contact with those members, who are interested and offer them a mentor. Assign mentor to those candidate members, who wish to have one. Assigned mentor to work with and support the candidate member through the accreditation process. Mentors: Be knowledgeable of the accreditation requirements and process. Make members aware of Kjerstad Member Scholarship opportunities and how to apply. Identify and monitor where member is in obtaining needed education. Work with and support the candidate member through the accreditation process related to experience log, farm plan / demonstration report, review course for exam, and taking test. | |||
| Nominating | Jeff Barker, ARA – Chair & Board Liaison Appointed Member – Vacant Elected Member – Mark Elder | Present a slate of nominees for filling board and officer positions. | |||
| SDSU Relationships | Barb Hegerfeld – Co-Chair Rick Gullickson, AFM – Co-Chair and Board Liaison
Appraisers -Jordan Bauer, Jay Knuppe, Keith Newman, Mathew Pullen, Haley Reisch, Brooke Van’t Hof Farm Managers – Austin Bunger, Matt Gunderson, AFM, Jackson Hegerfeld, Troy Swee, AFM, Megan Hammond Financial Officer – Ed Fiegen | Assign responsibilities & work with SDSU Committee Chairs. Primary contact with SDSU for the SD Chapter Scholarship. Assist the NESS School and Foundation as needed in scholarship selection process. Attend or designate others to attend SDSU scholarship banquet and Foundation Events. Arrange material, presentation times, and volunteers for Student Involvement events and activities to promote ASFMRA, the SD Chapter scholarship, and the associated professions. Coordinate with Chapter YPN Chair to include student members in YPN activities. Committee Members – Volunteer to help the chair with student involvement events and activities including presentations to SDSU Classes, FIRE Club, and other organizations, along with the Career Fair Booths. Work on collaboration of related affinity group professions to address common challenges and opportunities related to rural geography, industry promotion, and continuing education, particularly agriculturally related. Assist with the Real Estate Network Event as planned by the Affinity Group. Education Liaison between ASFMRA and SDSU contacts. Encourage SDSU involvement and grow campus activity while promoting Real Estate Minor activities. Monthly articles in newsletter and encourage journal type articles. | |||
| Assessors Conference | Don Zacher – Chair Need a Board Liaison Shannon Champion Curtis Brooks, John Green Kent & Melissa Roe | Secure door prizes for Assessor Conference. Assist with Assessor Association Coordination. 2025 Sioux Falls Assessor Conference meeting attendance to award prizes. 2026 Aberdeen Assessor Conference meeting attendance to award prizes. | |||
| Social | Scott Heimes–Chair Travis Shaykett – Board Liaison East River Breakfast – Jeral Gross West River Breakfast Norm Edwards, ARA – Chair (Scott working on) Annual Meeting Auction Social Terry Leibel & Kim Larson – Co-Chairs Jesse Ball, Jordan Bauer, Jack Davis, Jackson Hegerfeld, Melissa Roe, Justin Uhrig | Promote social interaction among membership through social events. Coordinate social activities including at chapter annual membership meeting, breakfast meetings, board meetings, and special events. Set dates, secure location, plan & set up programs. Set dates, secure location, plan & set up programs. Secure items and auctioneers. Conduct auction. | |||
| YPN Young Professionals Network | John Green – Chair Travis Shaykett – Board Liaison David Krier, Keith Newman | Organize and conduct 1 or more functions for YPN members geared to involving YPN members in educational and networking opportunities. | |||
| Sponsorship | Jeff Barker, ARA – Chair & Board Liaison Paul Reisch – Treasurer Chapter Administrator | Chair & committee send sponsorship request to sponsorship list. Follow-up with any responses and notify the treasurer and chapter administrator of any successful sponsorships. Treasurer maintains source on collecting sponsorships. Chapter Administrator maintains a sponsorship list and makes sure sponsors are represented in newsletter and events. | |||
| South Dakota Community Foundation Scholarship | Jeff Barker, ARA – Chair Travis Shaykett – Board Liaison | Maintain relationship with SD Community Foundation leadership. Contact person for anyone who wants to donate and direct them to the SD Community Foundation. Advertise donating to the scholarship in the newsletter and at events. | |||