About Us - Board Members
Interested in Serving?
If you would like to be considered for a Board and/or Nominating Committee position in this election cycle, click the “Go to Application” link below and you will be directed to the Survey & Ballot Systems' DirectNominations® website.
To start the application process, you will need to create and confirm an account using a valid email address. After you set up your account, log into DirectNominations to complete your application for the Board and/or Nominating Committee.
Go to Application
Applications must be completed by January 15, 2025, for consideration by the Nominating Committee.
Contact a Corporate Governance Specialist with questions about the election process by email at sr@agcountry.com or by calling 800-531-3905.
AgCountry Board of Directors
-
Lynn Pietig
Board Chair -
Steve Perdue
Vice Chair -
Leif Aakre
Director -
Suzanne Allen
Appointed Outside Director -
Bryan Ankenbauer
Director -
Justin Dagen
Director -
Kurt Elliott
Director -
Ed Hegland
Director -
Karen Kerner
Director -
Ryan Klussendorf
Director -
Michael Long
Director -
Shawn Murphy
Director -
Greg Nelson
Director -
William (Bill) Oemichen
Appointed Outside Director -
Richard Price
Director -
Greg Sabolik
Director -
Curt Trost
Director -
Dale Zahradka
Director -
Mike Zenker
Director
Steve was elected to the Board of directors in 2009. He manages and operates a small grain farm raising wheat, canola, flax, barley, corn, and soybeans. He occasionally helps his father and brother with the cattle part of the operation. He holds a business administration degree from Dickinson State University. He serves as director on the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council board and U.S. Durum Growers Association. He also serves as a trustee on the church board.
Contact Steve: Steven.Perdue@agcountry.com
Suzanne Allen is President of Allen CFO Services, a fractional CFO consulting business. She has served as Chief Financial Officer of Unity Holdings, Inc, and Compudyne. She also had a variety of roles at Otter Tail Corporation including Vice President and Treasurer, Interim Vice President of Finance at T.O. Plastics. and as Vice President of Finance for Aevenia. Before joining Otter Tail Corporation, Allen worked as Treasurer of wireless carrier Rural Cellular Corporation, Treasurer of Nash Finch Company, and Assistant Treasurer of Valspar. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a master of business administration degree from the University of St. Thomas. She also serves on the board of directors of American Transmission Company.
Contact Suzanne: Suzanne.Allen@agcountry.com
Bryan was elected to the Board of directors in 2005. He manages and operates a small grain farm raising wheat, canola, flax, barley, corn, and soybeans. He occasionally helps his father and brother with the cattle part of the operation. He graduated from Kenmare High School before attending Mayville State and Minot State to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics teaching. He is currently a member of the North Dakota Farmers Union, the North Dakota Dry Pea and Lentil Association, the North Central Marketing Club, and the Canola Growers Association. He is a past director for the U. S. Durum Growers Association and County Farmers Union Board. He is a volunteer with the Kenmare Community Youth Group, a boys basketball coach at Bowbells High School, and involved at the Kenmare Church of the Nazarene.
Contact Bryan: Bryan.Ankenbauer@agcountry.com
Justin lives near Karlstad, Minnesota, where he has farmed since 1975. Justin farms with his two sons, who represent the 6th generation to operate Dagen Heritage Farms. They have a diversified cash crop operation that specializes in seed potatoes. Justin was first elected to the board of directors in 2018.
Contact Justin: Justin.Dagen@agcountry.com
Kurt is from Blanchard, North Dakota. He began farming in 1988. He currently farms corn and soybeans, is a part of Tri-E Simmentals (purebred operation), and also has cattle in his family's 3,200 head feedlot. He and his wife also operate a vineyard as their hobby. Kurt has served on the board of directors since 2016.
Contact Kurt: Kurt.Elliott@agcountry.com
Ed Hegland is owner and manager of Hegland Farms of Appleton, Inc., a cash grain farm in Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota. He began farming in 1992 as part of a family farm corporation with his parents. They raise corn, soybeans, and wheat using strip-till, no-till, and other conservation measures. He's a member of, and has held leadership roles in, a variety of ag-related associations and organizations. Ed was first elected to the board of directors in 2012.
Contact Ed: Ed.Hegland@agcountry.com
Karen Kerner is from Phillips, Wisconsin. Along with her husband, the couple started their own Angus cow/calf operation in 1994. Over time, the farm has grown to include help from her two kids and her brother-in-law. Today, they grow a grass mix hay forage, oats, soybeans, and corn for feed. They also finish out their own feeder calves to provide a direct-to-consumer meat line under Deer Creek Angus LLC. Karen was first elected to the board of directors in 2021.
Contact Karen: Karen.Kerner@agcountry.com
Ryan Klussendorf is from Medford, Wisconsin, where he operates a 120-cow dairy and farms 435 acres of hay, winter rye, and corn. They utilize no-till practices, cover crops, pollinator habitats, precision farming, herd monitoring technologies, and profit loss mapping. Ryan is active within multiple organizations including the Farm Bureau, 4-H, Rural Mutual Insurance Board of Directors, his church, and the Medford Cooperative. Ryan was first elected to the AgCountry Board in 2023.
Contact Ryan: Ryan.Klussendorf@agcountry.com
Michael lives near Berlin, North Dakota, where he began farming with his dad on a diverse dairy in 1980. They ran the dairy until 2000 when they built up the beef cow/calf herd and built a feedlot, which he currently operates. He also raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Michael has served on the Board of Directors since 1997, and is a member of the North Dakota Farm Credit Council.
Contact Michael: Michael.Long@agcountry.com
Shawn is a fifth generation farmer near Carpio, North Dakota where they grow wheat, canola, durum, peas, and soybeans. He is joined on the farm by his family and parents. Shawn's background is in farm finance having previously served as a loan officer and a VP of Credit. Beyond farming, Shawn is active in multiple organizations and serves on his township board. Shawn was first elected to the board of directors in 2024.
Contact Shawn.Murphy@agcountry.com
Greg and his family live near Milnor, North Dakota, where he grew up on a dairy and small grain farm. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1993 and started farming full time with his dad, making it a fourth-generation family farm. He raises wheat, soybeans, and corn. He joined the Board of Directors in 2008.
Contact Greg: Greg.Nelson@agcountry.com
Bill is a senior researcher in national security and food systems risk affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Law School. He is an attorney licensed to practice in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Alberta (Canada). He is a former senior leader of the Wisconsin and Minnesota state agriculture departments and of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Bill chairs the board of trustees of Wisconsin’s $7.3 billion College Savings Program Fund, is Board Treasurer for Group Health Cooperative, is a member of the FCCS Board, and is President of the New Glarus, Wisconsin School Board. Finally, Bill is a PhD dissertation candidate in agricultural risk at the University of Saskatchewan.
Contact Bill: Bill.Oemichen@agcountry.com
Richard has owned and operated a 400 acre dairy and crop farm near Stanley, Wisconsin with his wife, Michele, since 1986. Together, they milk 70 cows and replacement heifers. Their son assists on the farm along with a part-time herdsman. Richard previously served on the boards of United FCS and AgriBank. He has also previously served in leadership and board roles with his local church, hospital, and school board.
Contact Richard: Richard.Price@agcountry.com
Greg lives near Kensington, Minnesota, and took over the family dairy operation in 2000. He also runs a crop operation in partnership with his brother. They raise corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Greg was elected to the board of directors in 2013.
Contact Greg: Greg.Sabolik@agcountry.com
Dale Zahradka of Lankin, North Dakota, began farming in 1986. He and his wife raise a combination of cash grains with assistance from their children. Dale also owns a grain elevator that does custom drying of local crops. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2002 and has been a past chairman and vice chairman of the Board.
Contact Dale: Dale.Zahradka@agcountry.com
Mike was elected to the Board of Directors in 2015. He began farming in 2008 with his brother near Gackle, North Dakota, where they currently raise corn, soybeans, and barley. Mike has several years of experience in the finance industry and has operated his own seed dealership since 2012.
Contact Mike: Mike.Zenker@agcountry.com
