FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA – AgCountry Farm Credit Services (AgCountry) stockholders elected four agricultural producers and one Board-appointed Director to the financial cooperative’s Board of Directors.
Bryan Ankenbauer, Bowbells, ND, was re-elected to serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2025. Ankenbauer manages and operates a small grain farm raising wheat, canola, flax, barley, corn, and soybeans. Ankenbauer is a partner in EG Acres, LLC, a farm management company and serves on the North Dakota Farm Credit Council. Ankenbauer has served on the Board since 2005.
Greg Sabolik, Kensington, MN, was re-elected to serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2025. Sabolik is the President of Bred & Butter Dairy LLC, a dairy and row crop farm, and 709 LLC, a land ownership entity. Sabolik serves as a director for the Douglas County Chapter of the American Dairy Association and is a member of the Policy and Engagement Committee for the Minnesota Milk Producers Association. Sabolik currently serves as a board member for the Minnesota Dairy Initiative, the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council, and the AgriBank District Nominating Committee. Sabolik has served on the Board since 2013.
Ed Hegland, Appleton, MN, was re-elected to serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2025. Hegland is owner and manager of Hegland Farms of Appleton, Inc., a cash grain farm in Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota. Hegland raises corn, soybeans, and wheat using no till, cover crops, and other conservation methods. Hegland currently serves on the Farm Credit Council, the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council, and is a member of the Minnesota Farm Credit Legislative Committee. Hegland has served on the Board since 2012.
Karen Kerner, Phillips, WI, was re-elected to serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2025. Kerner along with her husband, Greg Denzine, owns and runs a Black Angus cow/calf to finishing operation to provide direct-to-consumer beef under Deer Creek Angus LLC. The farm grows oats, grass hay forage mix, soybeans, and corn. Kerner has served on the Board since 2021.
William (Bill) Oemichen, New Glarus, WI, has been re-appointed by the Board as an appointed Director effective September 1, 2025, with a four-year term. Oemichen is a professor of practice-law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, adjunct professor in co-operative law at the University of Saskatchewan Law School, and partner at Community and Co-operative Counsel law firm. Oemichen also serves a board treasurer for Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, chair of the board of trustees for Wisconsin College Savings Program, director for Farm Credit Council Services, Inc., a board member for Farm Land Title, a board member and president for New Glarus Board of Education, a board member for Green County Leaders, a fellow for Canadian Centre for Study of Co-operatives, and a research principal for the University of Saskatchewan. Oemichen has served as an appointed Director for the Association since 2009.
Mike Long, Berlin, ND, will be retiring from the Board of Directors effective August 31, 2025. Mr. Long has served on the Board since 1997, and the Board appreciates his dedication to the stockholders and our cooperative as a Director and Board leader through his tenure.
AgCountry is governed by a Board of Directors that reflects the diversity of agriculture in the Association’s territory of North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central Wisconsin. Effective September 1, 2025, the Board will consist of 16 Directors elected by customer-owners and two Directors appointed by the Board to provide an outside perspective in the areas of financial and risk expertise.
About AgCountry Farm Credit Services
AgCountry Farm Credit Services is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With more than $14.68 billion in assets and $2.8 billion in members’ equity, AgCountry is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and business services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, and rural residents in North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central Wisconsin. Learn more at agcountry.com.
