Board of Directors

Bryan Ankenbauer
Board Vice Chair
Bowbells, ND

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. He currently serves as the AgCountry Board Vice Chairperson and the AgCountry Board Governance Committee Chairperson. Ankenbauer was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2005; his current term ends August 31, 2029.

Justin Dagen
Karlstad, MN

Dagen farms with his two sons, who represent the sixth generation to operate Dagen Heritage Farms. Dagen has a diversified cash crop operation that specializes in seed potatoes. Dagen also serves as the chairperson for the Spring Brook Township Board of Supervisors and on his church board. Dagen was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2018; his current term ends August 31, 2026.

Kurt Elliott
Blanchard, ND

Elliott raises corn and soybeans, is a part of Tri-E Simmentals (purebred operation), and feeds cattle in his family's feedlot. Elliott currently serves as a commissioner for Traill County Commission and is member of the Lake Agassiz Regional Development Board. Elliott was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2016; his current term ends August 31, 2028.

Ed Hegland
Appleton, MN

Hegland is owner and manager of Hegland Farms of Appleton, Inc., a cash grain farm in Lac Qui Parle County. Hegland raises corn, soybeans, and wheat using no till, cover crops, and other conservation methods. Hegland currently serves on the national Farm Credit Council, the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council, and the FCCS board. Hegland was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2012; his current term ends August 31, 2029.

Karen Kerner
Philips, WI

Kerner, along with her husband, is the managing owner of a Black Angus cow-calf to finishing operation, which provides a direct-to-consumer beef under Deer Creek Angus, LLC. The farm grows oats, grass-hay-forage mix, soybeans, and corn. Kerner was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2021, her current term ends August 31, 2029.

Ryan Klussendorf
Medford, WI

Klussendorf operates Broadlands Grass Farm, where he manages a rotational grazing dairy operation and grows hay, winter rye, and corn. He is a member of the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council and serves as Vice Chairperson of the Wisconsin Farm Credit Legislative Committee. Klussendorf has held leadership roles with the Medford Cooperative Board of Directors and the Taylor County Farm Bureau. He previously served on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors and the Rural Mutual Insurance Company Board. He was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2023; his current term ends August 31, 2027.

Shawn Murphy
Carpio, ND

Murphy is a fifth-generation farmer growing wheat, canola, durum, peas, and soybeans. Murphy serves as a director for Northern Canola Growers, as a treasurer/clerk for White Ash Township, and as a director for Berthold Farmers Elevator. He was previously employed as a credit officer for Farm Credit Services of North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Farm Credit Council. Murphy was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2024; his current term ends August 31, 2028.

Greg Nelson
Milnor, ND

Nelson is the fourth generation on their family farm and raises wheat, soybeans, and corn. Nelson also serves on the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council and an elder for his church. Nelson was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2008; his current term ends August 31, 2026.

William (Bill) Oemichen
Board-Appointed Director
New Glarus, WI

An appointed Director, Oemichen is a professor of practice-law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension and Law School. He also serves as an adjunct professor in cooperative law at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. In addition to his academic work, Oemichen is a partner at Oemichen Bridgewater, LLP, and a national security researcher currently writing his Ph.D. dissertation on Food Systems Risk. He serves as chair of the Board of Trustees for Wisconsin College Savings Program and president of the New Glarus Board of Education. He is also a fellow of the Canadian Centre for the Study of Cooperatives and a research principal at the University of Saskatchewan. Oemichen serves on the boards of FCCS, Farm Land Title, and the Green County Leaders. He currently serves as the AgCountry Board Business Risk Committee Chairperson. Oemichen was appointed to the AgCountry Board in 2009; his current term ends August 31, 2029.

Richard Price
Stanley, WI

Price owns and operates a crop farm with his wife. Price previously served on the United Farm Credit Services Board from 2008 to 2017 and the AgriBank Board from 2017 to 2021. Price was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2022; his current term ends August 31, 2026.

Greg Sabolik
Kensington, MN

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 member of the Policy and Engagement Committee for the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, as board member for the Minnesota Dairy Initiative, the Douglas County Chapter of the American Dairy Association, the AgriBank District Farm Credit Council, and the AgriBank District Nominating Committee. Sabolik was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2013; his current term ends August 31, 2029.

Curt Trost
Wabasso, MN

Trost and his wife own and operate a grain operation raising corn and soybeans, and Trost is president of Curtis Trost Farming, Inc. Trost also serves as Board Vice Chairperson for Serenity Suites Senior Living. Trost was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2020; his current term ends August 31, 2028. 

Dale Zahradka
Lankin, ND

Zahradka and his wife raise a combination of cash grains with assistance from their children. He also owns a grain elevator that does custom drying of local crops. He is the vice chairperson on the North Dakota Farm Credit Council. Zahradka was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2002; his current term ends August 31, 2026.

Mike Zenker
Gackle, ND

Zenker farms with his brother raising corn, soybeans, and barley. Zenker also owns and operates a seed dealership. Zenker serves as a board member for Finn Township Board, and president of the Gackle Future Development Company Board. He currently serves as the AgCountry Board Human Capital Committee Chairperson. Zenker was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2015; his current term ends August 31, 2027.