North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) members elected 21-year member and Rugby, N.D., cattleman Randy Schmitt as the organization’s president at the NDSA’s 95th Annual Convention and Trade Show, “Building for the Future,” Sept. 20 in Bismarck, N.D. The more than 3,000-member organization tapped Schmitt for its highest post during the closing business session.
Schmitt and his family operate a commercial cow-calf operation using Simmental and Red Angus genetics. Their calves are backgrounded and sold off the farm or sold as replacement females. The Schmitts raise their own feed, including alfalfa, cover crops and grain and silage corn. Schmitt and has wife Stacey have four children, Mattie, Lane, Grace (Eddie Swartzentruber) and Ty and one granddaughter, Rowyn. Schmitt has served on the NDSA Resolutions Committee, Ag Policy Committee, Building Committee and Budget Committee and was a District 6 director and the vice president before assuming the NDSA’s presidential post.
In his acceptance remarks, Schmitt credited former NDSA Presidents Jack Reich and Jason Zahn for encouraging him to get involved in the organization.
Tim Erbele, a 33-year member from Streeter, N.D., was elected NDSA vice president. Erbele and his wife Ronda have two daughters, Miranda (Andy) Hagen and Addyson. Erbele owns a Salers-Angus-cross cow-calf operation, a 1,200-head permitted feedlot and a Purina feed dealership. Before being elected vice president, Erbele was a District 3 director, the chairman of the NDSA Animal Health Committee and a member of the NDSA Building Committee, No-Posting Committee and Budget Committee.
Ryan Ressler of Cooperstown, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term in District 1. District 1 is comprised of Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette, Steele, Sheridan, Towner, Traill, Walsh and Wells Counties. Ressler operates an Angus seedstock and commercial operation and raises Quarter Horses. He also has a farming operation with his dad and brother. He and his wife Meghan have four children, Reid, Lane, Lola and Kimberly. Ressler is a 10-year NDSA member.
In District 2, Jared Higgins of Woodworth, N.D., was re-elected to a second four-year term. District 2 is comprised of Barnes, Cass, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Stutsman Counties. The 12-year NDSA member runs a commercial cow-calf operation utilizing Angus and Hereford genetics. In addition, he has a commercial sheep flock and farming operation. Higgins and his wife Rebecca have three children, Janet, Anna and Grace. Higgins served as acting vice chairman of the NDSA Feeding & Marketing Committee and was an NDSA representative in deer depredation discussions.
Randy Weigel of Kintyre, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term in District 3. District 3 is comprised of represents Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Logan and McIntosh Counties. The 22-year NDSA member operates a 2,500-head state-permitted feedlot and feeds cattle at numerous backgrounding lots around the state. He and his son are also livestock order buyers. Weigel and his wife Cindy have four children, Steven (Megan), Rachel, Nathan (Olivia) and Janae.
In District 4, which is comprised of Adams, Grant, Hettinger, Mercer, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties, Scott Katus of Watauga, S.D., was re-elected to his second four-year term. The 26-year NDSA member runs a registered and commercial Angus operation along with his wife and two sons. They utilize Angus and Hereford genetics and have a bred heifer development program producing Angus and F1 bred heifers for sale each year. They also background their own steers and raise corn, sunflowers, wheat, barley, oats, millet, sorghum and alfalfa. He serves as the vice chairman of the NDSA Animal Health Committee and on the NDSA Brand Board. He and his wife Heather have four children, Jaci (Andy) Mrnak, Cole (Brooke), Braydon and Tally, and three grandchildren, Sloan, Lincoln and Jaylee.
In District 5, which is comprised of comprised of Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Slope and Stark Counties, Cody Reis of Fairfield, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term. The 23-year NDSA member has a commercial cow-calf operation, raising Angus cattle in Billings County. He and his wife Julie have three sons, Dillon, Emmet and Wyatt.
Ian Hall of Berthold, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term in District 6. District 6 is comprised of Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Renville, Ward and Williams Counties. The nine-year NDSA member raises registered Angus and Simmental seedstock and farms. He also clips cattle and markets real estate. He and his wife Morgan have two daughters, Ryan and Jacey.
Other members of the NDSA Board of Directors and Executive Committee include the following: NDSA Immediate Past President Jason Leiseth of Arnegard, N.D.; District 1 Directors Erika Kenner of Leeds, N.D., Bryan Ressler of Cooperstown, N.D., and Cliff Sanders, Jr., of Clifford, N.D.; District 2 Directors Jeffrey Breker of Havana, N.D., Wade Dally of Montpelier, N.D., and Brian McDonald of Leonard, N.D.; District 3 Directors Justin Deckert of Arena, N.D., Craig Kemmet of Tappen, N.D., and Carter Vander Wal of Pollock, S.D.; District 4 Directors Wayne Hepper of Fort Yates, N.D., Riley Schriefer of Golden Valley, N.D., and Casey Voigt of Beulah, N.D.; District 5 Directors Carmen Rambousek of Dickinson, N.D., Joe Schettler of Killdeer, N.D., and Calli Thorne of Watford City, N.D.; and District 6 Directors Kevin Hansen of Ryder, N.D., Chase Jacobson of Columbus, N.D., and Gary Martens of Ross, N.D.
NDSA officers serve up to two one-year terms. Directors serve up to two four-year terms.
NDSA members interested in running for a leadership position should notify their district’s respective Nominating Committee members. The Nominating Committees traditionally name their candidates in June.
