2 weeks Ago
BISMARCK — North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) members elected 21-year member and Rugby, North Dakota, 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. 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 and raise their own feed, including alfalfa, cover crops and grain and silage corn. Schmitt and his wife, Stacey, have four children and one granddaughter. 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.
Tim Erbele, a 33-year member from Streeter, North Dakota, was elected NDSA vice president. Erbele and his wife, Ronda, have two daughters. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Ryan Ressler of Cooperstown, North Dakota, 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.
Ressler is a 10-year NDSA member. In District 2, Jared Higgins of Woodworth, North Dakota, was reelected 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.
Higgins served as acting vice chairman of the NDSA Feeding & Marketing Committee and was an NDSA representative in deer depredation discussions. Other directors elected were Randy Weigel of Kintyre, North Dakota, District 3; Scott Katus, Watauga, South Dakota, District 4; Cody Reis of Fairfield, North Dakota, District 5, and Ian Hall of Berthold, North Dakota, District 6. Other members of the NDSA Board of Directors and Executive Committee include the following: NDSA Immediate Past President Jason Leiseth, Arnegard, North Dakota; District 1 Directors Erika Kenner, Leeds, North Dakota, Bryan Ressler, Cooperstown, and Cliff Sanders, Jr.
, Clifford, North Dakota; District 2 Directors Jeffrey Breker, Havana, North Dakota, Wade Dally, Montpelier, North Dakota, and Brian McDonald, Leonard, North Dakota; District 3 Directors Justin Deckert, Arena, North Dakota, Craig Kemmet, Tappen, North Dakota, and Carter Vander Wal,f Pollock, South Dakota; District 4 Directors Wayne Hepper, Fort Yates, North Dakota, Riley Schriefer, Golden Valley, North Dakota, and Casey Voigt, Beulah, North Dakota; District 5 Directors Carmen Rambousek, Dickinson, North Dakota, Joe Schettler, Killdeer, North Dakota, and Calli Thorne, Watford City, North Dakota; and District 6 Directors Kevin Hansen, Ryder, North Dakota, Chase Jacobson, Columbus, North Dakota, and Gary Martens, Ross, North Dakota. 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..
