Photo: NDSA
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association members re-elected 22-year member and Rugby, N.D., cow-calf producer Randy Schmitt as their president at the organization’s 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show, “Think Big, Achieve More.” The association tapped Schmitt for a second year in its highest post during the closing business session at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Minot, N.D.
Schmitt and his family own a commercial Simmental and Red Angus cow-calf operation, where they background feeders, market replacement heifers and raise their own feed, including alfalfa, cover crops and grain and silage corn.
Schmitt and his wife Stacey have four children, Mattie, Lane, Grace Swartzentruber (Eddie) and Ty, and one granddaughter, Rowyn.
In his presidential address during the convention’s opening session, Schmitt said serving as the organization’s president “has given me countless opportunities to see our mission in action.”
NDSA members also re-elected Tim Erbele of Streeter, N.D., as the organization’s vice president. He is the chairman of the NDSA Resolutions Committee. The 33-year NDSA member runs a Salers-Angus-cross cow-calf operation, permitted backgrounding feedlot and Purina feed dealership. Erbele and his wife Ronda have two daughters, Miranda (Andy) Hagen and Addyson.
District directors
Lacey Wirth of Munich, N.D., was elected to her 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. Wirth, a three-year NDSA member, has a primarily Angus cow-calf and backgrounding operation with genetics stemming from her family’s herd. Wirth worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service as an agricultural engineer for five years before resigning from the position to farm and ranch full-time with her family. Her husband is Mitchell.
Wade Dally of Montpelier, N.D., was re-elected to a second four-year term in District 2. District 2 is comprised of Barnes, Cass, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Stutsman Counties. Dally, a 14-year NDSA member, runs an Angus seedstock operation with a spring- and fall-calving herd and a commercial cow-calf operation. He and his family sell bulls, females and ranch horses. Dally also builds, remodels, pours concrete and constructs houses, shops and barns. He is the vice chairman of the NDSA Ag Policy Committee. He and his wife Bailey have two daughters, Bristol and Dawson.
Brooks Zenker of Gackle, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term in District 3. District 3 is comprised of Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Logan and McIntosh Counties. Zenker is a 13-year NDSA member and the chairman of the NDSA Feeder Council. He is in partnership with his father, Warren Zenker, in an Angus and Salers-cross cow-calf operation, permitted feedlot and farm. He and his wife Hailey have one daughter, Isla.
Wayne Hepper of Fort Yates, N.D., was re-elected to his second four-year term in District 4. District 4 is comprised of Adams, Grant, Hettinger, Mercer, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties. Hepper is a 10-year NDSA member and the vice chairman of the NDSA Feeding & Marketing Committee. He runs an Angus cowherd with Limousin bulls for a terminal cross. He backgrounds calves, finishes most of them and raises corn, annual forages, peas, beans and other crops. Hepper has two daughters, Emma and Meg.
Max Robison of Amidon, N.D., was elected to his first four-year term in District 5. District 5 is comprised of Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Slope and Stark Counties. He is a two-year NDSA member. He runs a Red Angus seedstock and cow-calf operation and has a custom leathercraft business. He and his wife Haley have two children, Max and Hayes.
Joe Matehs of Upham, 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. Matehs is a 31-year NDSA member and the former chairman of the NDSA Feeder Council. He runs a farm, ranch and feedyard with his son, brother and nephew. He does custom corn chopping and buys and custom feeds cattle. Matehs and his wife Jennifer have two children, Ethan and Hallie.
ND Stockmen’s press release
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