The 2022 National School for Beginning Ag Bankers was held on the campus of Black Hills State University in Spearfish on June 20-23, 2022.
Seventy-two students from five states across the country participated in this year’s school. The school utilized an intensive curriculum designed to train in all facets of agricultural lending with emphasis on credit analysis, credit scoring, risk rating, problem loans and group case studies. In addition, the class was given the opportunity to interact directly with a producer panel to learn more about producers’ expectations of and relationship with their bankers. Producers on this year’s panel included Heather Beaner, Mellette, S.D.; Steve Halverson, Pierre, S.D.; and Cody Jorgensen, Ideal, S.D.
Faculty for the school included Denny Everson and Nate Franzen, First Dakota National Bank, Yankton, S.D.; Robert Craven, Dale Nordquist, Ed Usset and Pauline Van Nurden, Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, M.N.; Sam Miller, BMO Harris Bank, Appleton, W.I.; and Jackson Takach, Farmer Mac, Washington, D.C.
The SDBA will host the 2023 National School for Experienced Ag Bankers June 26-29, 2023 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish and will next offer the Beginning Ag Bankers School in 2024.
Graduates of 2022 National Ag Bankers School
- Blake Bartscher, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Donna Bittiker, Citizens State Bank, Arlington, S.D., Castlewood, S.D.
- Devin Brand, Center for Farm Financial Management, St. Paul, M.N.
- Dane Campbell, S.D. Division of Banking, Pierre, S.D.
- Casey Carlson, Dacotah Bank, Roll, N.D.
- Samuel Domke, Heartland State Bank, Tulare, S.D.
- Marissa Ebben, Minnwest Bank, Redwood Falls, M.N.
- John Fansler, Welch State Bank, Welch, O.K.
- Lindsey Forkel, BankNorth, Warner, S.D.
- Bo Fries, Dacotah Bank, Webster, S.D.
- Eric Gewecke, Pinnacle Bank, Newcastle, W.Y.
- Mitchell Gusso, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Joseph Haerter, Farmers State Bank - Hosmer, Hosmer, S.D.
- Zach Hagen, Citizens National Bank, Park Rapids, M.N.
- Joe Hanisch, Security Bank, Chancellor, S.D.
- Charles Harberts, CorTrust Bank, Freeman, S.D.
- Jon Harmening, Security Bank Midwest, Jackson, M.N.
- Charly Henry, Citizens National Bank of Park Rapids, Park Rapids, M.N.
- Jake Herr, Unison Bank, Wishek, N.D.
- Phillip Hettick, First State Bank of Roscoe, Roscoe, S.D.
- Dillon Hewitt, Bank Forward, New Rockford, N.D.
- Kari Holloway, BankWest, Pierre, S.D.
- Andrea Hora, Menno State Bank, Menno, S.D.
- Denice Houlette, BankWest, Pierre, S.D.
- Trevor Hupp, First Dakota National Bank, Pierre, S.D.
- Jacob Jaeger, S.D. Division of Banking, Pierre, S.D.
- Dexter Jelsma, BankWest, Tripp, S.D.
- Shay Jolley, BankWest, Pierre, S.D.
- Joe Keppen, CorTrust Bank, Tabor, S.D.
- Tim Kinsley, First Fidelity Bank, Murdo, S.D.
- Brandon Knish, Pioneer Bank, St. Peters, M.N.
- Darby Knoll, First Bank & Trust, Canton, S.D.
- Kristen Kuehn, Welch State Bank, South Coffeyville, O.K.
- Don Lacey, Bell Bank, Fergus Falls, M.N.
- Kyle Lamfers, Reliabank Dakota, Colton, S.D.
- Jaymie Litzel, First National Bank in Philip, Philip, S.D.
- David Maguire, Center for Farm Financial Management, St. Paul, M.N.
- Tyler Malm, United Valley Bank, Argyle, M.N.
- Myles Martwick, United Community Bank of N.D., Drake, N.D.
- Jace McNamee, Points West Community Bank, Torrington, W.Y.
- Micaela Mennenger, BankWest, Onida, S.D.
- Alexandra Messer, Dacotah Bank, Hettinger, N.D.
- Sam Minor, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Flandreau, S.D.
- Davis Moeller, Dacotah Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Nicole Mollman, Dacotah Bank, Lemmon, S.D.
- Nicole Monroe, First Dakota National Bank, Yankton, S.D.
- Kaley Nolz, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Tyndall Petterson, S.D. Division of Banking, Pierre, S.D.
- Brady Place, Security Bank Midwest, Chancellor, S.D.
- Madison Rau, BankWest, Selby, S.D.
- Lane Reecy, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Cal Reeves, Dacotah Bank, Mobridge, S.D.
- Caleb Rogelstad, Bank Forward, New Rockford, N.D.
- Laramie Seymour, First Northern Bank of Wyoming, Gillette, W.Y.
- Taylor Skytland, Bank Forward, Carrington, N.D.
- Kelli Sorenson, Minnwest Bank, Redwood Falls, M.N.
- Mykelsi Still, First Interstate Bank, Hot Springs, S.D.
- Alyssa Streich, First Fidelity Bank, Winner, S.D.
- Craig Sullivan, Farmers State Bank, Rothsay, M.N.
- Austin Suther, Reliabank Dakota, Estelline, S.D.
- Matthew Svendsen, S.D. Division of Banking, Pierre, S.D.
- Kevin Teigen, Farmers State Bank of Turton, Turton, S.D.
- BreeAnna Thompson, 1st Financial Bank U.S.A., Dakota Dunes, S.D.
- Lindsey Thompson, Pioneer Bank & Trust, Sturgis, S.D.
- Darrin Thurston, Pioneer Bank, Madelia, M.N.
- Nathan Unzen, S.D. Division of Banking, Pierre, S.D.
- Bailey Van Beck, Pine County Bank, Rice, M.N.
- Noah Wanzek, American Federal Bank, Grand Forks, N.D.
- Michael Warren, BankWest, Pierre, S.D.
- Alisha Webster, Lakota Funds Inc., Kyle, S.D.
- Bailey Wickre, First Fidelity Bank, Platte, S.D.
- Tara Wieczorek, American Bank & Trust, Stickney, S.D.