North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Reelects Leaders at Annual Convention

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) has confirmed the re-election of Randy Schmitt as president during its 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show held in Minot, North Dakota. This marks Schmitt’s second consecutive year in the role, which was officially announced during the convention’s closing business session on March 15, 2024.

Schmitt, a dedicated member for 22 years, operates a commercial Simmental and Red Angus cow-calf business in Rugby, North Dakota. His farm focuses on backgrounding feeders, marketing replacement heifers, and cultivating feed such as alfalfa, cover crops, and grain and silage corn. Reflecting on his tenure, Schmitt highlighted the engagement with participants of the NDSA’s Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit as a significant achievement. This initiative nurtures young talent, providing leadership development opportunities for students aged 14 to 20.

Community Support and Legislative Advocacy

Another key highlight of Schmitt’s presidency was the NDSA’s successful Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief campaign. This initiative provided nearly $1 million in direct assistance to victims of the devastating wildfires in October 2024. Schmitt expressed pride in the community response, stating, “This effort showcased the very best of who we are — neighbors helping neighbors in the time of loss.” The outpouring of support from across North Dakota and beyond has been pivotal in assisting producers to recover and rebuild.

In addition to his focus on leadership and community support, Schmitt emphasized the importance of unity among members during the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly. His remarks underscored how collective efforts can strengthen the association’s influence and advocacy.

The assembly also saw the re-election of Tim Erbele as vice president. Erbele, who has been an NDSA member for 33 years, oversees the organization’s Resolutions Committee and runs a Salers-Angus-cross cow-calf operation, along with a permitted backgrounding feedlot and a Purina feed dealership.

New District Directors Elected

During the convention, several district directors were elected to serve four-year terms. Lacey Wirth from Munich, North Dakota, was elected to represent District 1, which includes counties such as Benson, Cavalier, and Grand Forks. Wade Dally of Montpelier was re-elected for a second term in District 2, which encompasses Barnes, Cass, and Stutsman counties. Dally runs an Angus seedstock operation and is involved in construction, building houses and barns.

Brooks Zenker from Gackle was elected in District 3, while Wayne Hepper of Fort Yates secured a second term in District 4. Max Robison of Amidon and Joe Matehs of Upham were also elected to represent Districts 5 and 6, respectively.

The NDSA’s annual convention serves not only as a platform for leadership elections but also as a vital forum for discussing the pressing issues facing the cattle industry in North Dakota. With leadership focused on community engagement and advocacy, the association looks forward to the challenges ahead while continuing to support its members and the agricultural community at large.