Meet the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee
The YF&R program provides opportunities for young men and women to participate in activities designed to develop agricultural leadership and improve their farm operations. Many county Farm Bureaus also have active YF&R groups.
To learn more about YF&R, contact NDFB Director of Leadership Development, Joey Bailey. Visit the YF&R page on Facebook.
YF&R Chairman and District 8
Ashley Skarsgard
Stanley, N.D.
Ashley and her husband, Aaron, farm growing spring wheat, durum, canola, flax, soybeans, pease and barley. They are active in Mountrail County Farm Bureau and Ashley has been part of Farm Bureau since 2008 after meeting her husband when he served as the Dist 8 YF&R rep. She says her children are a little older so it seemed like a good time to get more involved, "and share my passion for agriculture and gain more knowledge from others along the way.
District 1
Devin Flanders
Minto, N.D.
Devin farms near Minto raising corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and sunflowers. He has been a member of Collegiate Farm Bureau and says he got involved with NDFB because it is a "great organization that aligns with my views and I wanted to get involved."
District 2
Matt & Bethany Peterson
Jamestown, N.D.
Matt owns and operates an agronomy and Pioneer seed business, Aligned Ag in Wimbledon, ND. Bethany works for BASF as an Agronomic Solutions Advisor where she works with farmers, agronomists, and consultants in southeast ND supporting BASF crop protection and seed assets. Matt and Bethany farm in Barnes County, and in Roseau County, Minn., where Bethany’s family farm is. They look forward to becoming more involved with NDFB by representing District 2.
District 3
Billy and Abigail Ogdahl
Milnor, N.D.
Billy and Abigail raised Red and Black Angus on their ranch and have a dog named Walter. Abigail is the secretary/treasurer for the Sargent County Farm Bureau and Billy is the president. They are also involved in the Red Angus Association and Stockmen's Association. They got involved in Farm Bureau because they want to give back to an organization that "gives us resources and community."
District 4
Jenna Schill
Devils Lake, N.D.
Jenna's family has been active in Farm Bureau for decades. She married her husband Drew, in March, and works in Devils Lake for CHS. She is active in NDFB because she "enjoys policy and having an opinion within the organization. She
District 5
Kayla Hart
Fessenden, N.D.
Kayla's family farms and ranches near Fessenden and raises corn, soybeans, wheat and has a commercial SimAngus feed lot and a custom corn chopping business. She is the program coordinator for the ND FFA Foundation and says she got involved in NDFB to create a voice for District 5 farmers and ranchers as well as get involved in agriculture advocacy.
District 6
Chance and Nicole Kitzman
Upham, N.D.
Chance and Nicole have a cow/calf operation and raise corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, rye near Upham. They got involved in Farm Bureau because they feel it is getting more and more important to keep a strong voice out there for young farmers and "Farm Bureau is the strongest of those voices."
District 7
Samantha and Levi Vangsness
Mandan, N.D.
Samantha and Levi graze yearlings and have been active on the county Farm Bureau board. Samantha says the reason they became involved in Farm Bureau is to have a voice at the state and federal level on issues that impact farmers and ranchers.
District 9
Sheridan Visser
Reeder, N.D.
Sheridan and her husband, Austin, ranch near Reeder, raising 200 head of cattle and 100 head of commercial meat goats. She is a firefigher and emergency first responder for the Reeder Fire Department and work with crop insurance for Farm Credit of Mandan. She says she got involved in Farm Bureau because she wanted to get more involved with her community and "extend my network and advocate for agriculture."