Featured Member – Craig Townsend

Rural News / /

Craig Townsend farm and ranch experience has a long family history. He proudly continues that heritage through ownership in his family’s farm and ranch now under its six generation of management. The values of integrity and a strong work ethic learned from his agricultural background has never escaped Craig. This is evidenced in his procurement of an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where Craig excelled earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Acknowledged for his leadership, he fulfilled several roles throughout his service around the world earning recognition for his efforts. Craig is a decorated veteran, with over 11 years of military service.

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Featured Member – Chad Andrus

Co-op News, Featured Member Owner / /

Growing up in the small farming and ranching town of Winnie, TX it was natural for Chad to gravitate to the agricultural industry. From a very young age, he spent the weekends and summers of his school years working on the coastal prairie of White Ranch. It was there that he learned that nothing is achieved without a vision, sweat, and hard work. Upon graduating from school Chad began farming on his own. First leasing area farmland and then purchasing his own farm at age 21.

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Featured Member – Russell Hickey

Co-op News, Featured Member Owner / /

Russell Hickey has called Southern Colorado home his entire life and has a deep appreciation for the land and culture. The decades of time spent on local ranches, years of mentorship and his continued education in Water Law and Land Use has resulted in Russell being very successful in the local real estate market, where he specializes in Ranches, Large Acreage, and Mountain Properties.

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Featured Member – David Klein

Co-op News, Featured Member Owner / /

David earned his B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois in 1993 and serves as the designated Managing Broker for Illinois and Iowa and Managing Auctioneer in Illinois and Indiana for First Mid Ag Services. He joined First Mid in 2019 through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services. Prior to Soy Capital he worked in farm management at Magna Trust Company and later the insurance industry. In addition to auctioning farmland, David is licensed to sell and buy farmland / real estate. He currently manages over 8,500 acres of Midwest farmland for select clients.

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Additional Proposed Tax Law Changes to Prepare For

Co-op News, Property Rights, Taxes / /

I had the privilege to speak at a seminar recently on this topic and the speaker before me said that the next endangered species in this is country is the landowner. Was he right! The other proposed tax law changes are (1) the elimination of the stepped-up basis, (2) the doubling of the capital gains tax to 39.6%, (3) the reduction of the federal estate tax exemption to $3.5 million and an increase of the federal estate tax rate to 45%. Every one of these proposed tax law changes can cause potential needless tax burdens on property owners.

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Featured Member – Beth Myers

Featured Member Owner, Land Broker Co-op News / /

Beth Myers, Qualifying Broker and Owner of Rafter Cross Realty, LLC was born and raised in Lea County, New Mexico. She is a Lovington High School graduate and holds a Bachelor of Business Education degree from Eastern New Mexico University and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Texas Tech University in addition to a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in English Literature also from Texas Tech University. Beth is a former educator, having previously worked for both the Lovington and Tatum Municipal Schools. In addition, she spent many years teaching part-time and online college courses for New Mexico Junior College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University, and Ashford University.

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