Staff & Board

Executive Director
Pierre, SD

Tony became the Executive Director of South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust in April 2020 after a 32-year career at SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks with 12 years as Director of the GFP Wildlife Division. Tony’s commitment to the mission of the Trust is rooted in his dedication to conservation along with his recognition of the paramount value of agriculture and the agricultural heritage of his home state. He and his wife, Kandee have four children and three grandchildren.

Conservation Project Manager

Bill Eastman comes to SDALT after 27 years of working with landowners as a Conservation Officer and Habitat  Biologist for SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Bill is well-known in Butte and Lawrence Counties for his conservation efforts and his ability to work with farmers and ranchers throughout western SD.

President
Lowry, SD

Lyle’s family has been involved in the ranching business in South Dakota since the 1880s. The family’s Rock Hills Ranch has received an SD Leopold Conservation Award and the NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award. He and his wife, Garnet, have two children and eight grandchildren.

Vice President
Twin Brooks, SD

Mike has been focused on learning about grazing and grass management since starting to work for a rancher near Summit, South Dakota. He has devoted the past two decades to learning as much as he could about grazing, grass management, and habitat. He is a retired Grant County Sheriff, is a member of the SD Grassland Coalition board of directors, and is on the National Board of Directors of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Secretary
Eureka, SD

Charlie is a grandfather, rancher, forage specialist, and wildlife enthusiast from Eureka, South Dakota. He served six years in the South Dakota House of Representatives, during which time he was a member of the Judiciary Committee and House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, including two years as committee chair.

Treasurer
Whitewood, SD

Karl runs a cow/calf ranch between Whitewood and St. Onge, South Dakota. Karl worked for 25 years internationally in microenterprise finance before returning to South Dakota. He serves as President of the SD Association of Conservation Districts and as Chairman of the Lawrence County Conservation District. He also is on the Board of Directors of the Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership.

Rapid City, SD

Gary D. Jensen was born, raised, and educated in eastern South Dakota. After receiving his undergraduate degree from SDSU, Gary earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. He moved to Rapid City in 1979 to try lawsuits including farm and ranch disputes. His community activities include the Central States Fair and Stock Show, where he served on the board and as Chair. Gary served eight years on the SD Game, Fish, and Parks Commission, the last two years as Chair. Agriculture was often at the heart of wildlife issues South Dakotans are passionate about. Gary cherishes his children and grandchildren. He loves to fish, but he likes to say that he isn’t particularly good at it.

Vale, SD

Ed is a partner/owner of The Blair Bros Angus Ranch. He has been involved in SD Farm Bureau, SD Beef Industry Council, SD Cattlemen’s Association, and National Cattlemen’s Association, as well as a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and US Meat Export Federation board of directors. Ed and his wife, Wanda, have two children and six grandchildren.

Highmore, SD

Jim and his wife, Carol, own and operate Daybreak Ranch in central South Dakota. The Faulstich family raises Red Angus cattle, and also operate an upland bird and whitetail deer hunting enterprise. Jim is Vice President of the SD Grassland Coalition. He and his wife, Carol, have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Rapid City, SD

Mark Goldammer is part of the SDACD and the Beadle Conservation District as a Board Supervisor since January 2013. Mark is a Huron resident or we could say the urban member of the board.  He has brought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the ag industry. Mark is currently employed at Kibble Equipment as a sale rep. and works directly with the producers in most of eastern South Dakota. He works with precision ag to help producers with conservation practices and has been doing so for 35 years. Mark is currently enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard for the last 40 year and currently is the chief instructor for the 2nd 196th RTI (Regional Training Institute) of South Dakota. His keen business sense and people skills have helped the board and employees grow as a whole and as individuals.

Wessington Springs, SD

Roger Hainy was born and raised on the family farm near Wessington Springs, South Dakota. He attended South Dakota State University graduating with a degree in Animal Science. He and his wife, Pam still live on the family farm where they raised 4 sons. On their operation, they raise corn, soybeans, and hay as well as operate a cow-calf herd and feedlot Roger and his family have also raised show calves for many years. He is involved in many community and church activities. He currently serves as President of the Jerauld, Sanborn, and Aurora counties Farm Bureau.

Hayes, SD

Todd is the third generation on the Mortenson Ranch and is carrying on his father’s vision to restore the rangeland to its natural state. Today, more than 90 percent of the ranch is back to native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees. Researchers have observed an impressive increase in wildlife populations and improved water quality. Todd and his wife, Deb, have two sons.

Newell, SD

Jeff is a fourth-generation rancher from Newell, South Dakota. The Center of the Nation Cattle Company has been in the family for over 100 years, where they raise cattle. They have been nationally recognized for their grazing management strategy to enhance the land’s productivity and improve wildlife habitat. Jeff and his wife, Kim, have two children.

Kadoka, SD

Trevor Williams hails from the heart of the Badlands in Cactus Flat, SD. As a third-generation rancher, he is very passionate about helping fellow ranchers successfully continue for many generations to come. Trevor runs a black Angus cow/calf operation and runs a feed supplement business. Trevor likes to travel across the Nebraska state line and share his ranching passion with his girlfriend on her family’s ranching operation. Come fall, he always finds time to cheer on his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. As an SDSU alum, Trevor takes pride in being a Jackrabbit for life!

SDALT Welcomes Jodie Anderson to the Board. Jodie is a fourth-generation rancher. She and her sister have ranches in Haakon County and Texas. She brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the Board.