Richard "Butch" Schilling, a dairy farmer from Fort Ripley, was re-elected to his second term as State President of Minnesota National Farmers Organization. Elections took place at the annual state board re-organization meeting in Sauk Centre Saturday, Jan. 26.
Schilling operates a 54 cow dairy and crop farm with his wife Pat and their three sons Paul and Paul's family and five children. They have a total f about 100 cattle and raise all their replacement cows. Richard also began his second three-year term as national director for NFO effect earlier in January at the national convention in Milwaukee. He is also active in the Knights of Columbus and parish council of his church.
Two other offices in Minnesota National Farmers have changed their hands this year. Ron Rusche of Perham, the Seventh District President, was elected state vice president replacing Bob Arndt of Echo, who was also State President before Schilling foe many years.
The state also has a new secretary, Sue Neisen of Delano, who is also a commodity staff person for the organization. She succeeds Carmen Fernholz of Madison who decide to resign the position after many years of service.
Rusche, who is single, farms about a500 acres with his brother Mark and his 40 dairy cows and raises dairy steers. Neisen has a dairy, grain, and livestock operation near Delano, which is operated by a renter.
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Since Neisen was a trustee for the organization. Ron Christensen of Battle Lake was elected as an acting trustee to serve until the state convention nest December, tentatively set for St. Cloud. Trustees are elected for three year terms by the convention delegates.
Christensen and his wife Ann have an operation with 400 stock cows and 2500 acres of buckwheat. They have four sons, and one son, Ryan, operates the National Farmers Livestock Marketing Center at Fergus Falls. Ron's father Bill Christensen is remembered as a long time state president of the organization years ago.
Bruce Zeidler of Eagle Bend will continue as treasurer for the state organization. He was reelected for his 11th term and he and his wife Cindy have four children and operate a dairy and crop farm.
John Zschetzsche of Mountain Lake was re-appointed public relations director and editor of the Minnesota NFO Newsletter.
Other state board members not mentioned above, include Mark Rohr, national director, Bluffton; Joe Neaton, national director, Watertown; Roy Loken, first district president, Rollingstone; Paul Sobocinski, second district president, Wabasso; Steven Koering, eighth district president, Fort Ripley; Leander Wagner, trustee, Elko; and Gregg Klinkner, trustee, Sleepy Eye.
