Meet the Board
 

INDEPENDENT BEEF ASSOCIATION OF NORTH DAKOTA
Your statewide voice in the cattle industry.
Mike Heaton, President-- District 2Contact Info:  xhranch@bis.midco.net

I am one of ten children. Married to wife Corrine, together we have four children two girls and two boys, ages 12 to 19.  We ranch with my parents and on other leased ranches. I am the fourth generation on this ranch which is 100 years old this year.I am presently the president of I-BAND as well as a director for Burleigh County Farm Bureau, I am a past director for two Saddle Clubs and my wife and I are past parish council members for St. Hildegard’s Church in Menoken.I am proud to say I am a member of R-CALF USA and I-BAND since day one. I truly believe in both organizations, which were formed by men and women whose roots run deep in Cow Country. We strive hard to address the issues that affect the cattle industry, of today as well as tomorrow.  Having our descendents on the ranch for generations to come is our goal.I-BAND was formed to give like minded producers a voice; in state and nationally.  As we support and are affiliated with R-CALF USA .  Issues such as M-COOL and captive supply are too important to leave up to someone else.
 
Kenny Graner, Vice President-- District 1 Contact Info:  granerangus@extendwireless.net

I am a fourth generation Rancher and reside on the family ranch 15 miles south of Mandan in  Morton County.  My wife, Mary, and I have four young children:  Sydney (9), Claire (8), Cole (7), and Ethan (5).  We, along with my parents, operate a Purebred Commercial Angus Herd, producing high quality replacement heifer calves and feeder steers.  We also produce wheat, barley, corn, flax, and alfalfa.   I am a graduate of Mandan High School.  I am a member of several State and National organizations which deal with issues important to our livelihood.  I am very proud to be a Co-Founder of I-BAND, an organization that is aggressively involved with the livestock issues surrounding fair trade and marketing.   I encourage everyone to get involved with the issues that are making a difference in our industry.  Standing behind the barn and kicking the dirt doesn't get the job done.  We produce cattle under the highest standards in the world.  We have the right to differentiate our product from countries that have lower standards.    I encourage you to join I-BAND and other national organizations like United States Cattlemen’s Association  R-CALF USA to help fight for our beef industry.  Our future generations are depending on us!
Allen Lund, Secretary-- District 1Contact Info:  lundranch@westriv.com
My name is Allen Lund. I along with my wife Bernice own and operate a cow/calf operation by Selfridge, ND. We have two children. Our daughter Corie is a range specialist in Hettinger and our son Toby is currently working his way through college.'

Currently, I am involved with the Selfridge Rural Fire Dept., Sioux County Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, United States Cattlemen’s Association and the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota.

I feel it is important to be involved in your community as well as your industry.  I shutter to think of the direction our cattle industry would have taken over the past ten years, had it not been for dedicated people who seen a vision to start, represent and support independent grass roots cattle organizations.  No doubt, we would be well on our way to being controlled by major corporations such as the poultry and hog industry are today.

I am proud to be a co-founder and director for I-BAND. My hat is off to the other individuals who saw a need for a new cattle organization in North Dakota and took the initiative to do 
something about it.  If we are to continue to be part of a profitable and viable cattle industry it is up to each and every one of us to be involved.

 
Patrick L Becker, Director (past president)-- District 1Contact Info:  beckerranch@wildwestriv.com
 
I’m a director from District 1 and the past president of I-BAND.  I ranch in south central North Dakota., near Selfridge, which is in Sioux County.  Becker Ranch has existed for 60+ years, from my father Joe to my brother George to myself to my two sons Jarrod and Monte today.  We run 550 Angus cows and raise Charolais X feeder cattle and farm small grains which keeps us busy.  COOL - BSE - FTA’s - Captive Supply - Animal I.D. - Checkoff Reform.  These issues and several more all have an effect on the bottom line of Becker Ranch.  This is what motivated me to become involved with I-BAND.  I can’t think of anything more important to the success of Becker Ranch than to be paid a fair price for what we produce.  I encourage all cattle producers to get involved with I-BAND.  Help to sustain a way of life we all love. 
 
Francis (Buck) Maher, Director-- District 2 
Contact Info: mahranch@bektel.com  
Francis "Buck" Maher was born in Sioux Country, one of 11 children. After his father died of a stroke when Buck was just 12 years old, he and his brothers took turns over the years working on the family ranch before leaving to pursue other interests. In 1958 a dear friend Father Don Murray married Buck and Carol Schermer at Buffalo, South Dakota. Clem Casey hired the couple to manage his ranch near Menoken in 1961 for $250 a month. They continued to run the ranch after Casey's death in 1970 for the Casey Trust until purchasing the cattle and machinery in 1983 and later the land in 1990. In 1987 they purchased an adjoining ranch where their son, Gary and his wife Belinda live and are partners in the ranch, their daughter Lynsey lives in Mandan and attends Akkers College. Maher's other child, Cindy Maher lives in Lake Geneva, Wis and is a realtor. Maher's run a commercial Angus cow-calf operation and grow small grains, mostly for feed. Buck served two full terms on the NDSA Board of Directors. In 1999 the Maher's were honored with NDSA's Rancher of the Year Award. Also received NDSU Alumni Assn Outstanding Agriculture Award, Burleigh County Grassland Award and the Rural Leadership Award. Buck was appointed by the governor in 1993 as a member of the State Board of Animal Health, which he serves as chairman since 1998. Buck is also on the Burleigh County Water Management Board. Also served on the Cattlemen's Weighing Association, 4-H leader, Menoken Township and a member of the St Hildegards Church in Menoken. Buck's wife Carol Maher, is serving as Treasurer of I-BAND. She was a member of the ND CattleWomen of 30 years and past President of District 5, Vice President of the Missouri Valley Fair Assn., Menoken Homemakers for 40 years, Secretary of St Hildegards, and worked in Bismarck for several years in banking. Buck and Carol stated "we feel that there is a need for cow-calf producers in North Dakota to be heard, and will work hard to help make members of I-BAND be recognized as a reputable voice and get the facts heard."
 
Chester Brandt, Director At LargeContact Info:  jbrandt@westriv.com
I ranch seven miles northeast of Hebron on the same land that my grandparents immigrated to in 1910. My wife, Jane, is owner and publisher of two North Dakota weekly newspapers.
I graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1969 with a degree in Industrial Technology and came back to fulltime ranching at that time.Besides being a charter member of I-BAND, I am also an active member of R-CALF USA since its inception, serve as secretary of the Hebron Farmers Elevator, serve as treasurer of the Hebron Economic Development Corp, am a member of the Hebron Lions Club, am a member and past council president of the St. Ann Catholic Church and served two full terms on the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Board of Directors.We received the NDSA Environmental Stewardship Award in 1995 and the Morton County Range conservationist Award in 1994.
 
Dwight Keller, Director-- District 1Contact Info:  kbhr@westriv.com
Dwight Keller, along with his parents ( Helen and Gene), and his family, wife (Susan) and children (Luke, Jake and Tess), own and manage the Keller Broken Heart Ranch.  Dwight has a BS in Animal Science from NDSU and did graduate work in reproduction at Utah State.  He chose to leave Utah to help his dad establish a beef operation south of Mandan when his family had to leave Beulah, ND, because of the mine development in the area of their original farm.  The beef herd was first based around commercial red and black baldies.  Dwight and his family developed that herd into a now purebred red/ black Simmental program.    Dwight has volunteered for over 25 years as a judging coach for the Mandan 4H and FFA livestock judging teams.  Along with being a charter board member for I-BAND, he’s a member of R-CALF USA, North Dakota Simmental Association , American Simmental Association ,  North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Farm Bureau, Mandan United Methodist Church and the North Dakota Stockman’s Association.    Dwight is concerned that if producers do not become more involved and active in their local and national cattlemen’s organizations,  they will not be able to enjoy competitive markets in the future or have a viable cow-calf industry to pass on to their children.  He encourages people to not be afraid to question and debate the policies and resolutions of organizations they belong to.  Active participation from producers on critical issues such as M-COOL, ‘fair’ trade agreements, animal ID, and property rights, will help direct the course of our industry in the future.

Bryan Bruner, Director-- District 2 Contact Info:  flatlake@gmail.com

My name is Bryan Bruner and I am an I-BAND director from district 2.  My wife Mary and I farm and ranch north of Drake. We raise registered angus cattle in a partnership with my brother and his family.  I am a member of R-Calf and I-BAND from the beginning. I-BAND was formed to represent North Dakota cattle producers on a state and national level. I feel we have had too many trade agreements that have hurt us more than helped. We have backed R-Calf and other organizations on country of origin labeling, captive supply and other issues.  I am proud to serve as an I-BAND director and urge North Dakota cattle producers to join us.

Allen Vollmer- District 2
Contact Info:  var@bektel.com

Allen, along with his wife (Bev) and son (Troy and his wife Sara) own and operate Vollmer Angus Ranch, a registered Angus operation northeast of Wing, ND.  Allen is a graduate of Wing High School and also attended NDSU.  He is a member of I-Band, R-Calf, and served as a director of the ND Stockmen’s Association.  He has served as President of the ND Angus Association, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council, Secretary of the Wing Farmers Co-operative, and has been involved in numerous organizations and committees over the years.  Vollmer Angus Ranch has been the recipient of many awards including being named the ND Angus Association Breeder of the Year five different years. Vollmer Angus also received the Achievement   Award for the Burleigh Co Soil Conservation District in 1997. Although Al would much rather spend time with his cattle, he realizes and sees an incredible need for the cattle producer to stay informed of government policies that are being proposed, and to make a noise if they are not in the best interest of the cow-calf producer.  He feels strongly that I-Band can be an important resource and tool for the cattleman to be able to stay informed and have a voice in policies that affect the cattle business.