FIRST MID - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President and Farm Manager
Ashten Masching is an Assistant Vice President and Farm Manager with First Mid Ag Services in the Kankakee Office where she is a licensed Real Estate Broker. Ashten was born and raised in Livingston County and grew up on her family's row crop farm. Ashten graduated from Illinois State University in 2019 where she received her bachelor's in Agribusiness and Agronomy Management. Her prior experience includes working as a Grain Originator for FS Grain in Kankakee, IL where she assisted customers on making grain plans and sales throughout the year.
Bailey Reynolds was born and raised in Macon County, where he gained his interest and passion for agriculture. Bailey received his bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in 2018, where he double majored in Agribusiness and Agronomy Management. Prior to joining First Mid, he worked in ag retail as a Crop Specialist for Evergreen FS, Inc. in Macon, IL. Bailey's responsibilities as a Crop Specialist included promoting and managing profitable sales and service, developing crop input recommendations for existing and future customers, and consulting with customers on farm analysis to support the success of their operation. Bailey holds an Illinois Real Estate Broker's License and is in the process of earning his Certified Crop Advisor designation. Bailey currently resides in Mt. Zion, IL with his wife, Shelbi.
Brian has overall management responsibility for the First Mid Ag Services business line, including overseeing systems and staff that manage over 1,000 farm properties in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and surrounding states. Our Ag Services Division manages approximately 300,000 acres of farmland, and performs real estate brokerage (sales and acquisitions), farmland appraisal, and consultation services from six locations in Illinois. Brian joined First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics. He holds the titles of Accredited Farm Manager and Accredited Rural Appraiser. Brian is also licensed in Illinois as a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and a Real Estate Broker. With over 40 years of experience in agricultural management and real estate for the company, Brian continues to represent clients in the daily management of their farms and serves their real estate brokerage needs. In 1997 he served as President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. This position placed him on the organization's national Board of Directors representing its largest chapter. As Regional Manager of the Bloomington Ag Services Office, Brian and the Bloomington farm management staff earned the nationally recognized Farm Manager of the Year Award in 2001. In 2006, Brian was named Outstanding Person in Agribusiness by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.
Brock serves as an Assistant Vice President and Farm Manager for First Mid Ag Services. He is a 2016 graduate from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Business and Agronomy Management. Prior to joining First Mid, Brock worked as crop consultant for an area ag retailer. He also spent time as a Research Agronomist working with one of the industry's largest seed suppliers. Brock's experiences on the farm, as well as his experiences in the retail and research industries of agriculture have formed a rounded perspective to farm management.
Job Titles:
- Peoria Regional Office Manager
- Regional Manager of the Peoria Office
Casey is the Regional Manager of the Peoria Office of First Mid Ag Services. He joined First Mid Ag through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018. Casey is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker and holds an Accredited Farm Manager designation. He graduated from Western Illinois University in 2009 with a B.S in Agriculture Science and earned his M.S. in Crop science from the University of Illinois in 2018. He has spent time working within the seed industry on both the production and research end of row crops. Casey also spent a few years in retail agriculture working directly with the producer for farm inputs and recommendations.
Job Titles:
- Mattoon Regional Office Manager
Cory is a 2008 graduate from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Business Finance. His interest in agriculture began on his family's grain farm near Arthur, IL. Throughout college and after graduation, he worked for a small precision ag company selling and servicing agricultural guidance equipment. Shortly after graduation, he transitioned to ag retail for a period of time before joining First Mid as a farm manager in 2011. Cory is an accredited member of the American & Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. He earned his Accredited Farm Manager designation in 2014 and manages farmland in Illinois for absentee landowners, public foundations and several charitable trusts. Cory is also an Illinois State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser specializing in farmland valuations. Additionally, he is a licensed property and casualty insurance producer focusing on crop insurance, as well as, an Illinois licensed real estate broker. He is currently the Regional Manager of the Mattoon office. Cory remains active in his family's farming operation near Arthur, IL.
Job Titles:
- Bloomington Regional Office Manager, Farm Management and Brokerage
- Illinois Licensed Certified Public Accountant
- Public Accounting
- Real Estate Broker in South Dakota
- Regional Manager of the Bloomington
Craig Thompson serves as Regional Manager of the Bloomington office, a Farm Manager and a Real Estate Broker for First Mid Ag Services. He first joined the predecessor of First Mid, Soy Capital Ag Services in 2014. Craig manages over 27,000 acres in seven Illinois counties. During his tenure in Ag Services he has acquired his Real Estate Broker Licenses in Illinois and South Dakota. Further Craig achieved the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation in 2021 from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) and the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation in 2023 from the Realtors Land Institute (RLI). He is a 2006 graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness, Farm and Financial Management. Craig also brings professional experience in public accounting where he earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in 2008. Craig grew up on a grain and livestock farm in McLean County where he remains active.
Craig Thompson is an Illinois Licensed Certified Public Accountant. Maintenance of this certification requires 120 hours of continuing professional educations every three years.
Dan is a 1996 graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Mechanization. He joined the First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018. During his tenure in Ag Services, he has acquired his Illinois Real Estate License and received an Accredited Farm Manager title from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Dan, along with four members of the Bloomington staff, earned the nationally recognized Farm Manager of the Year Award in 2001 by the ASFMRA. In addition to selling farmland as a licensed Real Estate Broker, he also has assisted investors from the U.S. and other countries to acquire and manage more than 10,000 acres of Illinois farmland. Dan's farmland real estate sales efforts have resulted in him being named a Pinnacle Award Winner by First Mid Ag Services for being the top farmland sales producer in 2021, 2022, and 2023, exceeding more than $25 Million in farmland sales each year. Dan is a farmland owner himself and operates his farmland near Dwight, Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Managing Real Estate Broker, Auctioneer, First Mid Ag Services / First Mid Wealth Management Company
- Real Estate Broker in Iowa
- Tyler Roth, Justin Wheeler, Michael Bernhard, Eric Schumacher, Michael Rhoda Hold a Commercial Remote Pilot License
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. David is an accredited member of the American & Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. He earned his AFM in 1999 and became and Accredited Land Consultant, or ALC, in 2006, through the REALTORS® Land Institute. David, along with four members of the Bloomington staff, earned the nationally recognized Farm Manager of the Year Award in 2001 by the ASFMRA. He became the principal managing broker for the organization in 2005 and managing auctioneer in 2012. In 2014, David was named one of 46 individuals across the nation to earn his ALC- Advanced designation. He served on the national accreditation committee of RLI from 2014-2019, being named Vice-Chairman in 2018, and was Chairman of the Illinois Farmland Values and Lease Trends Conference hosted by the ISPFMRA and RLI each year from 2016 through 2020. Dave served as the President of the Illinois Chapter of RLI in 2013-2014. In 2014 and 2020 he was named the Illinois Land Broker of the Year by RLI and in 2018 awarded an APEX Top 20 National Producer by the organization for his production in farmland real estate sales. In 2023, Land.com named him a Land Star Top Producer. He is a licensed property, casualty, and life insurance provider with specialized training in personal, commercial and financial risk management. He continues to be active in management of the family farm near Gridley and Lexington, Illinois.
David Klein and Justin Wheeler are Illinois licensed auctioneers. David Klein is also an Indiana licensed auctioneer.
David Klein, Tyler Roth, Justin Wheeler, Michael Bernhard, Eric Schumacher, Michael Rhoda hold a Commercial Remote Pilot license.
David Klein, Cory Kauffman, Kevin Meiss, and Eric Schumacher are Illinois Licensed Fire and Casualty Insurance Producers. This license allows the licensee to market and sell Fire and Casualty Insurance, including Crop Insurance.
David Klein, Cory Kauffman, Kevin Meiss, and Eric Schumacher are Illinois Licensed Fire and Casualty Insurance Producers. This license allows the licensee to market and sell Fire and Casualty Insurance, including Crop Insurance.
John Tammen is a licensed real estate Broker in Indiana.
David Klein is a licensed real estate Broker in Iowa.
Craig Thompson is a licensed real estate broker in South Dakota.
Our Real Estate Associates
Chad Hoke
Kevin Meiss
Garrett Schoenholz
Don McCabe
Chris Kolodziej
Aaron Benoit
Justin Wood
Steve Jacob
John Tammen
Daniel Moehring
Eric Russow is a 1990 graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business/Education. He brings 32 years of extensive farm management, financial management, and agricultural experience to the First Mid team. Eric previously worked for Illinois Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) as a Financial Analyst assisting farmers and landowners with their long-term and short-term financial goals of their farming operation. As a consultant at FBFM he was responsible for analyzing and assessing the clients' financial health, educating, and counseling them on farm business decisions, and offering them the best financial practices in the industry. Eric also previously worked at Oak River Farms as Vice-President of Property Management where he managed farm accounts in excess of $260M in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota. He prepared annual business plans, operating budgets, negotiated contracts and leases, prepared and coordinated capital improvement projects, and provided market analysis for property valuations on the properties. Eric is a farmland owner himself and manages the family farm where they raise and show Simmental and Hereford show cattle. He and his wife, Cara, live in Heyworth, Illinois and have two children, Ashley and Austin.
Eric graduated from the University of Illinois in 2011 with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics, concentrating in Farm Management, and a minor in Crop and Soil Management. Besides managing farms in south-central Illinois, Eric is an Illinois licensed real estate broker; a licensed property and casualty insurance producer focusing on crop insurance; an Illinois Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser specializing in farmland valuations; and a licensed FAA UAS Remote Pilot. He grew up on his family's dairy and row crop farm in southeastern Shelby county, and is still active in the operation. Prior to joining First Mid, Eric worked as a location manager for an ag retailer in Coles County. His experiences on both the production and retail side of agriculture have provided Eric with the knowledge base to manage a wide range of farm properties. He and his wife, Becky, and their three children, Lydia, Emma, and Grant, live near Sigel, IL.
Hayley Daniels is a 2012 graduate from University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Crop Sciences and 2014 graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master of Science in Agronomy. Hayley holds an Illinois Real Estate Broker's License and has earned the Certified Crop Adviser designation. Prior to joining First Mid Ag Services, Hayley worked for Herrin with agriculture retail and seed sales at their Buffalo, Mt. Pulaski, and Berry locations. She has also served as an agronomist for a major seed company. Hayley grew up on a family grain farm in Decatur which is currently farmed by her husband, brother, and father. She currently resides just down the road from the home farm with her husband and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Associate
- Agricultural Education
- Real Estate Broker in Indiana
John is the Managing Real Estate Broker for our Bourbonnais, Illinois office. After serving as the Kankakee Area Farm Management Office Manager, John is now solely focused on Farmland Real Estate. He is licensed in the states of Illinois and Indiana as a Real Estate Managing Broker. John is experienced in providing real estate broker fair market value opinions and farmland market analysis. John graduated from the University of Illinois in 1975 with a degree in Agriculture Economics. John has his AFM designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Before joining this organization's predecessor bank in 1986, John farmed and ran "Strawberry Fields", a U-pick produce operation. Prior to that experience he was a vocational agriculture teacher. John also has work experience in the production of blueberries and Christmas trees, which provided him with real-life experience in valuations and property analysis.
Job Titles:
- Kankakee Regional Office Manager
Joseph M Richie joined First Mid Ag Services in May 2019 as an Assistant Vice President/Farm Manager in the Kankakee, IL region. Joe graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a BS in Agribusiness Economics. Joe was born and raised in rural Livingston County and grew up working in the family owned fertilizer business. Joe worked for 15 years as an Ag/Commercial Lender, the last three with First Mid Bank before becoming head of our Bourbonnais office. Joe also graduated from the Community Bankers School in July 2011 and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in August 2016. He is a licensed Illinois and Indiana Real Estate Broker. In 2022 Joe achieved the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). Joe enjoys deer hunting, fishing, water skiing, and snow skiing. Joe and his wife Kristy live in rural Chebanse, Illinois with their children Ella & Blake.
Justin Wheeler was born and raised in Mt. Zion, Illinois. Growing up he took part in his small family farm where he discovered his passion for agriculture and continues to be active in. Justin received his undergraduate work at Illinois State University where he triple majored in Crop and Soil Science, Agronomy Industry Management, and Ag Business. He graduated in the Spring of 2014 with his Master's Degree in Crop Sciences from Illinois State University. Justin started his farm management career with Soy Capital Ag Services, and joined First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition in 2018. He holds the Managing Broker License for the Decatur office, an Illinois Auctioneers License, the Accredited Farm Manager designation, Accredited Land Consultant designation, and a FAA UAS Remote Pilots License. Justin also operates the First Mid Ag Services website and is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, REALTORS® Land Institute, and Illinois State Auctioneers Association, Inc. In 2021, Justin received the Chairman's Award for Excellence, First Mid's most prestigious award. In 2023, he was recognized as part of the RLI APEX Producers Club for total sales volume in farmland real estate. Since his start in farm management in 2014, he has been involved with over 14,500 acres of farm brokerage and farm management acquisitions. During his free time, he loves to spend time with his wife and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Springfield Regional Office Manager
Keith has managed farm properties in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas for over 30 years. He joined First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018. Keith earned his AFM in 1993, ALC in 2010, and a B.S. in agribusiness management from Illinois State University in 1983. He is a licensed Illinois real estate broker. He grew up on his familys grain and livestock farm in Christian County, Illinois. Prior to joining the organization in the late 1980s, Keith was a regional agronomist for Herrin Ltd. in central Illinois. Because of his background and interest, he has a particular depth of knowledge and expertise in agronomy and crop production.
Job Titles:
- Decatur Regional Office Manager
Kevin is a 1999 graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He has worked in farm management for over 20 years and joined the First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018. Before starting a career in farm management he spent some time in the Agriculture retail business. Kevin currently holds an Illinois Real Estate Broker's License and is experienced in assisting buyers of farmland as well as selling large tracts. Kevin comes from a farm background having grown up on a grain and livestock farm near Windsor, IL. He and his wife, Emily, and their two sons, Wyatt and Will, live on their small farm in rural Lovington, IL.
Mark is a 2010 graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Crop Sciences, concentrating in Crop Agribusiness. He joined First Mid Ag Services through the acquisition of Soy Capital Ag Services in 2018, and caries the title of Accredited Farm Manager from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Mark is licensed in Illinois as a Real Estate Broker and performs real estate brokerage (sales and acquisitions) and consultation services in addition to representing over 35 groups of Landowners from the Bloomington regional office. He grew up on, and remains engaged with, his family's grain and specialty crop farm in rural LaSalle County, Illinois, where in his youth he earned his American FFA Degree and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Mark was selected to participate in the two-year Soy Ambassador Leadership Program through the Illinois Soybean Association in 2010, where he gained domestic and international exposure to the American soybean industry. Smith initiated into FarmHouse at the U of I and was also elected to the Alpha Zeta honorary. He currently serves as Secretary of the Bloomington Rotary Club and on the Ag Advisory Council for Heartland Community College.
Michael D. Bernhard joined First Mid Ag Services in April 2019 as an Assistant Vice President/Farm Manager in the Kankakee, IL office. He is a 2019 graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Agronomy Management. Michael grew up on a grain farm near Mazon in Grundy County. He operates the farm with his family. Michael was involved in 4H and FFA growing up and is an active member of the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau Young Leaders. Prior to First Mid Ag Services, Michael worked summers in seed corn production in Utica, IL. He is a Licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker and FAA 107 UAS Remote Pilot License, which allows him to capture aerial photos and videos of client's properties. Michael is the Co-Chairman of the Region 1 Data Collection Group of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Land Values and Lease Trends Conference. In 2023 he earned an Accredited Farm Manager designation with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He enjoys farming, shooting sports, and model farming and railroading in his free time.
David Klein, Craig Thompson, Keith Waterman, Michael Lauher, and Justin Wheeler are also Accredited Land Consultants with the Realtors' Land Institute. This accreditation requires 120 credits of education and over $10,000,000 in sales experience.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President
- Manager
Michael Rhoda is an Assistant Vice President and Farm Manager for First Mid Ag Services. He holds an Illinois Real Estate Broker's License, Iowa Real Estate Broker's License, and FAA 107 UAS Remote Pilot License, which allows him to capture aerial photos and videos of client's properties. He is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. Michael is the Chairman of the Region 4 Data Collection Group of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Land Values and Lease Trends Conference. He is co-chair for the Management Education Committee in 2024 for the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Michael joined the board of McLean County Farm Bureau as an Advisory Board Member in 2024. He is from Normal, Illinois and grew up helping his family's grain production farm near Chenoa. He is still an active part of the operation. Michael graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Agricultural Business and Agronomy. Prior to joining First Mid, Michael worked for Grainland Cooperative in Eureka, IL.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President
- Manager
Phillip Rich works as an Assistant Vice President and Farm Manager for First Mid Ag Services. He also holds an Illinois Real Estate Brokers License. He is a 2012 graduate of University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Business. Prior to joining the First Mid management team, Phillip worked as the agronomy manager in ag retail for Graymont Cooperative Association. Responsibilities included managing department employees, developing all fertilizer and chemical recommendations for the company's customer base, and the purchasing of company agronomic products. He grew up in Pontiac Illinois, where he still resides with his wife and two daughters.
Tom, an Accredited Farm Manager and a Certified Crop Advisor, received his B.S. in Agriculture Business and Economics from Southern Illinois University in 2001. Prior to joining First Mid Ag Services in 2019, Tom was in with Growmark system for 10 years, and has spent the last 20+ years working in agriculture. He is a licensed Illinois and Missouri real estate broker and currently sits on the Illinois Certified Crop Advisor Board. He lives outside Loami, with his wife and 3 children.
Tyler is a 2008 graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Agribusiness and Agriculture Industry Management with a concentration in Agronomy. He holds an Illinois Real Estate Broker's License and FAA UAS Remote Pilot License, which allows him to capture aerial photos and videos of client's properties. He grew up helping his father and grandfather on his family's grain production farm near Mansfield, IL and is still an active part of the operation. Prior to joining Soy Capital, Tyler worked for Illini FS as a Crops Specialist where he earned the Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) designation from the American Society of Agronomy. Tyler's experiences on the farm and in the agriculture retail industry have provided him with a unique perspective to farm management. He and his wife, Sarah, and their two sons, Brady and Logan, live in rural Downs, IL.