Our Roots Run Deep

The entire AXESS team is rooted in farming, raised on hard work, and committed to keeping agriculture moving forward. We understand what it takes because we’ve lived it, and that’s exactly how we show up for the people we serve.

Board of Directors

Lance Mennenga
President
Don Little
Vice President
Brent Bass
Secretary
Dale Mack
Director
Jason Vetter
Director
Tracy Johnson
DIRECTOR
Eric Engebrecht
Director
Jeff Tekrony
Director
Nathan Reichling
Director
Roger Schwartz
Director

management

Darren Benike
CEO / General Manager(605) 881-0797dbenike@axesscoop.comCastlewood, Estelline
Mike Beare
Agronomy Sales Manager(605) 690-8019seed@axesscoop.comEstelline
Samantha Stroschein
Controllersstroschein@axesscoop.comEstelline

Administration

Darren Benike
CEO / General Manager(605) 881-0797dbenike@axesscoop.comCastlewood, Estelline
Samantha Stroschein
Controllersstroschein@axesscoop.comEstelline
Chandelle Thompson
Human Resources & Marketing Director cthompson@axesscoop.comEstelline
Summer Stevens
Bookkeepersstevens@axesscoop.comEstelline
Carmen Jankord
Castlewood Office Managercjankord@axesscoop.comCastlewood
Katie Hoyer
Bookkeeping Assistant khoyer@axesscoop.comEstelline

Agronomy

Mike Beare
Agronomy Sales Manager(605) 690-8019seed@axesscoop.comEstelline
Trey Schmidt
Sales Agronomist(605) 520-2214tschmidt@axesscoop.comEstelline
Lance Hinsvark
Sales Agronomist (605) 237-1285lhinsvark@axesscoop.comToronto
Lucas Ching
Sales Agronomist(605) 520-0024lching@axesscoop.comCastlewood
Kylie Beare
Agronomy Office Coordinatorseed@axesscoop.comEstelline
Mariah Wulf
Agronomy Office Coordinator mwulf@axesscoop.comEstelline
Chad Ries
Operations Manager(605) 651-2671cries@axesscoop.comCastlewood
Don Ebbers
Grain & Agronomy Operations Castlewood
Tyler Mack
Grain & Agronomy OperationsCastlewood
Arie Vant Zelfde
Grain & Agronomy Operations Castlewood
Sarah Porch
Agronomy Operations Specialist sporch@axesscoop.comEstelline
Jasper Rybinski
Agronomy Operations Specialist Estelline
Jakob Weinberg
Agronomy SupportEstelline
Carter Spies
Estelline
Skyler Solsaa
Agronomy SupportEstelline
Mason Nielson
Grain & Agronomy SupportCastlewood
Paul Ries
Truck DriverCastlewood
Todd Louwagie
Custom ApplicationEstelline
Hayden Jensen
Custom ApplicationEstelline
Eric Moore
Custom ApplicationCastlewood
Ken Ries
Truck Driver / Custom ApplicationCastlewood

Energy

Doug Ching
Fuel(605) 592-0234energy@axesscoop.comEstelline
Shannon Shafer
Energy Service Manager (605) 690-9440energy@axesscoop.comEstelline
Jeff Foster
PropaneEstelline
Dustin Spaniol
PropaneEstelline

Grain

Tyler Rozell
Commodities Merchandiser(605) 252-8580trozell@axesscoop.comCastlewood
Tyler Mack
Grain & Agronomy OperationsCastlewood
Arie Vant Zelfde
Grain & Agronomy Operations Castlewood
Ken Ries
Truck Driver / Custom ApplicationCastlewood
Colby Jandel
Truck DriverCastlewood
Don Ebbers
Grain & Agronomy Operations Castlewood
Mel Ries
Truck DriverCastlewood
Corey Akin
Truck DriverCastlewood
Paul Ries
Truck DriverCastlewood

Feed

Aaron Budahl
Feed Mill Manager(605) 520-4763abudahl@axesscoop.comCastlewood
Eric Rudebusch
Feed Mill Operations Castlewood
Peter Vant Zelfde
Feed Mill OperationsCastlewood
Jim Gerberding
Feed Mill Operation Castlewood
Brendan Gerth
Feed Mill OperationsCastlewood

Automotive

Duane Sonen
Shop Managerservice@axesscoop.comEstelline
Lance Beebe
Castlewood Station SupervisorCastlewood
Devon Sorestad
Automotive Technician service@axesscoop.comEstelline
Dustin Beebe
Diesel Mechanicdbeebe@axesscoop.comCastlewood

Hardware

Bonnie Noem
Station Attendantbrnoem@axesscoop.comEstelline
Rob Ronne
Castlewood Station AttendantCastlewood
Lydia Ebbers
Station AttendantEstelline
Dan Schmit
Castlewood Station Attendant Castlewood