Heather Gessner

Education

South Dakota State University- Animal Science B.S.
South Dakota State University- Economics M.S.

Expertise

Farm/ranch estate and transition planning

Agricultural disaster programs

Farm stress

Farm family communications

Extension Responsibilities

I primarily work with farm and ranch families on farm management issues including but not limited to: livestock budgets and marketing, risk management, estate planning, and farm transitions and whole farm business planning.

Awards and Honors

South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service
2005 Dean and Director Award for Teamwork – Econ Educator Team
2007 National Extension Leadership Development Conference Delegate
2009 Extension Excellence in Programming – Exemplary Program – Estate Planning
Extension Excellence in Diversity – Annie’s Project
Extension Excellence in Teamwork – KidQuest
2010 Team Award – Exemplary Program – Aging Healthy, Happy and Wise
South Dakota County Ag Agents Association
2003 Communication Award-Team Newsletter
2004 Communication Award-Team Newsletter
2005 Communication Award-Publication, Team Newsletter, Direct Mail Piece, Personal Column
2007 Communication Award-Direct Mail Piece
2008 Communications Award –State Winner: Computer Generated Graphics, Team Newsletter, Radio
PRIDE Program- State Winner
2009 Communication Awards-State Winner: Team Newsletter
2010 Communication Awards- State Winner: Audio Recordings, Program Promotional Piece, Team Newsletter, Web Page
2016 Communications Awards- State Winner: Feature Story, Published Photo and Caption
2017 Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management-State Winner
National Association of County Ag Agents
2007 Voting Delegate
2008 Achievement Award winner
Communication Award Regional Finalist, Computer Generated Graphics and Radio
PRIDE Program-Regional Finalist
2009 Communication Award Regional Finalist, Team Newsletter
2010 Communication Award National Finalist, Audio Recording
2013 Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management, National Winner
2013 Communication Award National Finalist, Newsletter
2014 Distinguished Service Award winner
2017 Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management, National Finalist

Grants

2005 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $30,000
USDA Risk Management Agency, Coffee Shop Marketing, $8979, Co PI, team member and presenter
2006 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $30,000
USDA Risk Management Agency, Cows and Corn, Estate Planning grant, $9884, Co PI, team member, and presenter
2007 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $15,000
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Estate Planning, $15,000
North Central Risk Management Agency, Annie’s Project, $23,438, team member, location leader and presenter in Brookings and Salem
USDA North Central Risk Management Agency, Coffee Shop Livestock Marketing, $3000, team member
2008 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $15,000
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Estate Planning, $15,000
USDA Risk Management Agency, Agricultural Workforce Management: Improving Human Resource Management Skills, $21,000, team member
USDA Risk Management Agency, Sustainable Annie’s in South Dakota for Years to Come, $25,000, team member, location leader, a presenter in Brookings
2009 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $10,000
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Estate Planning, $6,000
2010 South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $6,000
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Estate Planning, $5,000
USDA -FCIC, Using Livestock Gross Margin Insurance in Marketing Plans, $20,000, team member and presenter at two separate meetings in Worthing
2011 Program Enhancement Grant, Revise and Create Estate Planning Publications $5,000, PI and reviewer
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Winning the Game, $6,800
South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Estate Planning, $10,000
USDA Risk Management Agency, Far Ahead Marketing, $8500, team member and presenter at three locations (Lemmon, Sioux Falls, and Winner)
2016 Program Development Grant- The Next AgCEO: Preparing the Returning Generation, PI- $19,971, United States Department of Agriculture- Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA)

Professional Memberships

National Association of County Agricultural Agents-Regional Vice Chair, Communications Committee
Farm Financial Standards Council