GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Bremer Trust, a division of Bremer Financial Services, announces the expansion of its Farm Management Services business to serve clients across the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Minnesota. Part of that expansion includes the hire of Chris Griffin as a farm manager and trust officer. Griffin has a wide range of experience growing up on a farm, working as an attorney and serving as a state representative in North Dakota. The team also includes: John Botsford and LeeIla Drees in Grand Forks and Theresa Melrose and Ken Wiesen in St. Cloud, Minn.
Bremer launched Farm Management Services in May 2009 in the Red River Valley. The business includes all aspects of supporting clients to maintain land ownership due to a retirement, health issues or inheritance and to provide complete management services for investors or other absentee landowners. Bremer services clients in more than 20 of its communities in both North Dakota and Minnesota.
"We have experienced tremendous success and growth since launching this business two years ago and are excited to expand our services further into North Dakota and Minnesota," said Mark Schmiel, president of Bremer Trust. "We also look forward to welcoming Chris on board, who will be a great addition to our already strong team working with clients on everything from land ownership to health issues."
Bremer's Farm Management Services specifically assists clients with: finding a quality renter for the farmer's land (and strive to secure fair market value rent), ensuring the renter uses proper farming practices to maintain or improve land productivity, conducting farm inspections, monitoring participation in and compliance with applicable government programs and providing accounting services and distributing net income.
