Professional Staff

The depth of the Agrivest team can be enumerated in the 173 cumulative years of company experience. Our team consists of six Accredited Farm Managers who all grew up on farms, have at least a Bachelors degree in agriculture, and have spent their entire career in an agricultural field. Our diverse backgrounds in areas such as education, extension, credit, seed production and others gives us a lot of experience to draw from.
 

	Larry Weitekamp is a 28-year veteran of Agrivest and its predecessor companies. Raised near Raymond in Montgomery County on a grain and livestock farm, Larry is a 1971 graduate of Illinois State University majoring in Agriculture and has previous experience in seed corn production as Production and Warehouse Manager with Funk Seeds International. He earned his Accredited Farm Manager designation in 1986 and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
	Jerry Hicks brings 25 years of farm management experience to Agrivest, including an Accredited Farm Manager designation and Real Estate Broker license. Raised on a grain and livestock farm near Amboy in Lee County, Jerry is a graduate of the University of Illinois, earning Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Animal Science in 1971 and 1973. He has previous experience as a County Advisor with the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service and as Executive Vice President of the Illinois Pork Producers.
	Bob Williamson started his farm management career almost 30 years ago when he joined the company from his former position as an instructor at Carl Sandburg Junior College. He also has experience as a high school vocational agriculture teacher. Raised near Jacksonville on a grain and livestock farm, Bob is a 1962 and 1969 graduate of the University of Illinois, with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Ag Education, and he earned his Accredited Farm Manager designation in 1984.
	Keith Sheckler is Agrivest's most seasoned farm management professional, with 27 years of company experience and 22 years prior experience with the largest farm operation in Illinois, the Norris Farm and Cattle Company. A 1951 graduate of the University of Illinois in Agronomy, Keith was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Canton in Fulton County and earned his Accredited Farm Manager designation in 1986. He is also a Certified Professional Agronomist and a Certified Professional Crop Specialist.
	Dan Newton has completed over 20 years of providing professional service to Agrivest clients. Growing up and working on his family's farm in Brown County, Dan then studied at Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University, earning Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Agricultural Economics. In addition to his analytical experience as a credit examiner for the Farm Credit Administration, Dan earned the Accredited Farm Manager designation in 1994 and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
	Bob Nelson joined the company nearly 19 years ago, benefiting from previous banking experience as an ag loan officer at The Gifford State Bank. A 1985 Ag Economics/Farm Management graduate of the University of Illinois, Bob was raised on a grain farm near Malta in DeKalb County where he was a partner in the family hog operation. He earned his Accredited Farm Manager designation in 1995 and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
	Denise Poteet is the seventh member of the Agrivest team. A Sangamon County native, Denise's company experience reaches back 24 years and includes skills in operational, processing and organizational areas. Going forward, her role is vital to Agrivest's office coordination and the integrity of client financial data.