In this member spotlight, we're highlighting Dallas Mahoney, AFM, of Marshall, Minnesota. Dallas earned his Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation last year, and is currently working as a farm manager and licensed real estate salesperson for Northwestern Farm Management Co.
When did you begin your career in agriculture?I began my career in agriculture after graduating from South Dakota State University in 2011. My first initial job was working as a Farm Bill specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service at the USDA. Growing up in rural Southwest Minnesota, agriculture is the backbone of our local economy and small communities. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a part of it.
What ag issues are you most passionate about?Agriculture feeds the world. It always amazes me, the new technologies that come out each year and how they are incorporated into farming operations. Today, we are constantly striving to be more efficient and grow more bushels per acre. Pushing that envelope each year (with help from mother nature sometimes) its always fulfilling to see and keeps me passionate with what I'm doing.
How does it feel to have earned your AFM designation? What was the most useful thing you learned while obtaining your AFM?Obtaining my AFM certification was very rewarding. It took a lot of time and effort to complete it. I feel the network of colleagues and teachers that I met along the way will always be useful in my career. They are excellent resources to learn from, bounce ideas off of or exchange business with!
Is there any part of your professional experience that has been especially fulfilling for you? As a farm manager some of the best experiences I have is helping a client with difficult situations. It is always rewarding when you are trusted and looked to for advice.