Director Spotlight: Andy Weisser
Oct 13, 2026
Farming has always been Andy Weisser’s dream job. The Roscoe, South Dakota, farmer and Agtegra Cooperative director knew he would one day follow in his dad’s and grandfather’s footsteps on the family farm.
“In kindergarten, I knew more about tractors and their horsepower than a typical kid should,” Andy said. “I was Grandpa’s right-hand man, and we spent a lot of time working together in tractors.”
Andy’s grandfather moved to the Roscoe area in the 1950s to start farming.
“You don’t see folks starting from nothing quite like he did anymore,” Andy said. “He was told he wasn’t going to make it farming, and now that’s exactly what fuels me to keep going. Being told I’m not going to be able to do something just drives me to prove people wrong.”
After graduating from high school, Andy studied ag production at Lake Area Technical College before returning to farm alongside his dad and grandfather. The house his grandfather built in the 1950s is the same home Andy lives in today — purchased along with his first half section of land in 2001. Andy and his wife, Heather, have raised their four children — Grant, Kayden, Karlie, and Weston — on the farm.
Over the years, the operation transitioned from Andy’s grandfather to his dad, and now to Andy and his brother, Austin. Together, Andy and Austin run a 400-head commercial cow/calf operation, background calves and manage row crop acres. Their dad still helps with day-to-day operations, and Andy’s kids lend a hand as their schedules allow.
Becoming a director for his local cooperative wasn’t something Andy initially planned. But that same curiosity and drive pushed him to learn more about Agtegra’s governance and find a way to get involved. He was elected to Agtegra’s delegate council in 2014 and later to the board of directors in 2021.
“If you want to learn more about something, you have to get involved,” Andy said. “That’s why I joined the board, and I don’t regret a single second. I’ve gained so much respect for everything that happens within the cooperative.”
Andy’s involvement has also shaped how he approaches safety, both at the cooperative level and on his own farm.
“Sometimes on the farm, we get used to doing things a certain way without thinking about the hazards,” he said. “My perspective has completely changed after seeing how Agtegra prioritizes safety and why it’s important to carry that same mindset at home.”
As a director, Andy especially values the relationships he’s built over the past five years, along with the opportunity to learn from fellow farmers and board members.
“I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve met through this role,” he said.
In addition to his work with Agtegra’s governance, Andy serves his community as assistant chief of the Roscoe Fire Department.
"I love being a part of it. It can definitely be challenging to respond to scenarios where I may not be the most comfortable, but sometimes, you have to challenge yourself," Andy said.
Andy’s oldest son, Grant, works as an applicator at Agtegra’s Bowdle location. While Andy knows Grant may return to the family farm someday, he’s encouraged him to gain experience in agronomy and the business side of agriculture first.
Similarly, Andy recognized he wouldn’t gain a full understanding of the cooperative without stepping forward and getting involved himself.
He believes Agtegra’s delegate council and board provide valuable opportunities for farmers to have their voices heard and better understand the challenges affecting their operations and communities.
“How do you make a farmer-owned cooperative better?” Andy said. “By getting involved, whether that’s becoming a delegate or serving on the board. I wish more farmers would take a step back and see how a co-op really works.”
“In kindergarten, I knew more about tractors and their horsepower than a typical kid should,” Andy said. “I was Grandpa’s right-hand man, and we spent a lot of time working together in tractors.”
Andy’s grandfather moved to the Roscoe area in the 1950s to start farming.
“You don’t see folks starting from nothing quite like he did anymore,” Andy said. “He was told he wasn’t going to make it farming, and now that’s exactly what fuels me to keep going. Being told I’m not going to be able to do something just drives me to prove people wrong.”
After graduating from high school, Andy studied ag production at Lake Area Technical College before returning to farm alongside his dad and grandfather. The house his grandfather built in the 1950s is the same home Andy lives in today — purchased along with his first half section of land in 2001. Andy and his wife, Heather, have raised their four children — Grant, Kayden, Karlie, and Weston — on the farm.
Over the years, the operation transitioned from Andy’s grandfather to his dad, and now to Andy and his brother, Austin. Together, Andy and Austin run a 400-head commercial cow/calf operation, background calves and manage row crop acres. Their dad still helps with day-to-day operations, and Andy’s kids lend a hand as their schedules allow.
Becoming a director for his local cooperative wasn’t something Andy initially planned. But that same curiosity and drive pushed him to learn more about Agtegra’s governance and find a way to get involved. He was elected to Agtegra’s delegate council in 2014 and later to the board of directors in 2021.
“If you want to learn more about something, you have to get involved,” Andy said. “That’s why I joined the board, and I don’t regret a single second. I’ve gained so much respect for everything that happens within the cooperative.”
Andy’s involvement has also shaped how he approaches safety, both at the cooperative level and on his own farm.
“Sometimes on the farm, we get used to doing things a certain way without thinking about the hazards,” he said. “My perspective has completely changed after seeing how Agtegra prioritizes safety and why it’s important to carry that same mindset at home.”
As a director, Andy especially values the relationships he’s built over the past five years, along with the opportunity to learn from fellow farmers and board members.
“I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve met through this role,” he said.
In addition to his work with Agtegra’s governance, Andy serves his community as assistant chief of the Roscoe Fire Department.
"I love being a part of it. It can definitely be challenging to respond to scenarios where I may not be the most comfortable, but sometimes, you have to challenge yourself," Andy said.
Andy’s oldest son, Grant, works as an applicator at Agtegra’s Bowdle location. While Andy knows Grant may return to the family farm someday, he’s encouraged him to gain experience in agronomy and the business side of agriculture first.
Similarly, Andy recognized he wouldn’t gain a full understanding of the cooperative without stepping forward and getting involved himself.
He believes Agtegra’s delegate council and board provide valuable opportunities for farmers to have their voices heard and better understand the challenges affecting their operations and communities.
“How do you make a farmer-owned cooperative better?” Andy said. “By getting involved, whether that’s becoming a delegate or serving on the board. I wish more farmers would take a step back and see how a co-op really works.”