What is the Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year Award?
This award honors the hard-working female farmers/ranchers from across South Dakota who selflessly give their time to growing the crops and raising the livestock needed to feed the world. So many times, women on the farm/ranch wear multiple hats, tirelessly contributing to the farm/ranch but also participating in community, raising children or working outside the home. And for that commitment, we want to say thank you.
Meet the 2026 Finalists
Congratulations to the top five finalists for the Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year award. Read on for more details on these five amazing women!
Clockwise from top left:
- Ashley Schwader, Howard, SD
- Aubriauna Wiest, Herreid, SD
- Whitney Mitchell, Tulare, SD
- Britni Ross, Philip, SD
- Karen Mutschler, Eureka, SD
Join us at Dakotafest on August 20 for the Women in Ag Event to honor our top 5 finalists and name the Woman Farmer of the Year!
Ashley Schwader, Howard, SD
Ashley grew up on a farm outside Fedora, South Dakota, and graduated from Artesian-Letcher High School before attending Dakota State University. After she met her husband Kevin, Ashley began as helping out with his family's seed business. this has turned into a shared life's work, together they now own and run Schwader Seeds, making Ashley and Kevin the fifth-generation Schwader farmers.
Ashley keeps the operation running smoothly behind the scenes, handling all the bookkeeping and accounting while also putting in long hours feeding and moving cattle. Her primary focus, though, is the seed business, where she works to make sure every farmer who relies on Schwader Seeds gets exactly what they need.
Ashley works hard on the relationships she builds with customers, and they know her as someone who offers a drink or a snack and genuine conversation when they stop by the office. Those who know her describe Ashley as a true farm wife who gives everything to the operation without asking for recognition in return.
Aubriauna Wiest, Herreid, SD
Aubriauna was raised in Texas before her family relocated to Mound City, South Dakota, during her middle school years. Coming from a farming and ranching background, she always knew agriculture would be part of her future. In 2024, she married her husband Luke and fully embraced ranch life as part of their growing family.
Aubriauna juggles a full-time career as a crop and livestock insurance agent with working on their family ranch. She helps with cattle, cooks for crews during busy seasons, attends ag meetings, and cares for the couple's young daughter. Her professional skills in communication and financial planning carry over directly into the strength and stability of the family operation. She's currently pursuing a degree in Animal Science to deepen her contributions even further.
Outside the farm, Aubriauna serves as a Captain for the Campbell County Ambulance and is involved with Town N Country Gals, the Campbell County Arts Council, and several state-level agricultural boards. During Ag Week, she helps organize appreciation efforts for local farmers and ranchers, and in her professional role, she works closely with producers to help them navigate crop insurance and manage risk.
Whitney Mitchell, Tulare, SD
Whitney was raised on a cattle farm outside Tulare, South Dakota, where she graduated from school and now also works at the local café, Leo's Good Food. She works to balance her job in town with her responsibility on the farm and rasing three kids at home. Whitney handles the daily chores herself, from feeding, trimming hooves, bottle-feeding goats and pigs to cutting hay, and mowing.
Beyond the day-to-day livestock work, Whitney's family sells and rents land to local farmers for cattle and crop production, including land for wheat growers building new work sites. She also runs her own egg-selling business, supplying 20 to 30 dozen eggs a week to local reservations and communities around Huron, South Dakota.
Those who know her say Whitney is constantly putting in the work by raising kids, running a household, holding down outside employment, and still showing up for the farm and the broader agricultural community every single day.
Britni Ross, Philip, SD
Britni grew up on a ranch in southern Jackson County and earned her Bachelor of Science in Financial and Managerial Accounting from National American University in 2002. Since 2008, she's served as Business Manager for the Haakon School District in Philip, all while helping run two ranching operations alongside her family: the multi-generational CV Ranch and Ghost Road Ranch, which she and her siblings have owned since 2024.
Britni's financial background has been instrumental in keeping both operations family-owned and positioned for long-term success as they've passed between generations. She brings the same strategic thinking to her many community roles. She's a graduate of South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Class XIII, sits on the Advisory Council of the Philip Area Community Foundation, and has led a youth financial literacy program through her church. Her efforts have also helped Philip High School seniors secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship support through a partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation.
Perhaps her most personal contribution is her work with the Haakon County Cancer Care Fund, inspired by her mother's vision of supporting neighbors facing a cancer diagnosis. As treasurer, Britni helps ensure that families receive direct financial support with no application process and no strings attached.
Karen Mutschler, Eureka, SD
Karen was born and raised on her families farm near Eureka, South Dakota. After graduating from Eureka High School and South Dakota State University, she returned home to help run the family operation alongside her father and brother, and is now the sole Mutschler carrying on the Mutschler Farms name.
A lifelong friend describes watching Karen's love of farming and ranching grow over decades, recalling how she'd leave gatherings early during calving season because it was her turn to check the cows. That same dedication defines her work today. Karen stays on top of the latest technology and trends to keep her crops and cattle operation running at the highest standard, and she and her nephew Jeremy have built a reputation in the area for raising some of the best beef around.
Karen maintains strong working relationships with fellow farmers, veterinarians, local businesses and more to keep a full network so the operation continues to thrive. Despite the rising costs that have made agriculture increasingly difficult in recent years, she has persevered and kept her operation successful, standing as a role model for the next generation of young women considering a future in agriculture.
Women in Ag Event & Award Ceremony
Join our Women in Ag event on August 21 at 10:45 a.m. to hear from a panel of women in ag as they address hot topics in ag, tackle women's issues in the ag industry and offer advice to other female farmers. Then, join us for the recognition ceremony to hear more about the top 5 finalists as we honor their commitments to ag and watch as we announce the Dakotafest Woman Farmer of the Year.
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