NWGA Board Members

Brian Schafer

Culbertson, NE

Brian was elected to the NWGA executive board in December 2014. He currently represents Nebraska on the National Association of Wheat Growers’ research and technology committee. Schafer is a third-generation farmer growing both irrigated and dryland corn, wheat, soybeans and edible beans in Hitchcock and Hayes counties with his brother. Schafer and his wife, Donnetta, have two boys, Tate and Ty.

A graduate of Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kans., Schafer has served on the Culbertson School Baord. He and his wife are the former owners of Nebraska Bull Service of McCook.

Pete Miller

Lodgepole, NE

Pete currently serves as the Vice President for the association and was elected to the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association executive board in January 2019. Pete is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in agribusiness. He farms in Cheyenne and Garden counties. He, his wife, children, and his parents grow wheat, corn and proso millet. Pete also serves on the Cheyenne County Farm Bureau.

Jerry Radke

Big Springs

Jerry was elected to the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association executive board in January 2019. Jerry farms northwest of Big Springs on the same land he grew up on with his parents and six siblings. He is a certified seed dealer and helps run Ag Operations Group and Radke Engineering (a seed cleaning company). He served on the NWGA board of directors many years ago when the office was still located in Ogallala, and is excited to serve on the board again.

Mark Spurgin

Paxton, NE

Mark was elected to the NWGA executive board in December 2014. Mark owns and operates Spurgin Inc., a diversified dryland-irrigated farm and small feedlot located in Keith, Lincoln and Perkins counties. He raises wheat, corn, soybeans, and feed crops.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, the Colorado School of Banking, and the Command and General Staff College of Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Mark has served on many other agriculture committees and organizations. He’s been a member of the West Central District and Keith County Farm Advisory Committee, the Keith County Planning and Zoning Board, the District 7 Commissioner Association, the Nebraska Cattlemen, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. Mark also traveled with the Governor and the US Meat Export Federation on trade missions to Japan, China, Mexico and Cuba. He is also a member of the American Legion Post #303.

Jeff Ruggles

McCook, NE

Jeff currently serves as the association president and was elected to the NWGA executive board in December 2014. He has been part of the family farm operation since he graduated in 1996. He, along with his wife Kelcy, his parents, brother and brother-in-law run a diverse farming operation in Red Willow and Frontier counties. They raise dryland and irrigated wheat, corn and soybeans, have a cow-calf and cattle back grounding operation, and run a trucking and trailer sales business.