Skip to main content

Who We Are

Staff

Our staff has a strong commitment to serving the many constituents of our organization. But first and foremost, they focus their energies on those who strive to make a difference in Merrick County.



Board of Directors

Our board represents a cross-section of our community and has a passion for our organization and those we serve. The members work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization and oversee that the funds entrusted to us are used for the purpose directed.

  • Larry Benson, President
    Larry Benson, President

    Larry Benson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Ag Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently owns Benson Farms in Chapman, with his brother Birger. He is married to Aimee and they have three grown children Andrew (wife Kristin), Leah (husband Andrew) & Joel, as well as eight grandchildren.

  • Tyson Benner, Vice President
    Tyson Benner, Vice President

    Tyson is a graduate of Central City High School and received his Bachelor's of Science in Ag Business and Marketing. He is currently the VP of ag and commercial lending at Archer Credit Union in Central City. He is married to Katie Benner and they have three boys, Easton, Chase, and Byron.

  • Mary Steiner, Secretary
    Mary Steiner, Secretary

    Mary received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Colorado School of Nursing in 1983. Mary is retired and lives in Chapman with her husband, Eric, and their granddaughters, Kenndra and Bekah. They also have three grown children: Adrienne, Cheryl and Richard, who passed away in 2020.

  • Chase Samuelson, Treasurer
    Chase Samuelson, Treasurer

    Chase Samuelson is a graduate of Palmer High School. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Ag Business from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and is currently employed by Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. He currently resides in Palmer.

  • April Bolte
    April Bolte

    April Bolte has a degree from Central Community College in Grand Island and is currently employed by Southern Public Power District. April and her husband Bill live in Central City.

  • Mary Church
    Mary Church

    Mary resides in Clarks, Nebraska, with her husband, Carl. She is the Vice President and Consumer Loan Officer at the Bank of Clarks. Mary is the proud mother of three grown children—Heather, Jason, and Randy—and grandmother to five: Jase, Jordan, Jared, Jones, and Beau.

  • Whitney Hake
    Whitney Hake

    Whitney is a graduate of Centura High School. She received her Early Childhood Unified Teaching Degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane. She is a kindergarten teacher at Palmer Public School. Whitney and her husband, Bryan, live in Palmer with their two children, Lennon and Sutton.

  • Jayme Hans
    Jayme Hans

    Jayme attended Wynot Public Schools before receiving an education in HVAC/R and plumbing from Southeast Community College in Milford. He is the owner of Hans Service LLC and resides outside of Clarks. Jayme is married to Tamara Hans and they have four children, Ayden, Kyler, Taya, and Charlie.

  • Brandon Konwinski
    Brandon Konwinski

    Brandon is a graduate of Twin River High School. He received his Associate's Degree in Industrial Technology from Central Community College in Columbus and is currently employed by Rasmussen Mechanical Services as a Reliability Specialist. Brandon and his wife, Kasey, live on a farm just west of Silver Creek. They have two children, Watson and Jack.

  • Shelly Kuta
    Shelly Kuta

    Shelly graduated from Alliance High School and attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is currently employed at Vishay Americas in Columbus. Shelly and her husband Jeff live in Silver Creek and have four children: Jordyn, Tyler, Taylor & Jacob.

  • Amy Kyes
    Amy Kyes

    Amy Kyes is a graduate of Central City High School. She currently owns Big Red Farms of Nebraska Inc with her husband Steve. They live in the Archer area and have six children, Andrew, Taylor, Carly, Caleb, Ethan & Corbin.

  • D.J. Talbott
    D.J. Talbott

    D.J. is a graduate of Norfolk High School. He received his degree in Utility Line from Northeast Community College in Norfolk and is currently employed by Southern Public Power District. He is married to Tiffany and they have three daughters, Kylie, Kalyn & Kyndall.

  • Chuck Mason
    Chuck Mason

    Chuck Mason is a proud graduate of Mason City High School and holds a degree in Physical Education and Speech from Kearney State College. He and his wife, Jackie, live in Central City and have two grown children, Bryan and Lindsey.

  • Trent Wagner
    Trent Wagner

    Trent is a graduate of Central City High School. He received his Bachelor's of Science at Nebraska Wesleyan before going to Kansas City Kansas Community College to receive a Mortuary Science Degree. Trent is a co-owner of Solt-Wagner Funeral Home which has locations in both Central City and Polk. He is married to Kim Wagner and they reside on a farm outside of Archer. Trent has three daughters, Taylor, Taryn, and Kenzie.

  • Dallas Zimbelman
    Dallas Zimbelman

    Dallas graduated from the Agricultural Lending School in 2014 and earned her Associate's Degree in Business Administration in 2019. She serves as the Branch Manager at Archer Credit Union in St. Paul. Dallas lives in Central City with her husband, Matt, and their daughter, Aubrey.

Our Impact Over 12 Months

  • Community Grants Awarded

    $188,920

  • Scholarships Awarded

    $166,650

  • Students Awarded

    165

  • Donations Received

    $581,694

  • Number of Funds

    235

© 2024 Merrick Foundation

Powered by Firespring