Bryanna and Dylan Handel Named 2026 GroundBreaker of the Year by Compeer Financial

Karl Sime, Nick Sandager received honorable mention recognition

During the recent GroundBreakers Conferences, Bryanna and Dylan Handel, Barneveld, Wis., were named the 2026 Compeer Financial GroundBreakers of the Year. Nick Sandager, Hills, Minn., and Karl Sime, Stoughton, Wis., received honorable mention recognition. Honorees were recognized at the GroundBreakers Conferences in Minnesota Feb. 13-14 and Wisconsin Feb. 20-21.

The GroundBreaker of the Year awards celebrate young and beginning farmers for their resilience, innovation and dedication to advancing agriculture and their communities. The awards represent Compeer Financial’s commitment to providing the tools, funding and education needed to help young and beginning farmers succeed. The Handels received a $5,000 cash prize and selected the Iowa County Technical Rescue Team and Marshall FFA Chapter to share a one-time charitable gift of $2,500 made on their behalf by Compeer. As honorable-mention recipients, Sandager and Sime each received a cash award of $2,500.

“Each year the stories of all nominees we receive inspire us. The Handels stood out in this year’s crop because of their ability to overcome obstacles while remaining committed to creating a farm community that supports each other, as well as the rest of their rural community,” said Beth DuCharme, new markets specialist with Compeer Financial.

Bryanna’s plans to establish a farm began at 16 years old when she purchased her first cow and housed it at her grandparents’ farm. She and Dylan established B. Kurt Dairy in 2014 with 16 cows in a rented barn near Verona, Wis., before they purchased their current farmstead from a retiring farmer near Barneveld in 2016. Since then, they’ve been growing their farm, family and community engagement while addressing a severe stray voltage issue.

The stray voltage began in late 2023 and was linked to a nearby substation. It impacted overall herd health and drastically reduced milk production. The Handels enlisted experts and deployed solutions like rewiring and isolating their farm to minimize the impact. During their journey, the Handels encountered other farmers experiencing stray voltage challenges and helped them navigate their situations. They continue their fight as they engage with state and federal organizations to fund a new USDA study focused on better understanding stray voltage. Their goal is to uncover and correct the source cause so other farmers aren’t faced with stray voltage issues in the future.

Meghan Wellnitz-Trejo, financial officer with Compeer Financial, who nominated the Handels, shared that the Handels believe “farming is a calling that provides their children and community a grounded connection to the land and their food sources.” They demonstrate that connection by offering farm camps to area youth and on-farm markets where they invite area farmers to sell their goods.

They also established a farm store in downtown Barneveld to strengthen local food networks. The store is helping 35 area farmers sell their products locally. “It’s really great because you get to see so many businesses thrive off this one idea. All these farmers are gaining income from this store, which is great because as farmers we need that help to get it to the consumer,” Bryanna said.

“Whether it’s the farm store or events we do on farm, we do them to help educate people about agriculture and help the community,” Bryanna explained. “We had one kid at farm camp last summer who’d been here a couple times, and he started his own cup garden. His mom texted me and said he started a little pickle business, something he wouldn’t have done without coming to farm camp. It’s great to see that seed planted because he probably would have never been in agriculture.”

Dylan is thankful to work alongside his family to build the dairy farm that is now their home. “What we’re proud of is starting out as a first-generation farmer. We did a lot of work around here. We built the heifer shed in 2020 and the machine shed in 2019. We put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears; that’s what makes it our home, that we did all the work,” he shared. “Getting to see our kids grow up and now that they’re getting older, seeing them do more stuff is just awesome.”

Wellnitz-Trejo stressed the importance of supporting young and beginning farmers. “It’s incredibly important for Compeer to support young and beginning farmers because they are the future of agriculture. They bring new energy, new ideas, but they also face real challenges, so I think it’s important for Compeer to support farmers through all stages of life.”

Honorable mention GroundBreaker relies on data and diversified income sources

Being a numbers guy in farming is a huge asset. Nick Sandager is just that and showed that proficiency early on while tracking rates of gain and return on investment for 4-H calf and sheep projects. He continued developing those analytical skills and uses them to think outside the box when tackling challenges and making decisions. His dad Mike shared, “My brother and my year-end bookkeeping experience was probably about a two-month experience of agony. Nick came in and changed all that, and he could do it in a week. He just has a knack for it.”

Nick also leaned into data when he and his dad had to decide between purchasing equipment or land for the farm. Beyond his work on the farm, he provides those skills to other farmers as a fieldman for Southwest Minnesota Farm Business Management Association. He analyzes their farming practices and financial records against their farming goals and offers data-based guidance to help them make decisions. He uses those skills in his crane business to manage the books, conduct business analysis and make management decisions.

Looking ahead, Nick plans to combine data with the information and insights available through his other endeavors to carry on his family farm’s legacy. “You have to build a good team. You do a lot of the work yourself, but it comes down to building a good team of people you can rely on,” Nick explained.

Compeer Financial Officer Pat Barnett said, “It’s great to find young people who hit on all the cylinders. Nick really is the cream of the crop. He knows numbers. He’s got off-farm income. He’s open to things. The crane business they brought to me was a wonderful idea; outside the box. Because ag is tough. The margins are tight. Extra money is always great.”

Regenerative practices earn this GroundBreaker honorable mention recognition

Karl Sime merges the legacy of his multi-generational farm with his vision to lead into the future using regenerative farming practices. Karl incorporates soil biology into both crop and cattle management. Soil structure, microbial life and water infiltration influence his herd rotation, which contributes to sustainable nutrient cycling.

“He’s taking that old way of farming, as well as that new way of farming and bringing them together to push forward, which is what I think a groundbreaker is,” said Courtney Sime, wife of Karl and nominator. “He likes teaching people. He likes having discussions with other farmers. Farmers have come to our farm. Senators have come to our farm.”

Karl also likes learning and collaborates with state and federal conservation programs to test new regenerative tools and biological products. He hopes to better understand if they make sense for his farm and how best to incorporate them as he balances production with environmental stewardship. He also shares his experience with area farmers, hosting field days to enable others to learn alongside him.

“I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts, seminars and conferences. I’ve really enjoyed learning about and adopting regenerative practices. I’ve seen the benefits. Improved soil health is the biggest thing we see. Healthy soils make a healthier plant, and it leads to a bigger crop yield. There are benefits that are below ground that we can’t see, but there are a lot that we do see above ground,” Karl explained.

“One of my long-term goals is bringing my boys into the farm. Hopefully one of them is willing to run it with me; I have three of them. A short-term goal is getting more cows out on grass, maybe put some more grass into the rotational grazing, and then continue my cover crops and other regenerative practices,” he shared.

Kyle Maring, financial officer with Compeer Financial, has been impressed by Karl’s willingness to try and stick to regenerative practices. “Being a groundbreaker is obviously about being innovative. Karl is trying different things with rotational grazing and clean soil and water practices. I think that makes him a GroundBreaker. He really wants to create a generational farm that’s going to continue not only through him but his kids,” Maring said.

The GroundBreaker of the Year honorees shared their experiences during the Minnesota and Wisconsin GroundBreakers Conferences. Additional details about each recipient can be found on the 2026 GroundBreakers of the Year page. Nominations for the 2027 GroundBreaker of the Year award will open during summer 2026.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $34.3 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.

Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial’s patronage program.