Doug Neufeld of Prairieland Partners Inc. in Hutchinson, Kan., has been elected to a 1-year term as president of the SouthWestern Association Board of Directors.

He was installed on Feb. 18 preceding the Western Farm Show, Feb. 19-21 in Kansas City, Mo.

Neufeld has been involved in the business at Prairieland Partners, Inc. since the merger of his former dealership — Deer Trail Implement — with two other John Deere dealers, Pankratz Implement and Conrady Western.

Neufeld is CEO of Prairieland Partners, Inc., an 8-store equipment dealership in Central Kansas. Neufeld started his agricultural equipment career in the custom harvesting business with his father and brothers. He later worked as a product specialist for Deere & Co. before moving into the dealership. Neufeld and his wife, Pam live in Inman, Kan.

Neufeld will lead the 13-member board of directors, which is responsible for managing the association’s budget and programs.

Other individuals serving on the Board of Directors are: Ed Heim, Hoxie Implement Co., Inc.. – Immediate Past President; Bruce Coleman, Coleman Equipment, Inc., Bonner Springs, Kan.; Brad Derr, Derr Equipment, Savannah, Mo.; Ted Miller, Arnett New Holland, Arnett, Okla.; Aaron Lee, Ray Lee Equipment Co., Ltd., Plainview, Texas; Chris Shoppa, Shoppa’s Farm Supply, Inc., El Campo, Texas; Sam Zimmerer, Zimmerer Kubota, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas; Jeff Deen, Deen Implement, Forney, Texas; Tim Graber, Graber’s Ace Hardware, Inc., Newton, Kan.; Kim Smith, Ken’s Discount Building Materials, El Dorado, Ark.; and Kenneth Eilers, Borderland Hardware of Mercedes, Mercedes, Texas.

Founded in 1889, the SouthWestern Association (formerly the Western Association) represents nearly 1,800 farm, construction, industrial and outdoor power equipment dealers and more than 2,400 hardware, lumber and home center retailers.

The association spans eight-states — Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The largest regional trade association of its kind in North America, the SouthWestern Association offers members a comprehensive array of dealer-oriented legislative, educational and communications services, ranging from lobbying to legal, accounting and marketing support.