About Heartland

To get the most out of your farmland you need to fully understand your investment - that's where Heartland Ag Group comes in. At the beginning of our relationship with you, we'll reacquaint you with the details involved with your farmland assets (value, profits, leases, conservation, and more). Based on that conversation we'll find out your wants, needs, and objectives as a farmland owner.

The Heartland staff are all professionally trained and strive to accomplish the highest standards of excellence. And we'll help you discover which of our services can most effectively meet your needs.

Heartland Ag Groups' Mission is clear: "To be the premier source of agricultural expertise and information in the areas of farmland investment, farm management, real estate sales, and real estate appraisals."


Key Personnel

Dale Aupperle
President

After a 21-year career in farm management, Dale Aupperle founded Heartland Ag Group, Ltd. in 1993 to offer agricultural expertise to clients across Central Illinois. Heartland Ag Group Ltd. has quickly grown to become a premier provider of specialized services, information, and agricultural knowledge.

Dale's experience in agriculture started on the family grain and livestock farm in McLean County, Illinois. He took the knowledge gained from the farm to college, graduating from the University of Illinois in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics. Dale went on to a successful career in professional farm management with a large downstate Illinois banking group, serving as Senior Vice President responsible for more than 100,000 acres under management.

Dale is nationally recognized in the farm management and rural appraisal professions. He was awarded the titles Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) in 1977 and Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) in 1978 - the youngest person in Society history to be dually designated.

Ryan Aupperle
Farm Manager

Ryan Aupperle joined Heartland Ag Group, Ltd. as a farm manager and real estate professional in 1998. He grew up just north of Decatur in Forsyth, Illinois.

Ryan is a 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois, having attained a degree in agricultural economics. While there he focused on agricultural economics, finance, real estate, and agronomy.

Ryan is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA) and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA).

Jeremy Crouch
Rural Appraiser

Jeremy L. Crouch joined Heartland Ag Group, Ltd. in 2003 as a professional farm manager and state certified general real estate appraiser. He grew up on a livestock farm east of Eureka, Illinois, in Woodford County.

Jeremy attended Black Hawk East Junior College before transferring to the University of Illinois to finish his education in 2003, majoring in agribusiness and farm and financial management. He also obtained a minor in crop and soil sciences, which helped get his career as a farm management professional off to a great start.

He has attended a great number of classes with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), the Appraisal Institute, and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Jeremy has worked extensively in Illinois appraising agricultural properties and maintains an extensive database of sale information.

Tammy Roberts
Office Manager

Tammy provides wide-ranging support for our real estate, farm management, and appraisal services. Tammy joined the company in July 2000. She and David have four children: Amanda, Dustin, Matthew, Cole and one grandson: Jake.

Rhonda Hutchens
Financial Accounting/Secretary

Rhonda handles the financial accounting for our company and our clients. She also provides secretarial support for both farm management and appraisal services. Rhonda joined the team in August 2003. She and Gary have two children: Laramie and Shelby. They live in Decatur.

Jan Adcock
Database Manager

Jan supports our entire team through development of databases and computer systems that deliver our expertise. Jan joined the company in December 1993. She and Jim have four children: Tamar, Taryn, and twins Del and Dean. They live in Assumption.

Jean Davison
Graphic Design/Secretary

Jean provides support for our real estate, farm management, and appraisal services and designs the company media material. Jean joined the company in September 2009. She and Dennis have five children: Nicole, Candice, Derrick, Joshua and Jeffrey. They live in Decatur.