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RLI APEX Awards Program

APEX Awards Program

Sponsored by


The prestigious RLI APEX Awards Program, sponsored by The Land Report, is an annual production awards program designed to recognize the excellence and performance of our RLI members, the best in the business. Winners of our annual APEX Awards are recognized at a special awards ceremony at our annual National Land Conference. In 2023, awards for Regional Top Producers were added.

Our 2024 winners received their awards from RLI CEO Aubrie Kobernus, MBA, RCE, as well as The Land Report’s Editor Eric O’Keefe on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, during RLI’s 2025 National Land Conference in Tucson, AZ, at a dinner that included special guest Russell True, Founder of True Ranches Collection.

The APEX Awards Program celebrated its eighth year by welcoming 255 applicants totaling a combined $8.9+ billion in qualifying transaction volume, 9,255 transaction sides, and over 1.2M acres sold. All land professionals recognized as part of the RLI APEX Awards Program are active members of RLI and had at least $5M of qualifying production volume in closed land sales in 2024.

For more information on the award winners, be sure to get a copy of The Land Report, one of the industry’s leading magazines for landowners and land professionals, which will include the top winners in the spring 2024 issue. Top awards winners will also receive national recognition in RLI’s Terra Firma magazine and in additional promotions throughout the year. All land real estate professionals are invited to join RLI and apply to the prestigious APEX Awards Program next March at NLC26 in San Antonio, TX. Applications open in December 2025. 

Special Recognition for our 2024 Honorees

The Land Report and the REALTORS® Land Institute have partnered together again bring maximum exposure to the APEX Awards Winners to ensure they get the national industry recognition as a top-producing agent that they deserve for receiving one of these esteemed land real estate awards. APEX Award Winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to conducting land transactions and RLI’s partnership with The Land Report will take showcasing their prestige to the next level.

APEX Award Winners for Top Producer, Wrangler, and Brokers of the Year in each category will be featured:

  • as part of a two-page spread in The Land Report’s Spring Magazine;
  • in RLI’s Terra Firma magazine’s Summer 2025 edition;
  • in a national press release;
  • on a full-page spread in The Land Report April Newsletter; and
  • in exclusive social media posts on The Land Report social channels

The Land Report will also provide the Top National Producer Award winner and each of the National Broker of the Year Award winners with:

  • 50 copies of The Land Report’s Spring Magazine; the edition featuring the year’s APEX Awards Winners, and
  • discounts on display ad space in all of The Land Report Magazine’s editions for that year!

Award winners can take advantage of all these promotions to showcase their prestige and expertise to clients, colleagues, and the industry as whole!

APEX 2024 Top Producer Award

The APEX Top National Producer Award is the most prestigious award recognizing the applicant with the highest qualifying transaction volume.

Skye Root, ALC

Fred Sperry

AFM Real Estate | OR

APEX 2024 Broker of the Year


  • Ag Land Crops

    Dan Kevorkian, ALC

    Pearson Realty | CA


  • Ag Land Ranches

    Dean Saunders, ALC

    Saunders Real Estate | FL


  • Recreational Land Sales

    Ben Wellons, ALC

    Wellons Real Estate | AR


  • Timber Land Sales

    Fred Sperry

    AFM Real Estate | OR


  • Commercial Land Sales

    Jordan Cortez

    Vanguard Real Estate Advisors | TX


  • Residential Land Sales

    William Rollins, ALC

    LSI Companies | FL


  • Auction Land Sales

    Matt Adams

    Peoples Company | IA


  • Agribusiness Land Sales

    Skye Root, ALC

    Root Agricultural Advisory | ID


APEX 2024 ALC-to-ALC Networking Award

In recognition of the tremendous networking opportunities available to RLI Members, especially those that have earned the elite Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation, the APEX Awards also features the ALC-to-ALC Networking Award, with two honorees.

Trent Saunders, ALC and Keat Waldron, ALC

Saunders Real Estate | FL


APEX 2024 Wrangler Award

Paul Vaicunas

Whitetail Properties Real Estate LLC | NY


APEX 2024 Top Twenty National Producer Award Winners

  • Matt Adams, Peoples Company
  • Steve Bruere, Peoples Company
  • Dusty Calderon, Saunders Real Estate
  • Adam Crist, ALC, Peoples Company
  • Todd Crosby, ALC, Crosby Land Company
  • Bill Eshenbaugh, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company
  • Eric Gage, ALC, AFM Real Estate
  • Dan Kevorkian, ALC, Pearson Realty
  • Troy Louwagie, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Mark Mommsen, ALC, Martin, Goodrich, and Waddell

  • Dan Murphy, ALC, M4 Ranch Group
  • Hadley Perkins, Clift Land Brokers
  • William Rollins, ALC, LSI Companies
  • Skye Root, ALC, Root Agricultural Advisory
  • Dean Saunders, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Trent Saunders, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Fred Sperry, AFM Real Estate
  • Craig Stevenson, ALC, Geswein Farm and Land Realty
  • Ben Wellons, ALC, Wellons Real Estate
  • Justin Wheeler, ALC, First Mid Ag Services

APEX 2024 Regional Brokers of the Year

The Regional Broker of the Year award recognizes the top professionals across several land categories in RLI's 10 U.S. regions.

Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT)

  • Paul Vaicunas, NY, Recreational Land Sales
Region 2 (DE, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, WV)

  • Dustin Prievo, PA, Ag Land Sales Crops, Residential Land Sales, Agribusiness Land Sales
  • Josh Ongley, ALC, PA, Recreational Land Sales
  • Jack Brown, ALC, PA, Timber Land Sales
  • Chris Garza, OH, Auction Land Sales
Region 3 (MN, ND, SD, WI)

  • Adam Crist, ALC, WI, Ag Land Sales Crops and Auction Land Sales
  • Bob Stalberger, ALC, MN, Recreational Land Sales
Region 4 (ID, MT, OR, WA)

  • Skye Root, ALC, ID, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Gregory W. Fay, MT, Ag Land Sales Ranches
  • Branif Scott, MT, Recreational Land Sales Ranches
  • Austin Callison, ID, Residential Land Sales
Region 5 (CA, NV)

  • Todd Renfrew, ALC, CA, Ag Land Sales Ranches
  • Matt Davis, ALC, CA, Commercial Land Sales
Region 6 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)

  • Jeff Garrett, ALC, WY, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Dan Murphy, ALC, CO, Ag Land Sales Ranches
  • Jim Vidamour, ALC, CO, Recreational Land Sales
  • Nick Meltzer, ALC, CO, Residential Land Sales
Region 7 (IA, IL, IN, KS, MO, NE)

  • Troy Louwagie, ALC, IA, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Brian Utecht, ALC, MO, Ag Land Sales Ranches
  • Mitch Keeley, KS, Recreational Land Sales
  • Adam Hann, KS, Recreational Land Sales
  • Zach Holt, IN, Timber Land Sales
  • Matthew Vegter, ALC, IA, Residential Land Sales
  • Andrew Zellmer, ALC, IA, Agribusiness Land Sales
Region 8 (OK, TX)

  • Hadley Perkins, ALC, TX, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Drew Ary, ALC, OK, Ag Land Sales Ranches
  • Matt Gruetzner, ALC, TX, Recreational Land Sales
  • Eric Gage, ALC, TX, Timber Land Sales
  • Chad Andrus, ALC, TX, Residential Land Sales
  • Sheldon Snyder, ALC, TX, Auction Land Sales
Region 9 (AL, AR, KY, LA, MS, TN)

  • George Baird IV, TN, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Clint Flowers, ALC, AL, Timber Land Sales
  • Shawn Massey, ALC, TN, Commercial Land Sales
  • Justin Mason, KY, Residential Land Sales and Auction Land Sales
  • Mark Williams, KY, Residential Land Sales and Auction Land Sales
  • Jacob Bowen, AL, Agribusiness Land Sales
Region 10 (FL, GA, NC, SC, VA)

  • Trent Saunders, ALC, FL, Ag Land Sales Crops
  • Jon Kohler, FL, Recreational Land Sales
  • Todd Crosby, ALC, SC, Timber Land Sales
  • Bill Eshenbaugh, ALC, FL, Commercial Land Sales


APEX 2024 Producers Club

All applicants with at least $5 million of qualifying dollar production volume in closed land sales are recognized as part of the RLI APEX Producers Club.

  • Matt Adams, Peoples Company
  • Trina Anderson, ALC, AFM Real Estate
  • Eric Andrews, ALC, Real World Carolina Partners
  • Chad Andrus, ALC, Mock Ranches Group
  • Nicholas Ardis, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Scott Arens, Hertz Farm Management
  • Garret Armstrong, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jessica Armstrong, Armstrong Properties
  • Drew Ary, ALC, Ary Land Co.
  • Trish Ary, Ary Land Co.
  • Christina Asbury, ALC, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
  • Jared Augustine, Hertz Farm Management
  • Valerie Bahm, ALC, KW Cedar Creek Lake
  • George Baird IV, Landmark Ag Capital
  • Zeke Barrett, Whitetail Properties
  • oug Bear, ALC, Peoples Company
  • Daran Becker, Peoples Company
  • avid Belden, ALC, Tom Smith Land & Homes
  • Chuck Bellatti, ALC, Arrowhead Land Company
  • Bryan Bergdale, Peoples Company
  • Brandon Bergquist, Peoples Company
  • Clayton Blum, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Tara Bonestroo, Clift Land Brokers
  • Jacob Bowen, Southeastern Land Group
  • Sam L. Bowers, ALC, Bowers and Burns Real Estate
  • Ryan Bramlette, ALC, Fay Ranches Inc
  • Wilson P. Britt, Small Town Hunting Properties
  • Jack Brown, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Lindsey Brown, Peoples Company
  • Ray Brownfield, ALC, Land Pro LLC
  • Steve Bruere, Peoples Company
  • Tim Burnette, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Dusty Calderon, Saunders Real Estate
  • Austin Callison, Hayden Outdoor Real Estate
  • Chip Camp, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Cailein Campbell, ALC, National Land Realty
  • David Cantrell, Whitetail Properties
  • Jay Cassels, ALC, Arrowhead Land Company
  • Anthony Chrisco, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Liz Citron, ALC, 37 North Realty Group
  • Dusty Clark, Whitetail Properties
  • Bryan Clift, Clift Land Brokers
  • Jordan Cortez, Vanguard Real Estate Advisors
  • Brady Cowan, Clift Land Brokers
  • Seth Craft, ALC, M4 Ranch Group
  • Adam Crist, ALC, Peoples Company
  • Todd Crosby, ALC, Crosby Land Company
  • Adam Crumrin, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Adam Curran, Peoples Company
  • Matt Davis, ALC, Cushman & Wakefield
  • Terry Dean, ALC, Hertz Farm Management
  • Vinny Delgado, Fay Ranches Inc
  • Mitch Dellamuth, Whitetail Properties
  • Michael E. Dreyer, ALC, Dreyer & Associates
  • Chase Duesenberg, Peoples Company
  • Troy Dukes, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Bill Eshenbaugh, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company
  • Gregory W. Fay, Fay Ranches, Inc
  • Jim Ferguson, Farmers National Company
  • Andy Flack, ALC, HomeLand Properties, Inc
  • Clint Flowers, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Pattie Fox, KW Midwest Partners
  • Rebecca Frantz, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Kyle Gable, ALC, Pioneer Land Group
  • Eric Gage, ALC, AFM Real Estate
  • Jeff Garrett, ALC, #1 Properties Ranch and Recreation
  • Mike Garrett, ALC, Garrett Land Company
  • Seth Garrett, Mulberry Land Company
  • Brad Garrison, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Chris Garza, Whitetail Properties
  • Chris Gier, Premier Farm Realty Group & Auction
  • Matt Glander, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Justin Glass, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Greg Good, ALC, Clift Land Brokers
  • Jonathan Goode, ALC, Farm and Forest Brokers
  • Katie Graeb, Whitetail Properties
  • Linda Green, Keller Williams
  • Matt Gruetzner, ALC, Mock Ranches Group
  • Tyler Hafford, Whitetail Properties
  • Adam Hann, Whitetail Properties
  • Kyle Hansen, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • John Hardin, ALC, Southeastern Land Group
  • Ben Harshyne, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Suzy Haslup, ALC, Meybohm Real Estate
  • Walter Hatchett, ALC, Jon Kohler & Associates
  • Rustin Hayes, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jason Heathcoe, Smalltown Hunting Properties
  • Brent Hedrick, Great Western Ranch and Land
  • Jeff Heil, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Rachelle Heller, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Scott Henrichsen, Hertz Farm Management
  • Todd Henry, Whitetail Properties
  • Kenneth Herring, ALC, Peoples Company
  • Adam Hester, ALC, Smalltown Hunting Properties
  • Scott Hicks, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Darrell Hindman, Living the Dream Inc
  • Hunter Hindman, Living the Dream Inc
  • Matt Hoenig, Peoples Company
  • Jacob Hogan, Geswein Farm and Land Realty
  • Clifton Holloman, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Zach Holt, Whitetail Properties
  • Steve Holzwarth, ALC, United Country - Texas Real Estate Associates
  • Austin Hornstein, Worrell Land Services, LLC
  • Ryan Hostetler, ALC, AGPROfessionals
  • Gary Hubbell, ALC, UCRE Colorado Brokers
  • Jake Hubbell, ALC, UCRE Colorado Brokers
  • David Hueneke, Iowa Farm Land Brokers
  • Darrell Hylen, ALC, Hertz Farm Management
  • Jennifer Janet, ALC, 573 Realty Group
  • Lisa Johnson, ALC, Horsepower Real Estate
  • Kyle Karcher, Whitetail Properties
  • Ryan T. Kay, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Mitch Keeley, Whitetail Properties
  • Shawn Kelley, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jonathan Kennedy, ALC, LandReady Real Estate
  • Dan Kevorkian, ALC, Pearson Realty
  • Kolt Kiburz, Peoples Company
  • Joel King, ALC, Peoples Company
  • Johnny Klemme, Geswein Farm and Land Realty
  • James Klossner, Whitetail Properties
  • John Knipe, ALC, Knipe Land Company
  • Jon Kohler, Jon Kohler & Associates
  • Zurick Labrier, ALC, Mason & Morse Ranch Company
  • Eric Lonnevik, Peoples Company
  • Troy R. Louwagie, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Spencer Loveless, Southeastern Land Group
  • Rusty Lowe, ALC, Century 21 Harvey Properties
  • Brent Lyday, ALC, Legacy Land Group
  • Grantson Martin, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Mac Martin, ALC, United Country Gulfland Real Estate
  • Justin Mason, Whitetail Properties
  • Brian Massey, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Shawn Massey, ALC, The Shopping Center Group
  • Michael Matre, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Peter Mazeine, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Tyler McConnell, ALC, Comey & Shepherd- Southern Ohio Properties
  • Clay McCullar, ALC, McCullar Properties Group
  • Tom McFarlane, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jason McGee, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Alan McNeil, Peoples Company
  • Nick Meixell, Hertz Farm Management
  • Nick Melzer, ALC, Compass Colorado
  • Jake Meyer, Whitetail Properties
  • Jerrod Meyer, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jesse Meyer, Peoples Company
  • Adam Mikesch, ALC, Premier Farm Realty Group & Auction
  • Chris Miller, ALC, AFM Real Estate
  • Bill Minor, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Kasey Mock, Mock Ranches Group
  • Mark Mommsen, ALC, Martin, Goodrich, and Waddell
  • Jeff Moon, ALC, AgWest Land Brokers
  • Doug Moore, ALC, Moore Real Estate, Inc.
  • Melanie Moore, Armstrong Properties
  • Shana Morgan, ALC, NorthStar Realty
  • John Morris, ALC, Southeastern Land Group
  • Keith Morris, ALC, Morris and Morris LLC
  • Dan Murphy, ALC, M4 Ranch Group
  • Dillon Muth, Peoples Company
  • Hayden Nichols, John Hall and Company
  • Luke Nissen, United Country Hawkeye
  • Sean O'Grady, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Justin Olk, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Josh Ongley, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Justin Osborn, ALC, The Wells Group Real Estate Brokerage
  • Bob Osborne, American Legacy Land Company
  • Michael Oswalt, ALC, Smalltown Hunting Properties
  • Robert Pahmiyer, ALC, TDR Real Estate Group
  • Christopher Peacock, ALC, Halderman Real Estate Services
  • Jakeb Pennington, Whitetail Properties
  • Hadley Perkins, Clift Land Brokers
  • Calvin Perryman, ALC, Farm and Forest Brokers
  • Clayton Pilgrim, ALC, Century 21 Harvey Properties
  • Chris Polfus, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Dustin Prievo, Whitetail Properties
  • Jackson Pryor, Whitetail Properties
  • Steve Purviance, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Max Ramsey, ALC, Mock Ranches Group
  • John Reburn, Peoples Company
  • Chris Reed, Small Town Hunting Properties
  • Chad Reifschneider, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Brent Reneau, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Bruce Renfrew, ALC, California Outdoor Properties
  • Todd Renfrew, ALC, California Outdoor Properties
  • Brian Reynolds, High Point Land Company
  • Ben Richardson, Whitetail Properties
  • Koby Rickertsen, ALC, High Point Land Company
  • William Rollins, ALC, LSI Companies
  • Skye Root, ALC, Root Agricultural Advisory
  • Lani Rust, Clark Real Estate Group
  • Eric Sarff, Murray Wise Associates
  • Dean Saunders, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Trent Saunders, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Joette Schalla, ALC, Fay Ranches Inc
  • Eric Schlutz, ALC, Ruhl Farm & Land
  • Luke Schrader, Schrader Real Estate and Auction
  • Ryan R Schroeter, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Dave Schutt, Whitetail Properties
  • Mark Schweigert, Tall Tines Trophy Properties
  • Jared Scobee, Whitetail Properties
  • Brandon Scott, Whitetail Properties
  • Branif Scott, Fay Ranches Inc
  • Tyler Sellens, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Jake Sickels, Peoples Company
  • Elliott Siefert, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Riley Sieren, Peoples Company
  • Jeff Simpson, Simpson Land Group - KW Kansas City
  • Chris Smith, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Danny Smith, ALC, Smith & Smith Realty, Inc
  • Nicholas Z Smith, Peoples Company
  • Spencer A. Smith, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Tom Smith, ALC, Tom Smith Land & Homes
  • Travis Smock, Peoples Company
  • Sheldon Snyder, ALC, Clift Land Brokers
  • Doyle Spencer, ALC, RE/MAX Integrity
  • Fred Sperry, AFM Real Estate
  • Bob Stalberger, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Dent Stallworth, Southeastern Land Group
  • Brandon Stephens, ALC, Mock Ranches Group
  • Jeramy Stephens, ALC, National Land Realty
  • Craig Stevenson, ALC, Geswein Farm and Land Realty
  • Michael Strahan, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company
  • Elizabeth Strom, ALC, Murray Wise Associates
  • Tobias Stutzman, ALC, Stutzman Realty and Auction
  • Aaron Sutton, National Land Realty
  • Jeff Switzer, ALC, Rocky Mountation Ranch and Land
  • Bryan P. Thompson, Whitetail Properties
  • Jeremiah Thompson, ALC, Saunders Real Estate
  • Ford True, Small Town Hunting Properties
  • Eric Turpen, Clift Land Brokers
  • Brian Utecht, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Brock W Utecht, Whitetail Properties
  • Paul Vaicunas, Whitetail Properties
  • Matthew Vegter, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Jim Vidamour, ALC, Fay Ranches
  • James Walker, ALC, Whitetail Properties
  • Carrie Warren, McGraw Realtors
  • Brian Watts, ALC, Southeastern Land Group
  • Ben Wellons, ALC, Wellons Real Estate
  • Dennis West, Small Town Hunting Properties
  • Justin Wheeler, ALC, First Mid Ag Services
  • Ann Whitaker, Whitaker Marketing Group
  • David Whitaker, ALC, Whitaker Marketing Group
  • Tommy Wiles, #1 Properties Ranch and Recreation
  • Chad Wilkinson, Whitetail Properties
  • Loren Williams, ALC, UCRE Colorado Brokers
  • Mark Williams, Whitetail Properties
  • Jason Winter, ALC, West Central Auction Co
  • Rob Woodrow, Farmland Solutions LLC
  • Luke Worrell, ALC, Worrell Land Services, LLC
  • Brandon Yaklich, Hertz Real Estate Services
  • Douglas Yegge, Peoples Company
  • Matt Young, Whitetail Properties
  • Jason Zabka, Hertz Farm Management
  • Eric Zellers, PE, Ary Land Co.
  • Andrew Zellmer, ALC, Peoples Company