ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S. — Mike Traxinger has joined the Wheat Growers staff as corporate attorney. Traxinger is a fifth-generation South Dakota farmer and a native of Claremont, South Dakota, U.S.

He maintains a small herd of cattle on his family’s farm operation, Traxinger Simmentals, near Houghton. He is a graduate of Langford High School. He received a bachelor’s of arts degree from the University of Minnesota and his juris doctorate from Drake University Law School with a focus in agricultural law.

Most recently, Traxinger was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Regional Watershed Advisory Task Force, an interim state legislative committee that is reviewing soil, water and drainage laws.

He has previously worked for the South Dakota Farmers Union, United States Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the National Conference of State Legislatures and as a congressional staffer for U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

“In addition to his expertise and experience in agricultural law, Mike brings a history of family farming, and a current working knowledge of farming, that will all be tremendous assets to Wheat Growers,” said Blake Bomesberger, Wheat Growers chief financial officer.

Traxinger is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association, American Bar Association, the South Dakota Simmental Association and the State Bar of South Dakota. He is a Class VII alumnus of the South Dakota Agricultural Rural Leadership program.