BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“I do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Kansas, and faithfully discharge the duties of the board of directors of the Southwest Groundwater Management District Number 3. So help me God.”

Chad McCormick

President

Elected: 2021 Serves to 2024

Chad is the Industrial Representative for the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management Dist No. 3. He is the General Manager at Grant County Feeders in Ulysses, KS. Chad and his wife Mary Beth moved to Kansas in 2017 with their two children Corley and Clay. Chad is a graduate of the TCU Ranch Management Program and serves on its Board of Directors. He is a veteran of the US Army serving in Italy, Iraq, Louisiana, and North Carolina. Chad has been in the cattle business for over twenty years in Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, and now Kansas.

 

Randy Hayzlett

Vice President

Elected: 2013 Serves to 2025

Randy is a farmer/rancher consisting of both irrigated and dry land. His irrigated land uses both groundwater and surface water from the Arkansas River.

Randy serves as a board member for the South Side Ditch Association and served many years as president of that company. He is currently the vice chairman of the Arkansas River Compact Administration and has been a commissioner for the State of Kansas on that administration for 20 years. Randy also serves as chairman of the Western Waters Conservation project funds committee and is a member of the Kansas Water Authority. He is a Surface water representative for Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management Dist. #3 and has been on the GMD3 board since 2013.

Garrett Love

Secretary

Elected: 2020 Serves to 2025

Garrett grew up on a family farm in Gray County near Montezuma. He attended Washburn University, where he studied Business. Upon graduation from WU, he ran for and was elected to the House and then the State Senate, becoming the youngest State Senator in Kansas history. While in the Senate, he chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee and was elected as the Senate Majority Whip. He also received his MBA from Fort Hays State University, with an emphasis in Leadership. 

 In 2017, Garrett and his wife, Caley, stepped back from state politics to focus on raising their kids (they now have 4) and their farm in Gray County. They grow corn, soybeans, sorghum & wheat, along with cattle. They also host hunters from across the country on their farm as part of their hunting outfitting business, Western Kansas Pheasant Hunts.

Garrett Love has represented Gray County since 2020 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Mike O’Brate

Treasurer

Elected: 2004 Serves to 2025

Mike O’brate represented Gray County from 2004-2020 and Finney County beginning in 2020 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Ben Amerin

Elected: 2021 Serves to 2024

Ben has represented Meade County since 2021 on the GMD3 board of directors.

David Casterline

Elected: 2017 Serves to 2025

David is originally from Dodge City, but attended high school in Wamego, KS. He played football at McPherson College before attending Kansas State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness. He was an ag loan officer with a local bank for several years out of college. He now works in insurance. He worked on the family farm during high school and college, and also when he moved back to southwest Kansas after college. He farms with his wife, Jamie, in Ford County with a mix of irrigated and dry land. They have two children, Charlie and Ren.

Kent Dunn

Elected: 1995 Serves to 2024

Kent Dunn has represented Seward County since 1995 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Zachary Gale

Elected: 2015 Serves to 2026

Zachary was born and raised in Syracuse, Kansas. After High School, he attended The University of Kansas and received a BS in Finance. Upon Completion in 2009, he returned home and began working for Frontier Dairy.  In 2013, he began leasing ground in the county and now manages 3 farms covering 7000 irrigated acres.  He currently grows Corn, Sorghum, Triticale, Wheat, and Alfalfa.  Zachary has represented Hamilton County since 2015.

 

 

Matt Johnson

Elected: 2021 Serves to 2024

Matt has represented Stevens County since 2021 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Fred Jones

Elected: 2017 Serves to 2026

Fred Jones is the Water Resource System Manager for the City of Garden
City, Kansas. He directs the City’s Water and Waste Water Utilities. He serves on the board of the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #3, the Upper Arkansas Regional Advisory Committee and KsAWWA Operator Training Committee.

Fred attended Fort Hays State University and holds a Certified Public
Management certificate from the KU Public Management Center. Before his tenure in Garden City, he served as the City Administrator in Lakin, KS
from 2006 to 2013.

Fred is married to Suzie, a surgical nurse, and have two sons Cormac and Conor

Harrison Krey

Elected: 2021 Serves to 2024

Harrison has representing Morton County since 2021 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Kyle Maddux

Elected: 2022 Serves to 2025

Kyle is a fifth-generation farmer from the Deerfield area. he works with his Grandfather, father, uncle, and cousin.  Kyle and his family mostly grow irrigated corn and dryland wheat.

Kyle and his wife Megan were married in 2007 and have five children they feel blessed to have. They love the opportunity to raise their kids out on the farm.

Kyle has been representing Kearny County on the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 since 20022 and is looking forward to serving and learning more about the wonderful industry that agriculture is.

 

Seth Nelson

Elected: 2011 Serves to 2026

Seth Nelson has represented Stanton County since 2011 on the GMD3 board of directors.

Bret Rooney

Elected: 2014 Serves to 2026

Bret grew up on a family farm just outside Satanta, KS and attended Butler Community College and Kansas State University on livestock judging scholarships. Upon graduating Kansas State University with a bachelors degree in Agronomy, Bret worked for Dupont Pioneer in Garden City, KS as a drought trait Research Associate for 4 years. He then returned home to his family’s farming operation. On that operation they grow corn, wheat, grain sorghum and soybeans. Bret also runs a small cowherd with his wife, sister and mother. Bret is also a partner in Flatland Pheasants LLC, where they showcase Southwest Kansas’ upland bird hunting opportunities with a full service hunting lodge. Bret has a wife, Carlie, and one daughter, Rylie. Bret has represented Haskell County since 2014.

Clay Scott

Elected: 2002 Serves to 2026

Clay Scott has represented Grant County since 2002 on the GMD3 board of directors.