ONIDA, S.D. (DRG News) – The president of the BankWest locations in Onida and Selby has become the chairman of the American Bankers Association’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee for 2020-21.

Mike Yackley says the ABA Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee focuses on representing ag bankers across the country in Washington, DC.

Yackley says of particular interest right now are the ECORA Act of 2019 and mental health.

He says he’s looking forward to representing South Dakota at a national level.

Yackley assumed the role during the ABA Unconventional Convention held virtually last week (Oct. 19-20).

Yackley has served as BankWest’s branch president in Onida for 26 years and been in the same role for the Selby branch for seven years. The bulk of his experience has been in agricultural banking.

Yackley has served on the ABA Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee for four years, serving as vice-chair this past year. He chaired the Advisory Board that plans the ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference and has also served as a member of the South Dakota Bankers Association Ag Committee, with roles as vice-chair and chairman in previous years.

He grew up on the family farm at Onida and is a member of the Onida Area Economic Development Corporation– the group that worked diligently to help bring an 80 million gallon per year ethanol plant to central South Dakota.