Winter 2015

PROFILE
“We grew rice and other crops on our family farm, and we had cattle,”
Swanson says. “Like most kids in a farming and ranching family, I was
an active participant in most of the crop and livestock activities. There
were long hours and plenty of hard work. There were also times when
we were not so busy when we had time to do other things. We spent
a lot of time outdoors. Whether we were walking the fields checking
the crops or cattle, operating equipment, hunting quail or looking for
arrowheads, my Dad was always telling us stories about the land and
those who operated and owned it.
“We also spent a great deal of time in the pickup with our Dad and
Mother, too, for that matter; that was also a good place to hear about
the tales of the country. It was a great way to grow up and it instilled a
great appreciation for the land in my brother and me.”
Today, Swanson carries that same appreciation for the land in his
career as an accredited rural appraiser (ARA). He is Senior Managing
Director for Valbridge Property Advisors | Dugger, Canaday, Grafe, Inc.,
in San Antonio, Texas, where he focuses on rural land and agribusiness
properties through appraisal, appraisal review, counseling and
brokerage.
ASFMRA LEADERSHIP
This year, Swanson was installed as president of the American
Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). He joined
ASFMRA in 1994—earning his accreditation in 1998—and credits the
organization with the education and networking that has helped him
increase his appraiser professionalism. He cites a number of mentors
along the way including his father, the partners at the firm, other rural
professionals in South Texas and friends and clients who have shared
their time, experience and knowledge.
“I always have said that you join ASFMRA for the education and you
stay for the people and the networking,” Swanson says. “The people I
have been able to work with through ASFMRA are top notch and salt of
the earth. And the opportunities that have presented themselves to me
through the organization have been over the top.”
Knowing that he wanted to pursue a career in land properties and
management, Swanson left the family farm in El Campo in the early
1980s to attend Texas A&M, where he earned a bachelor’s degree
in agricultural economics and a master’s in land economics and real
estate. When he joined Love and Dugger (predecessor of Valbridge
Property Advisors |Dugger, Canaday, Grafe, Inc.) as a young associate
in 1989, he soon found his niche.
“Early on, I worked on appraisals of a variety of properties – both
commercial and rural,” Swanson recalls. “But it became clear that my
interest and passion were in the ag sector and I started focusing on
rural properties. A colleague suggested that I join ASFMRA, which I did,
and my career really took off from there.”
ENERGIZED BY STORIES OF THE LAND
If you ask Swanson today what inspires him, he will tell you that it’s
all about the people and tales of the land—and those he interacts with
every day. “I get to see the ranches and the agricultural properties that
few people will ever see. Meeting the people and hearing their family
stories and history behind the unique properties that will never be sold
are the richest parts of the job. It never gets old and it’s energizing.”
As senior managing director at Valbridge with a staff of 22,
Swanson is one of three ARAs in the firm and also supervises a team
of associates in the company’s ag sector. There are seven MAIs at the
firm including Swanson’s three partners. It’s a relationship business,
adds Swanson, who gains great personal rewards from helping clients
navigate the paperwork and red tape—including property assessments
and inspections, conservation easements, litigation support, estate
settlement and planning and property transfers.
“You really get to know the families and their dynamics,” Swanson
says. “I love being an important part of their lives and seeing their
success.”
Over the years, Swanson has held several leadership positions at
the state and national level within ASFMRA, including the government
relations committee and executive council. One of the highlights
was the opportunity to attend the week-long ASFMRA Leadership
Institute in Washington, D.C., six times, where they learned about how
to navigate and communicate with politicians and regulators about
policies that affect their business.
FUTURE GENERATIONS
Investing in today’s youth is important for Swanson. An avid hunter
and fisherman and naturalist, Swanson and his wife, Elizabeth, also work
to instill the same love for the land in their children—Cecelia, Caroline
and Travis.
“Our family doesn’t actively farm rice anymore, but we’re able to get
out to the country to look at crops and cattle on family land. We have
also made it a point to spend time in the country with our children to
enjoy nature through hunting and other outdoor activities,” he says.
As ASFMRA president, he has made a commitment to help increase
membership, particularly among younger professionals. He remembers
attending ASFMRA’s Summer Education Week eight years ago and
noticed that the attendees were more experienced professionals.
“I went back three years ago, and there were a lot more young
professionals,” he says. “It was great to see, and I would like to see that
momentum continue.”
Swanson encourages today’s youth to look into a career in land
management and appraisal.
“It’s a wonderful career and affords you an opportunity to get close
to the land. Through ASFMRA, we have the tools and the networking
opportunities for members to be the best that they can be.”
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