Jake Espenmiller became the President and CEO of Conterra in January of 2025 as part of a succession plan in place to succeed the founder Paul Erickson. Jake brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural finance, risk management, and lending strategy, including 10 years of senior management experience. Before joining Conterra, Jake served in leadership roles with Oak River Farms and MetLife Investment Management, where he played a crucial role in expanding operations across key agricultural regions. Since joining Conterra in 2022 as Chief Lending Officer, he has been a driving force behind business development and strategic growth initiatives.

“As a private lender with deep ag roots and experience, Conterra is uniquely positioned to be a key capital partner for today’s farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses,” says Espenmiller. “I think of Conterra as a ‘Goldilocks’ firm — just the right size to be a significant player, while remaining nimble and flexible.”

The Simpson College and Drake University graduate says Conterra’s culture, work ethic and passion for agriculture aligned with his own.

“I plan to build upon the success of Conterra’s founders by providing great service to customers, great returns for our investors and a great culture for our employees.”

Contact Jake to learn more about how Conterra can help your farm or ranch operation.