Estelline Area Economic Development Corporation
Board of Directors
Get to know our Board a littler better.
Cole Hoyer,
President
term March 2024-March 2027

My wife Katie (Hendrickson) Hoyer and I live on an acreage just east of Lake Poinsett where we enjoy spending time gardening, landscaping, and taking our dogs on walks and for swims. I am working with my father-in-law Byron Hendrickson running his dairy farm while also owning my own share of dairy cows. I am originally from a small town in Western Wisconsin where I grew up on a small dairy farm which cultivated my passion for agriculture and for giving back to the community.
​I am very excited to be a part of the Estelline Area Economic Development Corporation because I enjoy and thrive on giving back while also having an entrepreneur mindset. I hope while being on the EAEDC board to help grow the small business opportunities within our Estelline Area. Businesses are what drive our local economy and provides increased quality of life in our residents and visitors. I also would like to work on increasing the recreational opportunities for our community. I love the outdoors walking, biking, playing disc golf and I believe that increasing these opportunities in our community would be a great asset for Estelline.
​Estelline is a great community and I look forward to working hard to help our community continue to thrive and grow.
Linda Salmonson, Vice President

term March 2025- March 2028


I’ve lived in the Estelline area for over 40 years. I was raised in Canton and Brookings and spent some time in Oklahoma. My late husband, Butch, spent his entire life on the farm near Estelline, where I continue to live. My daughter Stephanie also grew up in Estelline and graduated from EHS.
While I’m now retired and spend time gardening and socializing in the summer; I like to travel, follow the Jackrabbits and stay engaged by serving the region. I spent some time on the Estelline Area Development Corporation (EAEDC) board in its early years and have been back on the board since 2019 or so. My career was spent primarily in Economic Development, first for the Watertown Area Career Learning Center as a business advisor, and then 30 years as Economic Development Manager at East River Electric Power Cooperative, where I led a lending team that invested over $100 million in the region over 25 years. I still serve on the Dakota Resources and the Interlakes Community Action Partnership boards as well as EAEDC.
I think Estelline is a great community with a lot of potential. Being located between Brookings and Watertown and a gateway to Lake Poinsett is both a blessing and a challenge. Blessing because we have access to larger communities and recreation, challenging because it’s easy to take our town and local businesses for granted, as if they will always be there!
I have found that being employed in Economic Development was much easier than serving as a volunteer!! EAEDC, an all volunteer group, is there to support the economic growth of the community. We are taking small steps, like creating the Healthy Hometown committee, supporting community pride with Yard of the Week, and taking advantage of learning opportunities, but need a constant flow of new ideas and participation because we can’t do it on our own. My thanks to all that participated in the EAEDC Community meeting last winter and to everyone who volunteers time for projects in and around Estelline. Seeing community members show they care about their town makes me excited about Estelline’s future.
Jennifer
Bortnem-Risty

term March 2024-March 2027


I live in Estelline with my husband Eric and the youngest four of our six children. We moved here in June 2012.
I am an 18-year member of the Bruce American Legion and have been the adjutant for much of that time.
I co-founded Midwest Maidens Roller Derby in 2012 in the Brookings Area and am their current Head Non-Skating Official.
I have choreographed for the Estelline High School Band’s colorguard’s active years since 2015.
I have been a volunteer EMT-B on the Estelline Ambulance Service since 2016.
I have been on the board of the Estelline Area Economic Development for almost 2 years now.
I dance with the Sons of Norway’s Nordic Nimble Feet with my children.
I began working at Estelline Nursing and Care Center as an Activities Aide in October 2023.
I learned more about and became interested in our corporation after the Healthy Hometown committee began meeting again after the pandemic hiatus; Healthy Hometown seemed like exactly the like-minded group that I could join to help with projects to keep and upgrade the health and beauty of our town and its residents. One of the projects they had wanted to do before the pandemic hit was to start an orchard at the community gardens, and we were able to plant six trees in July 2022. I joined the board that same year and have had amazing training opportunities that have some great ideas to level up our organization.
We have recently completed the BOLD program (which we will expand upon in later posts) and are working on goals set at the end of that program. It’s an exciting time to be part of the board.
David Ebbers, Treasurer

term March 2026-March 2029


My wife, Shelly and I have 4 children and six grandchildren. I have recently retired from working full time for Reliabank, although I remain on the Reliabank Board of Directors and Loan Committee as well as sell crop insurance. I am currently enjoying working on my yard and garden as well as woodworking. I spend many of my summer nights at the softball complex in Watertown as I am the head of the Watertown Area JO Youth Softball Association.
I grew up on a family farm in the Estelline area that two of my brothers continue to operate. I attended SDSU and returned to Estelline to work for Reliabank after college. I look forward to continuing to help the area grow and expand by helping our existing businesses and residents with new business opportunities as well as attract others to our area.
Molly Prinsloo

term June 2025-March 2028

I grew up on our family farm just east of Estelline and attended Estelline School from
kindergarten through graduation in 2017. After high school, I attended Lake Area Technical
College in Watertown. I’m now married to my husband, Jean-Pierre, and we continue to be
rooted in the area we love.

Our family farm received the Quasquicentennial Farm Award in 2025! Don’t ask me to
pronounce it—I’ll just tell you it means 125 years!

I work part-time at AXESS Cooperative in Estelline as a Strategic Accounting Coordinator. When I’m not at AXESS, you can usually find me on the farm with my brother, Sam. I’m also an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where I enjoy being involved in church and community
activities.

Being born and raised here, I’ve always had a heart for this community. I’m passionate about
seeing Estelline grow and thrive. We owe it to the generations who built Estelline to care for
them well—and to the next generation to keep building a community they’ll be proud to call
home.

I’m excited to be part of the Estelline Economic Development Board! I look forward to
supporting both new and existing businesses, strengthening our local economy, and—most
importantly—investing in the people of our community. I want Estelline to be a safe place
where everyone feels proud to call it home.
Jodi Mundahl

term June 2026-March 2029


More info coming soon
Renee Axtell, Mayor, City Ex Officio

More info coming soon
Darrion Poppen, Schools Ex Officio

I moved to Estelline in July of 2018 and met my wife and her son, Kristen & Ryan, in 2019. We were married in September 2020. I am on the Estelline School Board and have been for 3 years. Ryan goes to the Estelline School where he participates in basketball and band.
Kristen and I are in the early stages of starting a business that ranges to home improvement/repair to Kristen recently getting her travel agent license to help families book
family vacations and build memories together. We are people that don’t like to sit on the sidelines and like to be active. Kristen is Dispatcher, a part-time CAN, and recently a travel agent.
I love interesting facts. I love watching documentaries about
history, faith, animals, philosophy, etc. Another interesting fact is that I am a certified boxing coach in the state of South Dakota through USA boxing and coach at the Fallout Shelter Gym in Watertown, SD.

I have been a Sheriff’s Deputy since June of 2017. I started on the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office and was a School Resource Officer in all three schools. I am currently part
of the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office working as a Court Deputy providing security for Judges
and their courtrooms.

I am somebody that doesn’t like to sit on the sidelines, and I like to be involved. If I can help I will. I heard what the EAEDC had to offer and how it wants to improve, not just how the town looks, but also provide to the residents of Estelline. Estelline is a very proactive community, and I am so glad to be a part of this team in promoting and improving this
community.
I love to learn and understand, and I want to take that same passion to not only provide but also help people understand the resources that are available to them. Whether its needing help repairing a home or building a new one, there are resources that are available to the
public through the state that can be accessed. I also know that navigating these sights can be a
difficult and/or overwhelming, and it's my goal to make it easier for people in the community to
understand and navigate or locate the recourses they are looking for.
You?

Are you interested in becoming a board member? Download the application here. Elections are held in January. Applications are due December 10th.





Committees

Estelline in Bloom


Cole Hoyer (chair)
Renee Axtell
Jennifer Bortnem-Risty
Linda Salmonson
Jodi Mundahl
Graceann McGuire
Business Growth


David Ebbers (chair)
Renee Axtell
Cole Hoyer
Linda Salmonson
Jodi Mundahl
Housing


Darrion Poppen (chair)
Renee Axtell
David Ebbers
Cole Hoyer
Lynda Pierce
Engagement


Molly Prinsloo (chair)
Renee Axtell
Jennifer Bortnem-Risty
Cole Hoyer
How to contact us
Mail: PO Box 198, Estelline, SD 57234

Email: estellineecon@gmail.com

Social Media