A path to knowledge can be most rewarding. And for Minnesota’s (Okabena) Rachel Daberkow, a lot of knowledge has certainly taken her a long way in rural appraising. In fact, a nearly decade-long process of learning has paid off for Deberkow in a big way.

She was recently awarded the “Accredited Rural Appraiser” (ARA) designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) at the society’s national meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

Daberkow earned the ARA designation by meeting stringent requirements in experience and education, in addition to passing rigorous written examination and abiding by the society’s code of ethics. She joins a select 43 percent of the ASFMRA membership that has received the accredited status and currently maintains it through the ASFMRA continuing education program.

“This was quite a long process if you consider I started taking the upper-level courses in 2014 and started my demonstration report in 2018,” Daberkow told the Jackson County Pilot. “I have a love for learning and challenging myself to be a better rural appraiser every day. Providing financial insight through asset valuation looks different for each farm family I work with, mostly through lending transactions, but also for change in ownership, estate settling or for financial planning.”

Accredited rural appraisers understand the changing face of the appraisal industry and can ensure an appraisal complies with regulations and requirements. Rural appraisers work on a wide range of property types found in rural areas and are capable of navigating the complexities involved in rural property valuation.

In addition, accredited rural appraisers possess specialized expertise beyond state certification and licensing requirements and are connected to a national network of professional resources and information.

The ASFMRA is the largest professional society for rural property land experts, boasting more than 2,100 members in 31 chapters throughout the United States.