CLIENT DRIVEN - FARM FOCUSED
Our story
Nick Westgerdes - Owner & Designated Managing Broker
Nick is the primary decision maker at New Roots Farm Brokerage. His passions in life consist of Family, Farms, Football and the Outdoors. Some of his hobbies include gardening, cooking and woodworking. Nick's wife Holly is a Professional Kitchen and Bath Designer at Boss Carpet One in Dixon, IL. Nick and Holly have two daughters, Madelyn and Lauren. Madelyn is a cheerleader at Rochelle High School and Lauren is a Rochelle Middle Schooler that loves to barrel race!
Farming Roots
Nick grew up on a family grain and livestock farm in Henry County, IL. He's baled hay, combined corn, shoveled manure, repaired equipment and showed livestock. His life experience, grit and work ethic allows him to quickly connect with landowners, industry peers and farmers.
His father Dale and brother Joe still operate the family farm on a daily basis. The Westgerdes Family has deep roots in agriculture and farming that go back multiple generations.
Both 4-H and FFA were a large part of Nick's upbringing. He still supports Ag in the Classroom programs today. While in FFA at Kewanee High School, Nick held multiple officer roles, including President his senior year.
After high school, Nick took his desire for additional agriculture education to Black Hawk East College. After achieving his Associate Degree at Black Hawk, he finalized his college career at Western Illinois University with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Science that focused on Crop Science, Soil Science and Conservation.
Deep Industry Roots
Nick's professional career in agriculture began in 2009 as a family farm business consultant. He quickly built a reputation for being knowledgeable, efficient and a great communicator while working with farm families across the Midwest.
His landowner services career began in 2012 at the largest farm brokerage and management firm in the country. He achieved his Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation in 2016 and quickly excelled in his role as a farm broker and manager in northern Illinois.
Due to his success, he was promoted in 2017 to Area Vice President, eventually responsible for a team of 15 as well as all the real estate, farm management and appraisal activity in Illinois and Wisconsin. In August of 2025, Nick left this successful role to chase his dream and start New Roots Farm Brokerage.
Over his career, he has been appointed to many leadership roles, currently serving as Vice President (future President 2027) of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
He prides himself on having deep industry roots within the world of agriculture, farm brokerage, management and appraisal. He's a quick relationship builder with industry connections not only in Illinois and Wisconsin, but across the entire country.
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