The Board of Directors

I am Mike Phaller, Vice President of the board of directors. I have served on the board since 2015.   

About 9 years ago my wife Jennifer and I bought the house next door and quickly fell in love with Farm By The Lake. Four years ago l retired from Minnkota Power after 40 years as a technician and we moved permanently into our house. I was excited to become a board member.  

From the start, the trails at FBTL have been a special love of mine. My dog and I love walking these beautiful trails through the woods, for these trails are not only for the paying guests but for everyone to enjoy with no charge.  I now like maintaining and improving them. This spring my sister and her husband, both nature enthusiasts, donated 3000 board feet of black ash lumber to build a bog walk.  Already a number of people have volunteered to help build.  

That's what I love about this place. It has everything to do with making it a better place for not only the guests but for everyone to enjoy.  

With free summer concerts every Sunday afternoon, free groomed cross country ski trails in the winter, canoeing or paddle boating on the lake there is year round peace and beauty in this lovely nature retreat. Come take a look and see if you might love it as much as I do.

I am currently the Treasurer on the Farm By the Lake Board of Directors.  I have served on the Board since 2012.

My roots go back to before Clearwater county was a county. On my father’s side I am 5th generation, on my mother’s side I’m 4th generation.  When I was 12, we lived on my mother’s family farm—the Tangjerd Farm.

 I graduated from Bagley High School. Then attended Moorhead State University where I received a B.A. in Anthropology, and Iowa State University where I received an M.A. in Anthropology, specializing in North American Archeology. 

My wife of 40 years is Tamara Edevold, Executive Director of the Clearwater County Historical Society. We live with our two cats.

I am the Department of Natural Resource’s Region 1 Facilities Adviser. I oversee the care and maintenance of about 680 DNR buildings in northwest Minnesota. 86 of the buildings I oversee are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

I am a firm believer that everyone should give something back to their community by volunteering. I have volunteered with the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC), the Clearwater County Historical Society, and I also get called on to advise or assist other history organization throughout the state.

I have received numerous awards and certifications over the years, but there are two I’m most proud of:  a recognition for serving 5 years on the Headwaters Regional Development Commission, and a Life Time Achievement award from the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums.

My connection to FBTL began with my great uncle, Paul Tangjerd, who was a good friend of founder, Richard Davids. In my early teens (mid 1970’s) Paul would take my brother and I to what would become FBTL. We learned about plants, and birds and all things natural. Richard was a warm, friendly man who always welcomed an opportunity to teach about nature.

Hello, I am Nancy Weerts.  I have served on the Board of Directors since 2009.

I have lived in the Bagley area since the fall of 1974.  My husband, Brad, and I have 3 sons, 3 grandchildren, and 5 dogs 

(2 Golden Retrievers and 3 Labradors)

I have had many jobs over the years:  waitress, nursing assistant, laundry, library, Brainerd State Hospital, Lincoln Elementary, and I have worked at the Bagley C.D.A.C. for 34 years.

In my spare time I volunteer for several organizations:  Senior Citizen’s Center, 4-H, Sunday School, Special Olympics, F.O.R.T.H., Daycare, and youth group at Faith Lutheran.

I knew Richard Davids, founder of FBTL,  May Barness, Superintendent of Schools and Richard’s cousin, and Bob Boutain, first caretaker & educator at FBTL.  Some of my favorite memories at FBTL include:  Bob’s bird demonstrations, the goldfish ponds, and cross country skiing with the youth group from Faith Lutheran.  I have always like FBTL and what it stands for.  Being a part of the Board of Directors gives me an opportunity to help accomplish it’s mission.