Ask any one of Whitetail Properties’ 400-plus Land Specialists what their No. 1 priority is and they’ll all point to the same thing — serving the buyers and sellers they represent. This year, that unwavering dedication illuminated the real estate awards sphere.
Now, the Whitetail Properties Real Estate team is fresh off another year of RLI’s National Land Conference and APEX Awards ceremony. It’s proud to have performed so well in such a crowded field of exceptional professionals.
What Is RLI?
RLI is an acronym for Realtors Land Institute. It’s a community of like-minded real estate professionals who strive for the utmost accuracy, dependability, and efficiency in the real estate space.
“Land is a unique, complex, and changing field,” said RLI. “Members of the REALTORS® Land Institute share a nuanced understanding of the land real estate industry and specialize in brokerage related to all types of land including farms and ranches, recreational land, timberland, vineyards, orchards, transitional and development land, subdivision and lot wholesaling, site selection and assemblage of land parcels, appraisals and land valuation, auctions, and farm and land management.
“RLI, the Voice of Land, works to elevate the level of professionalism in the land industry by offering all land professionals the credibility, confidence, and connections that are the foundation for becoming the best in the business,” RLI continued.
What Is the APEX Award Program?
The APEX Award program is an annual ceremony designed to recognize some of the top real estate professionals in the nation.
“It's great to attend,” said Jack Brown, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in Pennsylvania. “You're there with peers from across the nation. Some of the top land agents and Land Specialists in the country attend that event. It's highly educational and a great way to spend time with your peers.”
“There was a total of 39 regional awards,” said Brock Utecht, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in Missouri. “It was really a unique experience, because Whitetail Properties went over 50% of those agents. A lot of us were there, so we had a pretty big section of cheering. It was a lot of excitement.
“The Utecht land team won Region Seven for the Midwest for ranch and farm sales,” Utecht continued. “We were No. 1 for the third year in a row. Winning that award, and to walk up on that stage again with a lot of really good agents around, was an honor.”
For those who aren't aware of the APEX Award, it’s among the most prestigious in the real estate industry.
“It represents more than success,” said Dustin Prievo, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in Pennsylvania. “It reflects the trust that our clients have in us and the discipline to deliver results when it matters the most.
“But to me, it's just an honor to be recognized,” Prievo continued. “I guess the real reward is helping landowners achieve their goals and being a staple in my community.”
Whitetail Properties Representing at the Awards Presentation
Whitetail Properties is an established brand and resource within the real estate industry. In 2025, it continued that legacy with an incredible volume of total sales.
“I was able to get two awards, plus the APEX Award,” Prievo said. “I received Broker of the Year for residential land sales and ag land sales for crops in Region Two.”
“I won the APEX Award,” Brown said. “I won an APEX Producers Club Award. I also received the Zone 2 Timberland Broker of the Year Award,” Brown said. “Basically, I was selected as the top timberland sales agent in zone two, which includes five states along the Eastern Coast.”
Brown says the APEX Producers Club is a selection of agents throughout the country that excel in certain rural listings, including residential, ranch, agriculture, timberland, and recreational.
“It's basically a recognition with minimum requirements, and you have to do at least $5 million in sales in one of those categories,” Brown noted. “Then, you're selected nationwide. It's a nice recognition to receive it. Because it shows that you know stand out amongst your peers as a well-versed professional in the field.”
Why Should Potential Buyers and Sellers Care?
It begs the question, why should potential real estate buyers and sellers care about these awards? Without a doubt, Whitetail Properties Land Specialists bring to the table things for buyers and sellers that many other real estate agents simply do not.
“It's night and day,” Brown said. “Truly, we're highly trained. I believe we're more trained than any other type of real estate agent in the country. We are well-versed in timber, agriculture, recreational lands, and a lot of other stuff that most folks overlook.”
Whitetail Properties Land Specialists also put in more time and effort with each individual client. That holds true for prospective buyers and sellers alike.
“We’ll walk a property with clients — it doesn't matter if it's 10 acres or 6,000 acres,” Brown said. “We'll do whatever it takes to make sure that individual understands what they're buying. They’ll know the benefits of and future potential of their purchase, including potential income, future income streams, using it as an investment for the future, or it being a legacy property for families to enjoy for generations to come.”
Obviously, the accolades are great for Whitetail Properties Land Specialists, but what does that mean for aspiring real estate buyers and sellers?
“It’s about confidence,” Utecht said. “They can see just a real statistic that nobody else can show. They can see that we’re No. 1 not only within a company, or hitting a certain cap rate within a company, but are actually No. 1 among all brokerages for an individual category in which we sell land for every day.”
Overall, Whitetail Properties is out there grinding daily for buyers and sellers. This year, that reflected once again in the outcomes of the RLI APEX Awards.
“Land is a unique, complex, and changing field,” said RLI. “The landscape of the land industry is always shifting. Regulations change. Opportunities grow and fade. Challenges emerge. RLI provides relevant resources to help you grow your expertise, your confidence, and set yourself apart.”
Click here to learn more about RLI. Check out APEX Award rules and results here.
