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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Meet Renata Walsh: Latham’s New Accounts Payable Specialist

Renata Walsh recently joined the Latham Seeds family as our new Accounts Payable Specialist, bringing with her a rich history of farm life, finance expertise and creative passion.

Renata grew up on a farrow-to-finish hog farm near Osage, Iowa, alongside her twin sister and three brothers. As farm kids, they were always busy helping with chores, from sorting hogs to baling hay. While most of her family eventually relocated to Kansas and settled into farming and other jobs, Renata stayed in Osage, where she began her career and raised her son, Justin.

Her path led her to meet her husband, Thom, in Mason City while working at a car dealership. They married last year, making for an eventful season as they celebrated three weddings in their family! Renata now has a blended family that includes Thom’s two children and a granddaughter, Khloe.

Professionally, Renata’s experience in accounts payable spans several years, including three years at Sukup Manufacturing and 23 years as an office manager in Osage. When she saw the opportunity at Latham Seeds, she was excited to join a company closer to home and has enjoyed the warm, close-knit environment here.

In addition to her work in finance, Renata is a talented photographer. Together with her husband, she owns RenaThom Art Vibe Photography, specializing in nature, wildlife and wedding photography. With a studio at home, Renata loves capturing special moments, especially during wedding days. She’s also a passionate quilter, cook, and artist, always finding creative ways to bring her talents to life.

We’re thrilled to have Renata on board and look forward to the expertise, dedication, and creativity she brings to our team. Please join us in welcoming her to Latham Seeds! And enjoy one of her favorite recipes for pecan pie with a twist.

shannonlatham

November 21, 2024

Desserts, Food & Family, General, Latham News, Recipes

desserts, Food & Family, general, recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Proud to be 100% Latham

Ramon Kuntz’s introduction to Latham Seeds came as a young graduate of Iowa State University, when he went to work for a Latham® dealer named Gene Cole
in Grafton, Iowa. Ramon started in sales, familiarized himself with Latham’s lineup and learned how the products compared to others that his boss was
selling at the time.

Years later when asked if he’d be interested in taking on a Latham® dealership of his own. Ramon says he was quick to answer: “I went back to the farm and did it.”

Today, Ramon says he’s proud to be “100% Latham” for more than a decade. He’s a fourth-generation farmer in Grafton, continuing to work with his parents and one cousin. Ramon’s dad runs the combine in the fall; his mom runs the grain cart. Ramon and his wife, Sara, have two boys: Raiden and Brantly. Last year, Ramon was thrilled that Raiden ran the tractor by himself for the first time.

“He can run about anything. He’s done the grain cart and the big tractor with the disc,” Ramon says of his boy. “He’s done skid loaders. But it was good to see him going solo in the tractor.”

Ramon’s loyalty to Latham Seeds stems from years of proven product performance and family-owned customer service. When he started experimenting with moving to more conventional corn, Ramon says Latham supported him with product suggestions that fit well in his family’s operation.

“Latham is a regional company that selects hybrids and varieties that fit my area,” he says. “That’s important to my business.”

Personalized service has been important to Ramon’s success, too. A self- proclaimed “old-school” farmer, Ramon says he enjoys working with an independent company with leaders who know him by name. He calls it a “charm” that larger seed brands don’t understand.

“I like working with family-owned companies where I can walk straight up to the top executives if I have a question — and they’ll not only answer me, they’ll know me,” Ramon says. “That’s what I get with the Lathams.”

The Kuntzes have celebrated Grafton-area turkey farmers for decades. This is how his family makes a turkey — because, as Ramon says, “If you use an oven, you are ruining a good turkey!”

shannonlatham

November 8, 2024

Fall, Food & Family, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Welcome Carma DeVries, Latham’s New Office Manager

We’re excited to introduce Carma DeVries as the new office manager at Latham Seeds! With a lifetime of agriculture experience and a love for working with people, Carma joined us on October 7 and has already made her mark as a welcoming face at our Alexander office. Customers and dealers will quickly recognize her as the friendly voice answering the phones, but she’ll also be supporting human resources efforts, assisting with dealer reports, and keeping all of us organized.

Raised in Franklin County, Carma has spent her entire life deeply involved in agriculture, from showing livestock in 4-H and FFA as a kid to working for more than a decade on a Quarter Horse farm. As a lifelong animal lover, Carma continues to volunteer at the Franklin County 4-H and FFA horse show each summer. Carma and her husband, Mark, a farmer and cattle producer, now carry on a farming legacy with their son Joe, raising cattle and cultivating corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Joe is also a Latham® Dealer and serves as the Northwest Member Services Director for the Iowa Cattlemen Association.

Carma’s background in the seed industry spans 31 years. She majored in horse science technology at Kirkwood Community College. Prior to joining Latham, Carma worked in customer service and office coordination at Profi-Seed, AgVenture, and Simplot, where she developed hands-on expertise in soybean seed, shipping, and customer support. Carma says she’s excited to bring this knowledge to Latham Seeds, reconnecting with her love of working with growers and their products.

“Since starting here, I realized how much I missed working with soybean seed along with the growers who raised them,” Carma says.

Outside the office, Carma stays busy with hobbies like gardening and canning and is actively involved in her local church. She’s thrilled to be part of the Latham team, and looking forward to getting to know our growers, dealers, and her new colleagues. Be sure to stop by and give her a warm welcome the next time you’re in touch with Latham Seeds!

shannonlatham

October 29, 2024

Food & Family, General, Recipes

Food & Family, recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Focus on Precise Measurements for Best Results

Like many boys who grow up on a farm, Landon Aldinger was fascinated with equipment.
Years later he would combine his fascination with equipment and farming with skills in
technology and engineering to help others get more results using fewer inputs.

Watching big machines on the family farm led to Landon getting a bachelor’s degree in Ag
Engineering from Iowa State University. He then worked nearly seven years as a Senior Design
Engineer for the Toro Company in Minneapolis before his story finally came full circle.

“I really enjoyed my time and my career in the cities,” Landon says. “But when I turned 30, my
priorities started to shift. I was ready to head home and become more involved in the farming
operation.”

Landon had been assisting his father, Mike Aldinger, since 2008 with their seed, chemical and
consulting business. Mike started the business with his father (Landon’s grandfather), Merle.
After Merle retired, the business became Precision Farm Management, using the latest
products to implement more precision ag services like variable rate seeding, fertilizer and
nitrogen.

Besides managing the farming business, Landon runs Aldinger Engineering LLC consulting. He
also spends time “carpet farming” and helping his oldest son, Grady, fix his equipment in their
living room. Landon sees signs of a second-generation engineer/farmer in his son.

“Grady continues to love all things agriculture and equipment,” Landon says proudly. “It is not
uncommon for him to head out to the field for a few hours to ride along and ‘help’ anyway he
can. I love watching his excitement.” Landon and his wife, Kinsey, also have a younger son
named McCoy, who will soon compete with his older brother for the buddy seat.

In addition to raising kids and crops, the Aldingers also raise cattle and pork. Warm and
hearty soups like this one help keep their crew growing.

shannonlatham

October 18, 2024

Food & Family, General, Pork, Recipes, Soups, Uncategorized

Food & Family, recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

A Tradition of Growing Only the Best

Growing Latham’s high-quality soybeans has become a legacy for many farm families, as Steve and Karen Bruns demonstrate from their North Central Iowa farm.

“I have enjoyed working with everyone at Latham Seeds,” says Steve Bruns, who’s been a contract grower of Latham® seed beans since 1999. While he was in high school, Steve worked on weekends and during the summer for Latham grower Hugh Porterfield. Steve later custom-farmed Hugh’s ground for 20 years.

“The people I work with at Latham are the ones I’ve known since grade school,” adds Steve, who grew up northeast of Alexander, Iowa, on a farm his grandfather purchased in 1949.

Finding Farming Again

Like many young people, Steve left the area for a few years before he decided to choose farming as his livelihood. Sadly, Steve’s father developed cancer around that same time.

“I had to quickly take over the farm, right in the middle of the Farm Crisis,” says Steve, whose father, Dean, was just 44 years old when he passed. “Luckily, I didn’t have the chance to accumulate a lot of debt, which forced a lot of our farmers out of business during those turbulent years.”

What’s Next for Pork Producers

During the 1980s and 1990s, the pork industry changed a lot. Contracts to hog producers allowed for a steady income and took away the market swings. Steve got back into the pork industry in 2000 and operated a 4,000-head site for 20 years. As a top Iowa pork producer, his family’s photo was displayed outside the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair in 2005.

Although he’s no longer producing pork, Steve uses hog manure for fertilizer on as many acres as he can.

“Hog manure gives an extra yield bump if conditions are right when it’s applied,” he says. “We’ve seen a 10- to 20-bushel yield bump when manure has been applied under the right conditions.”

The Bruns Family

Now that he has retired from pork production, Steve hopes to have more time for golfing, fishing and hunting. Karen retired from the postal service after 21 years. She enjoys sewing, walking, gardening, traveling and spending time with family. The couple has three grown children: Eric, Jami and Lindsey.

The Bruns Family

The Bruns family enjoys gathering at the farm for great meals like this Ground Pork Casserole, a recipe passed down by Steve’s grandmother Elsie.

shannonlatham

October 3, 2024

Food & Family, General, Pork, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Don Latham Honored as ISU’s Military Hero of the Game

In a special moment of gratitude in front of thousands of Cyclone fans, Don Latham, Vietnam veteran and former vice president of Latham Seeds, was honored as the Military Hero of the Game at Iowa State University’s football game on Sept. 21. This distinguished recognition is part of ISU’s ongoing Military Hero of the Game program, which celebrates the service and dedication of active-duty military and veterans.

A Legacy of Service and Leadership

Don Latham’s commitment to country extends back to his days as a U.S. Army officer during the Vietnam War. Serving from 1967 to 1969, Latham was tasked with responsibilities that required courage and leadership under incredibly challenging conditions. Reflecting on his service years later, he recalls both the friendships forged and the profound lessons that helped shape the way he approached leadership and innovation in business.

In 2021, Don shared his Vietnam experience in an interview, reflecting on the sacrifices made by his fellow servicemen and women, as well as the lasting impact it had on his life and career. He continues to serve others, not only through his work in agriculture but also through his advocacy for veterans’ causes.

ISU’s Military Hero of the Game Program

The Military Hero of the Game initiative at Iowa State University allows Cyclone Nation to pause and recognize the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. During halftime at each home game in Ames, Iowa, one veteran or active-duty service member is invited onto the field for a special presentation. This powerful moment highlights the service, courage and dedication of those who have defended our freedoms.

A Day of Celebration: The Latham Seeds Cyclone Tailgate

In a perfect alignment of celebration and gratitude, Don’s Hero of the Game award coincided with Latham Seeds’ annual Cyclone Tailgate, an event we look forward to every year as we gather with dealers, customers and friends. This tailgate is a Latham Seeds tradition, and this year’s festivities took on even greater meaning as we honored Don’s legacy — in the military and as a leader in the agricultural industry.

bonnie-harris

September 23, 2024

Food & Family, Latham News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds Announces Justin Prokosch as Sales Agronomist

Two days after his twin boys were born prematurely, Justin Prokosch started working at Latham Hi-Tech Seeds as a regional sales manager in South Central Minnesota. With two babies in the hospital and two older boys at home, Justin and his wife, Katie, weren’t sure what kind of first impression he’d be able to make at his new job.

They needn’t have worried. Justin quickly learned what working for a family-owned company really meant.

“The owners treat their employees and dealers like their own family and truly care about their customers,” he says. “We can go to the owners at any time and feel heard. Being able to work alongside the third generation is something you don’t see very often today.”

Six years (and one more boy later), Justin is moving from his RSM position to serve as Latham’s newest sales agronomist in the central and southern areas. It’s a perfect fit for Justin, who grew up on a century farm in Wabasso, Minn., only 1.5 miles from where his family lives now. At Southwest Minnesota State University, Justin majored in Ag Business and minored in Agronomy. Since he always had a passion for agriculture, those two areas of study made sense to him.

“Justin knows our products, understands good management practices and is committed to his new role to help our customers and dealers thrive,” says Amy Rohe, Latham’s sales manager. “His experience will serve us well as sales agronomist.”

Seeing how different products respond differently to certain situations — and helping dealers promote and place products with confidence — is something Justin is looking forward to in his new role. As an RSM, he says he could have used the support of a sales agronomist himself, to help bring a new perspective to his dealers’ operations and extend those relationships on an agronomic level.

“I am excited to really get to know their business,” Justin says. “I have grown a passion for product placement and product characteristics.”

Justin and Katie Prokosch have been married for 10 years and have five boys. Katie keeps their busy family going and volunteers on the local ambulance service. The boys love being outdoors, helping with farm chores, wrestling and playing baseball. Like their dad when he was growing up, the Prokosch boys also enjoy being a part of the local 4-H club and showing animals at the county fair.

When he isn’t chasing after his sons or participating in “whatever they are up to at any given time of the year,” Justin enjoys ice fishing and hunting pheasant and deer.

Here is a Prokosch family favorite recipe that keeps their whole crew warm.

shannonlatham

September 19, 2024

Agronomics, Food & Family, Latham News, Pork, Recipes, Soups
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds Welcomes Michael Poppen as Regional Sales Manager

Michael Poppen has always been a “numbers guy” with a love of agriculture. It made sense, then, that he would earn a degree in Agricultural Economics — knowledge he has applied to his family’s farm operation in Wahpeton, N.D.. Now he can also put his studies to use as a Regional Sales Manager for Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, running numbers and helping Latham® dealers find the perfect planting equation for their fields.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is cultivating relationships with current and new dealers,” says Michael, who, along with his younger brother John, still works on the same farm that their dad grew up on. “Farmers in my area hold a wealth of knowledge, and I look forward to getting to work with them and hear their experiences.”

Michael has worked on Poppen Farms since he was very young, learning everything he could from his dad. Growing up, he enjoyed the smell of the dirt when they were planting and then taking care of the crops throughout the season. But Michael says some of his fondest memories are during harvest, when he and John spent long days in the field with their dad “taking off a good soybean crop.”

“Dad would always tell us, ‘This is an important job; we’re helping feed the world,’” Michael recalls. “Some people say farming is work – and it is, some days. But I like to also say it’s one of my favorite hobbies.”

Michael and his fiancé, Kaley, enjoy golfing, going to Twins games and taking their pup for walks in a nearby state park. Kaley holds a Doctorate in physical therapy and practices home health in town and the surrounding communities. She also cares for residents at a local nursing home.

When he isn’t working or farming, Michael likes to fish and hunt – especially mule deer in the Badlands of N.D. Before joining Latham Seeds, Michael worked for a seed, chemical and fertilizer company. He says he was drawn to Latham because it is an independent, family-owned business with an experienced “support system.”

“Being able to have direct access to the owners of the company is a huge benefit for someone in my shoes,” Michael says. “It gives me a sense of comfort knowing I have so many people in my corner.”

Here is a favorite Poppen family recipe that can feed a crowd.

shannonlatham

September 12, 2024

Beef, Food & Family, Latham News, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Dedicated to Success

Jay Lausen has lived in his childhood home all his life. He started farming in high school, first planting Latham® soybeans in 1990, and has continued to plant them ever since. When his parents, Dennis and Pauline, built a new house shortly after he graduated, Jay stayed on the family farm just outside Estherville, Iowa, and took on the operation.

Jay also took over his uncle’s Latham Seeds dealership when he retired, and he continued to sell the Latham soybeans both he and Uncle Ralph Lausen had grown to rely on over the years. Today Jay is 100% Latham, planting and selling both soybeans and corn.

“I was so accustomed to the quality of Latham soybeans and its yield,” Jay says. “I judged how other companies performed and Latham was just very high performing.”

A large seed company wooed Jay away for a few years, but he soon tired of “the big company attitude.” Even when he was selling that competitor’s seed, Jay was still planting Latham soybeans on his own farm.

He signed back on with Latham and has never looked back.

“The big guys cared more about the shareholder than they did about the customer,” Jay says. “Family values are what I want to represent. The seed industry is very competitive. It’s hard to set yourself apart, but Latham always has.”

Jay and his wife, Kohlene, have four children: Natalie, Elizabeth, Caleb and Megan. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, riding bicycles, spending time in Okoboji, Iowa and vacationing in the Western United States.

Their family always enjoys this recipe for Cheesy Potatoes — a classic in the Lausens’ home.

shannonlatham

September 6, 2024

Food & Family, General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From Teen Mechanic to Trusted Dealer: Jed’s Journey

While many of his peers in high school were chasing girls, Jed Allen was chasing a business dream: J.W. Allen Small Engine Service, which he opened as a teenager on his grandfather’s farm near Chapin, Iowa. It was there that Jed began to earn a reputation for fixing machinery – specifically ATVs, snowmobiles and countless Honda ATC three-wheelers.

“Me and all my buddies had old, clunker snowmobiles,” Jed recalls. “We called ourselves ‘Jalopies.’” Today, his company is named after that notion: Jed’s Jalopy Joint – and it’s still located on the farm where it all started 30 years ago.

Jed says he has a long history “with wrenches and farming.” He grew up working with his grandfather farming row crops, baling hay and chopping silage. Jed also developed an interest in machinery repair and diesel engines, and his knack for fixing things took him to Hawkeye Community College after high school. He completed the two-year Ag Power Technology program, which focused on diesel engines, hydraulics, electronics, powertrains and transmissions.

He returned to the farm after graduation with plans to continue running his repair business. But the original tin-shed shop with a dirt floor had become too small for the expansion he had in mind. So, in true Jed fashion, he went to work remodeling an old corncrib/farrowing house on his grandfather’s farm. He made sure it was big enough for tractor repair, and so began the transition from small-engine repair to large-scale tractor and combine repair.

It was about the same time that Jed started selling seed under Allen Seed & Grain. Over the years, and having worked with several different seed companies, Jed says he’s seen “unbelievable changes.” He has been a Latham® Dealer since 2014.

“Latham has by far been my favorite,” he says. “They are local and independent, and their superior products rose to the top for me.”

At the company’s 2024 Dealer Kickoff event, President John Latham presented Jed with an award for his 10 years of service.

“Jed is all about customer service,” John says. “He has a genuine commitment to helping farmers succeed. We’re grateful to have him on our team.”

Jed and his wife, Candie, have three boys: Cyrus, Clyde and Colby. All are active in 4-H and county fair projects. Like their dad, they enjoy resurrecting old farm equipment and going to antique tractor shows.

Getting everyone in the kitchen for pizza is another Allen family favorite. This hands-on recipe has something for everyone.

bonnie-harris

August 22, 2024

Food & Family, General, Latham News, Recipes, Season