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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Crops and Cattle Are This Farm Family’s Business

As a kid in 4-H, Aaron Steenhoek got hooked on beef. Through 4-H projects, he kept pens of cattle and sold quarters, halves and wholes direct to consumers. He tracked how the cattle grew and how they gained. He remembers a local locker that sent a USDA inspector to show him how beef was graded and measured.

“It was really interesting to me,” Aaron says. “Cattle have always been in my family, but I really got interested in the meat side of things.”

So much so that he and his wife, Cory, decided six years ago to grow that side of their own family business. The couple live on the Steenhoek family’s Iowa Century Farm in Pella, where Aaron and his dad run a cow-calf operation. They also grow corn and soybeans, as well as summer forage, rye and alfalfa as feed for their herd.

Now, Aaron and Cory also have a feedlot at Black Oak Acres. Aaron says they buy four or five groups throughout the year – feeding roughly 150 to 160 head annually — in order to keep a constant flow of cattle on the farm. He’s particular about only buying cattle private treaty, or directly from a small number of trusted producers.

“They don’t go through a sale barn or auction. We go and pick them up straight from the farm,” Aaron says. “It keeps the cattle from being exposed to other cattle, which keeps them healthier.”

Aaron, who is also a regional sales manager for Latham Seeds, says he and Cory decided a few years ago to apply for a retail license to sell their farm-raised beef direct to consumers. Until then, they had been relying on local outlets to retail it for them. Now they have an inspected space right on the farm where they can sell cuts and bundles themselves.

Aaron says the retail business has been nice because people can fill in with particular cuts even when Black Oak Acres might be a month or two out on product. Customers can buy in smaller amounts, too.

“But what’s really great is that people know where their beef is coming from and how it’s been treated,” he says. “We never use growth hormones or antibiotics.”

The Steenhoeks are careful stewards of the land — both for quality nutrition for their animals and conservation practices to protect it for generations to come.

“Stewarding the land and the livestock is important to me,” Aaron says. “We really enjoying educating people about livestock and cattle in particular. There’s a lot of misconceptions and misinformation out there, because people are more removed from the farm life in general these days.”

Piedmontese Cattle

Included in Aaron’s herd are four Piedmontese cattle, a rare breed that is known for being a leaner, premium-tasting but lower-calorie choice in beef. This is because Piedmontese are myostatin free, meaning they have a higher lean-to-fat ratio and do not develop the fatty marbling of traditional breeds. In addition, Piedmontese have lower levels of cholesterol, making it a healthier option for some people.

Aaron says the texture of Piedmontese is different, and it needs to cook more slowly and at a lower temperature than more common cuts of beef.

“But when it’s cooked right, you can almost cut it with a fork,” he says. “It’s that good.”

Aaron and Cory have four children: Emmett, Rhett, Klay and Quinn. They both graduated from Central College with degrees in exercise science and health promotion. When she’s not helping out on the farm, Cory is a personal fitness trainer. Today they’re sharing a family favorite recipe for National Beef Month.

shannonlatham

May 17, 2024

Beef, Corn, Crop, Food & Family, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Brisket Brings the Kids Home

Latham® dealer Mark Hawthorne backgrounds cattle near Lohrville in West Central Iowa. His family buys 400-pound steers in January and sells them around 800 to 900 pounds sometime between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

“I had always planned to farm if there was an opportunity to do so,” says Mark, who worked for a farmer near Story City while attending Iowa State University. He continued working there for eight more years after graduation when an opportunity in corn breeding at the Syngenta plant in Glidden became available. Glidden was close enough to home that Mark also could help his dad farm.

Mark says he’d probably still be working in Glidden if Syngenta hadn’t closed the plant. He didn’t want to uproot his family to Seward, Nebraska, so he put his Ag Business major and Agronomy minor to use for himself by taking on a Latham® dealership and assuming more of the day-to-day responsibilities on the farm.

“Our farm has changed as times have changed,” Mark says. “We used to raise hogs in open-front buildings but got out of the business instead of reinvesting in new facilities. When packers started to buy large numbers of cattle, we switched to backgrounding cattle rather than raising cow-calf pairs. It works out well because we get to take a break from doing chores for a few months each year.”

Mark farms with his father, Merrill, and son Max. Max is finishing his freshman year at Iowa State University and looks forward to working with his family on the farm this summer. Once their corn and soybean crops have been planted, the family turns their attention to making hay.

Latham’s alfalfa products have always lived up to their description,” Mark says. “We were happy with the disease package and fine stems with fast regrowth, so we were hesitant to make a switch. Then we tried HarvXtra® technology and realized it’s worth the extra! It has a lot higher feed value, so we don’t need as many acres of alfalfa. For example, I used to mix one bale of alfalfa to one bale of grass hay. Now it’s a ratio of one bale alfalfa to three of grass — and it delivers the same feed value.”

The Hawthorne family has target dates to deliver their product to market. After all, time is money. Their cattle usually ship out in late fall, so the early winter months provide time for the family to enjoy a ski vacation or to visit family members and friends. Mark and Susan’s daughter, Jessi, lives nearby with her family. Their son, Kodi, lives in Sioux Falls, SD. The couple has five grandchildren.

“Our goal is to leave our farm in a position that allows our kids to come home if they so desire,” Mark says. “We’re getting the next generation ready now, so they can take over some day.”

One sure-fire way to get all the kids together is to serve brisket, says Susan, noting that “they all come running home” when they hear Mark’s Midnight Brisket is in the smoker. Here is the Hawthorne family’s favorite beef recipe.

shannonlatham

May 3, 2024

Alfalfa, Beef, Crop, Food & Family, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Blooming Benefits: Bringing Pollinator Plots to the Farm

As we begin to plant our gardens this year, Latham Seeds’ very own Gary Geske wants us to set aside some space for the tiny creatures that play a huge role in crop reproduction, sustainability and food security. These are Mother Nature’s pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and beetles.

Gary Geske

Gary has first-hand experience on what avid gardeners call the “pollinator project.” April, he says, is the perfect time to think about what pollinator plots are – and how they can be incorporated into backyards and farm fields.

“Everybody tends to have a garden that ends up getting bigger than they want it to,” says Gary, who has worked for Latham for 13 years and is our corn product specialist. “So, take an end of the garden and just plant some wildflowers. Or use flowers around the border of the garden. It will attract bees to pollinate your watermelon or other vegetables, and it will help the environment, too.”

Farmers can also contribute to pollinator plots by planting a diverse mix of native wildflowers somewhere on their land. These flowers provide a much-needed variety of pollen and nectar sources during the growing season – and they attract an even more diverse range of pollinators.

“Take a look at that odd, two-acre spot on your farm . . . that awkward spot in the corner where it’s hard to get equipment in,” Gary suggests. “Turn that into a safe zone for honeybees and other pollinators. Put it somewhere that’s not easy to get to, so it truly becomes a haven for them.”

Gary, who farms in North Dakota, planted two acres of tall grass prairie along his driveway. It includes flowers that make it a true pollinator plot. He says it also feels like he “recreated the old west.” Other farmers in his area have started tilling field borders or the sides along their driveways and planting flowers there, too.

“The terms ‘pollinator plot’ and ‘ornamental planting’ can be the very same thing,” Gary says. “Whether intentional or not, incorporating plants that give food and shelter to pollinators is a good thing for all of us.”

2 acres of Tall Grass Native Prairie planted along our driveway with wildflowers in the mix for pollinators

Because pollinator populations have been declining over the years due to habitat loss and other factors, it’s more important than ever that farmers help reverse the trend. Because in order to thrive, these invaluable ecosystems need our gardening help.

Says Gary: “It really doesn’t take much to make a big difference.”

Check out other related blogs on The Field Position… for yummy Hummingbird Cake!

shannonlatham

April 25, 2024

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

New Dishes, Family Favorites

When it comes to cooking, it’s always fun to explore new recipes. But usually, we’re always drawn back to familiar favorites. That’s especially true for farm kids.

Brothers Ross and Levi Brown of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, didn’t plan to take over the family farm from their parents, Kevin and Renee. When they did, however, they brought a whole new perspective — and realized home was where they wanted to be.

“Ross and Levi have really embraced technology, and that’s helped the bottom line of the farm,” Kevin says. “Technology adds another level of management, so I’m turning the reins over to them. They order our seed, chemicals and fertilizer because they know the prescriptions for each farm.”

Ross graduated from Dell Rapids High School and then went to basic training and Air Force technical training. In 2006, he started taking classes at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings where he majored in Aviation Management. He was deployed three times, ranging from two to four months each time.

After graduating from high school, Levi had intended to become an engineer. He earned a bachelor’s degree from SDSU by double-majoring in Agricultural Business and Finance with a minor in Economics. Because of Ross’s deployments, he and Levi graduated from SDSU on the same day.

Levi and Olivia Brown

Levi met his wife, Olivia, in Brookings. She practices at Avera Health. After working for a few years for a farmer in Mitchell, Levi and Olivia moved to a farmstead three miles northwest of the home place where they established their home. They are the proud parents of Cora and Griffin.

Ross returned to the family farm in 2012 after working a couple of years at Raven Industries. He spent a great deal of time traveling for his job and realized how much time he would be sacrificing away from family if he continued in aviation.

Ross and his wife, Jen, are the proud parents of four: Elsa, Joe, Arlo and Rollie. Jen teaches in Sioux Falls and is dedicated to making a difference in her students’ lives. Ross continues to serve in the Air National Guard. His 20th year of service will be 2025.

Ross and Jen Brown

The Browns farm separately, yet together. In addition to raising crops, Kevin and Levi each finish feeder cattle. Ross also finishes feeder cattle and calves about 120 cows each spring.

Today the Browns are sharing a family favorite recipe of their mom’s for baked round steak that promotes the beef they raise.

shannonlatham

April 8, 2024

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

Joy’s Remarkable Journey at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

It was a cryptic classified ad in her small-town newspaper that would connect Joy Bonin to a job — and a family — for the next 47 years.

A new mom at the time, Joy was growing restless after staying home with her daughter, who had recently turned two years old. Hearing this, Joy’s mother pointed out an ad in the Belmond Independent. It was for a bookkeeping position, but it didn’t list a company name.

“It just said it was for a business east of town,” Joy recalls. “We lived east of town, so in my mind I thought it had to be some place out in the country.”

With nothing else to go on, Joy mailed her resume to a post office box in Belmond, where she had grown up and still lives today. A few days later, she got a call from Bill Latham, who asked her to come in for an interview. Because Joy’s family had farmed in the area all her life, she was familiar with the Latham name. Her dad had even done business with the Lathams’ soybean company.

“After my interview, Bill said they’d talk it over and get back to me,” Joy says. “I wasn’t home half an hour before he called and asked me how soon I could start.”

It was the beginning of a lifelong career for Joy, who is retiring in April of 2024. She admits life without Latham Seeds will be “somewhat of an adjustment.” Afterall, Joy has worked with all three generations of the company’s owners — and has transitioned along with the family through every step of change and growth over the years.

Current CFO Chris Latham, who, as a young boy would come into the office after school to tinker with the company’s new computers, now credits Joy for much of Latham Seeds’ success.

“She’s been a big part of the reason why we have grown from a soybean-only seed company that sold to local customers to a multi-crop seed business with dealers and customers in seven states,” he says. “Joy has also been a loyal friend and confidant to so many employees, growers, dealers and vendors.”

Joy worked her way from bookkeeper — manually typing invoices and working from “the big, old general ledger book” — to much larger responsibilities, including production. Besides lining up contract growers and working with them, Joy took on human resources duties like managing payroll and employee benefits.

But it was always working with farmers that Joy loved the most. She was extremely interested in the science behind the seeds, so she enjoyed working with the product team as they selected soybean varieties. Whenever she could, Joy would walk the field with Bill Latham.

“He was the best teacher you could ever ask for,” she says. “He was an agronomy major, and I loved to go out in the summer to take research notes with him on all the new varieties. I learned so much from him.”

When she had her second child, Joy introduced the concept of job sharing to her bosses (Latham brothers Bill, Tom and Don) so she could maintain some work-life balance. She came into the office three days a week for a couple of years before going back full-time. Today she works for Bill’s sons, John and Chris, and John’s wife, Shannon. They are third-generation owners of Latham Seeds.

“I’ve always been treated like a part of the family,” says Joy, who worked with company founder Willard Latham when she was first hired. Willard was “mostly retired” but still had a presence at the main office in Alexander. “You don’t stay in a job for this long if you don’t feel valued. And I can say I have felt valued over the years.”

Having grown up on a farm herself — Joy learned to drive a tractor when she was 11 years old — she says she’ll never forget the relationships she’s built with farmers and growers at Latham. Besides talking business whenever they came to the office, Joy says she loved to chat about farming in general.

“It could be anything – fertilizer, grain prices and all that,” she says. “But it was always something about their family, too. We got to know each other, and I’m going to miss those conversations very much.”

Joy and her husband, Dave, raise corn and soybeans on the farm where they’ve lived for 48 years. They also have a small cow herd managed by their son, Dave. The farm is managed by both David and Dave.

Joy and her husband Dave.

In retirement, Joy plans to spend more time with her grandchildren (she has seven) and two great-grandsons. She also wants to get more involved with church activities and volunteer in the community.

Of course, someone with so much experience and company knowledge can hardly make a clean break from it. Joy plans to be available part-time for a couple more months to assist Latham with payroll, grower relations, hedging and other transition items.

“Joy has been a shining example of what kind of great people are in the seed industry,” Chris Latham says. “She will truly be very missed.”

“Do what you love to do, and surround yourself with who and what makes you smile.” — Joy Bonin

Enjoy a favorite recipe from Joy!

Webspec Admin

April 5, 2024

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

Secretary Mike Naig: Celebrating a Champion – Iowa Agriculture

Tis the season for March Madness and celebrating champions.

Earlier this month at the state tournaments for Iowa high school girls and boys basketball, schools from every corner of Iowa were crowned as state champions, the culmination of a season of hard work, hours of practice, and unmatched tenacity. Now with college basketball’s tournaments taking center stage, Iowans have a lot to cheer for in the weeks ahead as Iowa State, Iowa, and Drake, as well as many of our smaller colleges, compete for bragging rights, championships and glory.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

In addition to celebrating our teams this month, we also celebrate Iowa agriculture during Iowa Ag Week from March 17 to 23. Iowa agriculture has long been a champion for consumers, near and far, providing high quality and reliable food, fuel, and fiber.

National Ag Day on March 19 and Iowa Ag Week are the perfect opportunities for all of Iowa to shine a bright light on the industry that we know and love. And we certainly have a lot to celebrate.

When it comes to agricultural production, Iowa is punching well above its weight. The recently released Census of Agriculture pegs the value of Iowa crops and livestock at nearly $44 billion annually. That ranks us second in the country, only behind California, which has nearly three times the land and more than 12 times the population. Iowa ranks first in production for several commodities including corn, eggs, pork, ethanol, and biodiesel, and ranks highly in soybeans, beef, dairy and turkey.

Agriculture is our state’s top industry, fueling economic growth across the state and creating thousands of well-paying jobs and careers. Approximately one in five Iowans are employed directly because of agriculture, including many who live in our small towns and rural communities.

Iowa farmers are incredibly efficient, relentlessly innovative, and always looking for ways to be more sustainable and produce more with less. We are continually adding value to the commodities we grow, whether that’s turning a bushel of corn or soybeans into livestock feed or a homegrown biofuel.

I’m proud of Iowa farmers’ achievements in production, as well as their commitment to protecting our state’s rich natural resources, including our soil and water. In 2023, for the second year in a row, we set a record for adoption of conservation practices. And we want to keep breaking records, which is why public and private partners across Iowa are focused on accelerating the implementation of proven practices.

And as we celebrate Iowa Ag Week, we are also giving back to our communities through community involvement and volunteer service. This week, my team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is volunteering at the Food Bank of Iowa. I’ve also invited the Iowa ag community, including our farm groups, commodity associations, agribusinesses, conservation partners and others, to give back in their own unique way.

Please join me this week as we celebrate Iowa agriculture and the hard-working men and women who keep our agriculture winning day in and day out. I’ve always said if you want a strong Iowa, you need a strong agriculture. Like the championship teams on the court, Iowa farmers are committed to putting in the time and effort and giving it their all to keep Iowa agriculture successful.

Happy National Ag Day and Iowa Ag Week!

Recipe by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Mike Naig

March 22, 2024

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

Celebrating Women in Agriculture —and Beyond

Each year International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women across all walks of life. This year we turn our focus to the incredible contributions of women in Iowa, both in the field of agriculture and in many other leadership positions.

From the very beginning, Iowa women have played a vital role in agriculture. The state’s rich agricultural heritage is deeply intertwined with the stories of countless women who have blazed new trails. Their hard work and dedication have helped shape the industry into what it is today.

We can find inspiration in the stories of Iowa women like Evelyn Latham, April Hemmes, Pam Bolin, Trish Cook, Patty Judge and Dr. Wendy Wintersteen. Each of these women have made significant contributions to agriculture — from leadership roles in agricultural organizations, to politics, to groundbreaking research and innovation.

Evelyn Latham

April Hemmes

Dr. Wendy Wintersteen

But the impact of Iowa women extends far beyond these fields. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, marked a pivotal moment in American history, paving the way for women to hold positions of leadership. Iowa has been at the forefront of this movement with women like Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, who have left their mark on the state’s history.

Today we see this legacy reflected in the leadership of women like Governor Kim Reynolds, the first female governor of Iowa, and Sen. Joni Ernst,, the first female U.S. senator from our state.

These women — including Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, the first female president of Iowa State University, and Speaker Linda Upmeyer, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives — serve as powerful examples for young girls across Iowa.

Their stories remind us that women can achieve anything they set their minds to, whether it’s leading a farm, governing a state or breaking barriers in any field.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us honor the remarkable women of Iowa who continue to inspire and pave the way for a brighter future.

Enjoy a family favorite recipe from 1962 Master Homemaker and Matriarch of the Latham Family – Evelyn Latham.

shannonlatham

March 8, 2024

Desserts, Food & Family, General, Latham News, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Give Your Heart Some Love
It’s National Heart Month! Over the years we’ve shared many tips and tricks for staying heart healthy. A good number of these tips have come from dieticians we’ve met along the way, as well as the smart folks at the Iowa Food & Family Project. Today we’re pulling some of them all together right here, and we invite you to join us in our journey toward better health and wellness.

Here are a few simple steps to get started:

Protect your sleep. When we are tired, we tend to reach for unhealthy snacks or beverages like energy drinks or sugary foods. This causes disturbed sleep cycles, which can wreak havoc on our appetite hormones, mental performance and immune response. Poor sleep can also drive insulin resistance, which is one of the strongest risk factors for weight gain and obesity. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night to give your body the rest it needs.

Practice self-care. Physical fitness is always important, but we also need to take care of our mind, body and spirit so we can be healthy. Self-care looks different for everyone, but some examples include journaling, breathing exercises, brisk walks outside, dancing, riding a bike or enjoying a bubble bath with a bath bomb! No one can maintain a healthy, active lifestyle without a little “me” time.

Eat well. To really give your heart some love, eat these three foods:
- Low-carb Vegetables. Examples: green beans, broccoli, spinach, kale, mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, Brussels sprouts. These veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber and are low-calorie in comparison to other food groups.
- Walnuts. Walnuts are primarily a healthy fat source with some carbohydrate and a little bit of protein. They are high in vitamin B6, folate, thiamin – playing a role in cellular energy and a healthy nervous system.
- Salmon/Tuna. Salmon and tuna are both fatty fish and are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat. The American Heart Association considers 3.5 ounces of cooked fish or ¾ cup to be a single serving. For adults, two servings per week are recommended to help lower risk for heart disease.
This recipe brings all three of these foods into a simple, one-pan meal. It’s a warm salad with heart-healthy ingredients that’s perfect for any February night.
shannonlatham

February 16, 2024

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

Forging Family, Friends and Farming is Their Favorite Pastime

Diana Madsen grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, but the transition to small-town living was much easier than expected when she married Mike and moved into the farmhouse where his mother was raised.

Mike and Diana Madsen

Mike and Diana’s moms were childhood friends. Their parents even double dated while they were in high school.

When Diana’s family visited Heron Lake in the summers, it was common for the two families to gather. Their families stayed in touch throughout the years, but Mike and Diana didn’t start dating until they had graduated from college.

“I’ve always enjoyed farming and that’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do,” says Mike, who started farming in 1991 with his father. “I didn’t play football because I didn’t want to miss out on harvest.”

While rural living is different from Diana’s suburban childhood, she feels blessed to raise her family on the Stenzel Century Farm.

“The thing I love most is that your neighbors are your friends here,” she says. “Your neighbors and others in the community are always offering support in times of need. The other piece is that people are always looking out for your kids, too.”

Mike and Diana appreciate having flexible work schedules that allow them to maximize their family time. Diana worked for years as the Associate Director of Active Aging Programs at Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. In addition to farming, Mike operates a Latham® dealership.

“What I enjoy most about selling seed is interacting with other farmers,” he says. “I decided to take on a Latham® dealership because Latham Seeds is a family-owned company that offers all the seed technology options available on the market.”

Mike and Diana are the proud parents of three grown children: Sarah, Andrew and Matt.

Because it’s National Soup Month, the Madsens are sharing one of their favorite recipes for a snowy January day.

shannonlatham

January 19, 2024

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

Celebrate January as “Souper” Bowl Month

It’s hard to think of something more comforting than a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter day. We all have our favorite soup recipes, and I’m pretty sure each bowl has a favorite memory behind it.

My favorite soup growing up was – and still is – my mom’s beef vegetable soup with homemade dumplings. I also enjoy my mom’s hamburger soup. Mom is a great from-scratch cook who doesn’t measure, so I’m thankful for The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Hamburger Soup. I’ve added more favorite soup recipes over the years while interviewing Latham® Dealers for my blog. I made sure many of these got included in the Latham Seeds commemorative cookbook.

If you haven’t seen the soup recipes for cheeseburger, wild rice or sausage & squash . . . well, grab a copy of the cookbook and see for yourself why these are new must-haves in your menu plan. A few copies of the cookbook remain, so order now if you still need one. Email jennym@lathamseeds.com for ordering details.

Because there’s always room for soup, we want more recipes! Help us celebrate National Soup Month by sending us your favorite soup recipes.

Complete this online form and you’ll automatically receive a soup ladle from Latham Seeds! Better yet, you’ll be entered to win a fabulous Ninja Foodi Cooker, which has EIGHT cooking functions for soup (and many other things).

Send us just one recipe and you will feel like a souper star! We can’t wait to see your family favorites.

Submit Recipes Here.

shannonlatham

January 5, 2024

Food & Family, General, Recipes, Soups, Winter