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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham’s Sales Agronomist Intern Has a Passion for Ag, the Outdoors and Working With Farmers

Jett Fridley

From a young age, Jett Fridley knew he wanted to one day get a job in the ag industry so he could work closely with the farmers. Latham Seeds fulfilled those interests by giving Jett a sales agronomist internship, which allows him to work with both customers and dealers.

“One of the most valuable things I have learned is getting comfortable talking with customers and dealers,” Jett says. “I have learned to have someone that you can call with questions to help yourself grow as a person, but also to give the person asking the question an accurate answer.”

Jett is a junior at Iowa State University studying Agricultural Business with a minor in Animal Science. Being around the outdoors as a child ignited his passion for the ag industry and sparked an interest in connecting with people who have a similar passion. Jett enjoys being active and involved at ISU by participating on the intramural volleyball and softball teams.

Jett with his grandpa Mike and dad, Troy Fridley.

When Jett was growing up, he would visit his great grandparents’ 400-acre farm. Today, Jett and his family use the property to spend time hunting, fishing, riding side-by-sides and planting deer food plots.

Jett’s large family is a mighty support system for him. He has one sister and six step siblings. Jett’s love of the outdoors goes back to his childhood, when his family spent most of their time on the Mississippi river, boating, hunting and fishing in Muscatine, Iowa. In high school, Jett continued his wrestling career that started when he was six years old.

Previously Jett interned with River Valley Cooperative in Sunbury, IA as an agronomy sales intern with River Valley Cooperative in Sunbury, Iowa.

“That internship gave me a great overview of how a cooperative works and what services they provide,” Jett said.

Jett appreciates being able to spend time outdoors as part of his internship with Latham Seeds. In his spare time, you’ll find him fishing, hunting, boating and working out.

We are appreciative of Jett’s skills that have been clearly shown as he has diligently worked with customers and dealers.

Below is Jett’s favorite recipe, Homemade Style Meatloaf.

Maycee Wilkie

July 12, 2024

Food & Family, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Celebrating Independence Day, “Picnic Style”
America is rich in its history and traditions. Every year, the Fourth of July brings families and friends together to celebrate America’s independence with parades, activities and of course delicious food. Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we are rooted in our history as an independent-family-owned company

But what’s more American than a Fourth of July picnic? Actually, the word “picnic” comes from “pique nique,” which is French for “to pick.” Picnics were often held indoors, where everyone contributed their own dish. Since the 1830s Americans have embraced, which has been captured in many American paintings ever since.

Today, many of us couldn’t imagine celebrating the Fourth without a picnic, thanks to this easy and fun tradition. Whether you are celebrating on a boat, watching fireworks or in your own backyard, food is always a centerpiece of the festivities — because it has a special way of bringing people together. This holiday, we’re celebrating “picnic style” by sharing Sunnyside Farms baked beans and Grandma V’s Fruit Salad recipes to add to your celebrations.

From all of us at Latham Seeds, have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

Baked Beans Supreme

Ingredients:
- 1 28 ounce can Bush’s Original Baked Beans
- 2 28 ounce cans Bush’s Onion Baked Beans
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef, browned and drained
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ stick butter
- 1 ½ cup Famous Dave’s Rich & Sassy barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Dried onion to cover the top
- Pinch garlic powder
- ½ pound bacon, fried and cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 package polish sausage sliced
Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a 6-quart crockpot. Cook all day on LOW or on HIGH for 2 ½ or 3 hours

Grandma V’s Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup sugar
- Scant 2 tablespoons vinegar
- Dash of salt
- 1 cup whipped cream
Instructions:
- Cream together eggs, butter and sugar
- Mix in vinegar and salt; cook in double boiler until thick, stirring constantly
- Cool mixture and then add 1 cup whipped cream
- Pour over fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries and grapes) then refrigerate
Maycee Wilkie

July 2, 2024

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

Latham’s Sandie Johnson Retires After 43 Years in the Seed Industry

From sunflowers to kidney beans to soybeans and corn, Sandie Johnson says her 43 years in the ag industry has treated her well.

She was just 25 years old when she started in the sunflower research department for SIGCO Research in Breckenridge, Minn. In the fall, she worked in the fields, collecting moisture samples for testing. In the winter, she threshed sunflower heads one by one, putting the seeds in envelopes for planting.

“It was hard, monotonous work,” says Sandie, who is retiring from Latham Seeds after 12 years of working with farmers and dealers.

A knack for numbers and an interest in accounting took Sandie to the accounts payable department at SIGCO, where, among other things, she tracked all capital purchases. When SIGCO was bought by Mycogen Seeds, she moved to a different department (SVO) that contracted with farmers to grow high oleic oil sunflowers — and was happy to continue working with growers through delivery, billing and settlements for their crops throughout the season.

The purchase of a lake house in 1994 an hour away prompted Sandie and her husband to relocate.

Her new job was as an office “floater” at the hospital in Fergus Falls, Minn. It only took six months for her to realize how much she missed working in the ag industry.

“It was the same thing every flippin’ day!” Sandie says of the hospital position. “I couldn’t do it.”

She accepted an opening at Prairie Bean Co., (a division of ConAgra) and focused her attention on processing kidney beans. And then in 1996, Sandie moved to Wisconsin to be the office manager at Brown Seed Farms. As a small company, she handled everything in the office – from seed orders, shipments, returns, account receivables, payments and settlements, payroll and accounts payable. Thirteen years later, when Brown Seed was sold to NuTech Seed, she relocated to Forest City, Iowa and continued to work with the dealer network that also moved to NuTech.

“Then one of the RSMs I worked with at NuTech went to Latham Seeds,” Sandie says. “He told me they needed someone and I was interested in working with a family-owned business again.”

That was in 2011, when Sandie accepted a seed account manager position at Latham. She worked with farmer-dealers for several regions for 10 years until December 2022, when she moved into the finance department — again relying on her knack for numbers and accounting experience.

“I’ve been so lucky that I’ve always enjoyed who I worked for in this industry,” Sandie says. “I’ve loved working in agriculture every minute. It’s been very good to me.”

The unexpected death of her son-in-law earlier this year made Sandie reevaluate her future. In many ways the tragedy brought her and her children closer together. But it was a life-changing event that she simply couldn’t ignore.

“Going through it, we saw the value in each other,” Sandie says. “And while I love what I do – my job and the people I work with – I love my family more.”

Sandie and her husband, Todd, live in Forest City with their two dogs: Zuzu, a 15-year-old puggle, and Stella, a one-year-old Dalmatian.

She has two children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren. Sandie’s an avid baseball fan (especially of the Minnesota Twins) and loves participating in community theatre, which she’s done for most of her adult life in several states.

Her plans after retirement?

“I intend to do my best to be fully present and enjoy every minute I can with family and friends.”

In honor of her time at Latham Seeds, Sandie is sharing a recipe for the dish she has always brought to the annual holiday potluck.

bonnie-harris

June 28, 2024

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

Boy Next Door Stays True to Latham Roots for 48 years

Greg Jaacks was literally the boy next door. He and his three siblings – Jeff, Kim and Steve – grew up in the little house beside Willard and Evelyn Latham, who employed Greg’s dad at Latham Seeds.

Marvin had moved his family to a larger house a few miles away and rented his own ground to farm. To accommodate the growing Jaacks (pronounced “Jakes”) family, Willard offered to add on two bedrooms to the small house next to his own. That was just the incentive Marvin needed to return to Latham Seeds.

The connections run deep between the Jaacks and Latham families.

“Willard gave me my first haircut as a little boy in their basement,” Greg recalls. Willard and Evelyn’s oldest son, Bill, held baby Greg during the haircut.

Greg helped at Latham Seeds as needed while he was in high school. Upon graduating in May 1975, Greg took a full-time job with a local farmer. He loved everything about the job from tilling soil and baling hay to shelling corn and feeding cattle. One thing he didn’t like was the pay. Greg worked 10 hours a day, six days a week for $75 flat. He wanted his own place but needed to make more money first.

“I asked my dad if I could get on his crew at the (Latham) plant,” Greg says. “He told me I’d have to find out for myself. He said I’d better go talk to Willard.”

Greg mustered up the nerve to knock on Willard’s front door. Evelyn answered and welcomed him inside. Willard told Greg he could start work the following Monday if he got a haircut and shaved his beard — which he promptly did.

“As long as you gave Willard what he was expecting, as long as you kept your promise and did your job, he was good to you,” Greg says.

Greg is grateful he got to work beside his dad for nearly 22 years at Latham Seeds. And this fall, he will celebrate his 49^th anniversary with the company.

“He really was my best friend,” Greg says of his dad. “It’s been a good, solid job here at Latham. When I started here, that’s what my grandpa said: Latham’s a good solid place to work.” Greg’s grandpa was a local farmer, who also worked on Marvin’s crew during the winter months.

Greg and his wife, Donna, have two daughters, Trisha and Sandy. They enjoy attending their two grandchildren’s activities and watching them play sports. In his spare time, Greg likes to fish, ride his Harley and watch NASCAR.

Greg also enjoys his mom’s Ham Loaf recipe, which reminds him of his childhood on the farm. He is sharing that cherished recipe here.

Shannon Latham

June 20, 2024

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

Sprouting New Talent: Meet Latham Seeds’ Summer Interns

We are excited to welcome not one, but two talented summer interns to our Latham team this year! Jett Fridley is working with us as our Sales Agronomy intern, and Maycee Wilkie is working with our Marketing Department — just in time for Dealer Kickoff.

A little about Maycee:

Maycee Wilkie

Maycee is a public relations major at Iowa State University with a minor concentration in event management. She grew up in Clear Lake, where she was active in several FFA leadership roles and wrote for the FFA Reporter.

During the academic year, Maycee works in ISU’s financial aid office as a digital marketing and communications assistant. She is responsible for developing brochures, website content and articles that inform students on financial aid opportunities and improve financial literacy.

Maycee learned about Latham Seeds in high school, when Shannon Latham toured their greenhouse and FFA program. She’s excited to step back into the “ag” world while learning more about the strategic side of marketing. Upon graduation, Maycee would like to find a job where she can raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

“God instilled a passion in me to advocate for those living with ALS after my dad passed away from it,” Maycee says. “It is my mission to do just that through communications or marketing.”

A little about Jett:

Jett Fridley

Jett is a junior at Iowa State University studying agricultural business with a minor in animal science. He is from Muscatine.

Jett has also interned with River Valley Cooperative, where he learned about the services that cooperatives offer. It was there that he found colleagues who were passionate about their work, which translated into exceptional customer service.

He sees that same passion at Latham Seeds, and says he looks forward to working with experienced sales team members to learn more about the company’s products.

“I’m also looking forward to working alongside farmers and learning more about their operations, while showing support for the Latham brand,” Jett says.

Please join us in welcoming Jett and Maycee to the Latham family business!

Shannon Latham

May 31, 2024

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

Latham Seeds Welcomes Jacob Vallery as District Sales Manager in Western Iowa

It was a “letter to his future self” for a high school writing assignment that gives Jacob Vallery a new perspective about life goals. In that letter, Jacob wrote that in 10 years, he wanted to be married, have a child (or one on the way) and be working as a sales manager for a respected seed company.

“Nobody can ever say writing down your goals doesn’t do anything,” Jacob says with a laugh.

That’s because Jacob is not only married to college sweetheart Kaylee, but they are also expecting their first child in September. And, as it turns out, Jacob is the newest District Sales Manager for Latham Seeds.

Jacob and Kaylee with their dogs Kinze and Yue

“We’re thrilled that Jacob has joined our team, especially given his family’s long history in farming,” says Latham Sales Manager Amy Rohe. “He’s already impressed us with his energy, knowledge and desire to serve our Western Iowa territory.”

Jacob’s territory also extends to Southeast Nebraska, where he lives in the town of Douglas. Jacob and Kaylee moved in the day after they were married in October 2022. Kaylee owns a dog grooming salon and works at the local bank just few miles from their house.

Staying close to home was always the plan for Jacob. His parents live in the house that his great- great- great-grandfather built in 1876. That’s the farm where Jacob was raised, approximately six miles west of Plattsmouth, Nebraska.

“We were all corn and soybeans growing up, so I had heard of Latham Seeds,” he says. “At one point, my dad and my grandfather planted some Latham soybeans.”

While in high school, to help save for college, Jacob ran a successful Golden Harvest dealership. Later he interned with LG Seeds and job shadowed DSMs at that company. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in integrated crop management and agronomy, Jacob returned home to help his dad on the farm.

A call about a sales job with Latham Seeds made him remember his letter to his future self.

“I realized that I have a lot of the same values as the Latham family,” Jacob says. “I’m looking forward to building relationships with current dealers and bringing new dealers onboard. I really hope to make a difference with dealers in my territory.”

He adds: “To work for a company where the owner is willing to take time out of his day to meet you and talk to you . . . that matters a lot. John takes time for every dealer and customer. It says a lot about how he cares about them, and I admire that very much.”

Shannon Latham

May 24, 2024

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

Shannon Latham

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.

Shannon Latham

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!

Shannon Latham

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.

Shannon Latham

April 8, 2024

Beef, Food & Family, Recipes