While many people focus on the challenges faced throughout 2020, this year has provided Jenna (Braun) Ricklefs of Rolfe, Iowa, with many reasons to celebrate. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Jenna starting her own successful Latham® and Ag Spectrum dealerships. She and her husband, Jon, will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary in November. Their son, Levi, celebrated his first birthday on June 21.
What is this 30-year-old’s secret to getting it all done?
“Being organized is key,” says Jenna, who just wrapped up the 2020 harvest season. “Before harvest started, I bought a lot of groceries. I made meals and put them in the freezer.”
“It is very true when people say raising a child takes an army. I called on people for help during harvest. I hated having to ask for help, but I couldn’t have done it without any of my friends and family!” says Jenna. “My mom was a saint, helping with Levi. On the days that Jon and I would need to take Levi with us to the field, we packed lots of snacks and toys. We took turns having him ride either in the grain cart or combine. He took an afternoon nap in the combine. Then someone would take over for me at night, so I could take Levi home for supper and enjoy some time playing with him before tucking him in. He kept his bath time and bedtime routine.”
Jenna and Jon work as a team, helping one another around the farm and with their respective businesses. Jon helps Jenna put in seed plots and sign fields when he can. In addition to farming, Jon also has a painting and autobody business.
“I love getting to work with my husband and having a seed dealership provides me with great flexibility,” says Jenna, who graduated in 2013 with a degree in Agronomy from South Dakota State University. She worked two years as a field sales agronomist a local co-op before starting her own business.
The Ag Spectrum and Latham dealerships really complement each other, says Jenna. She helps her customers by providing farmers provide a whole production environment for growing a healthy crop. She takes soil samples and writes crop plans. She also conducts on-farm test plots.
Jenna’s career combines all her interests, and being her own boss provides her with more flexibility.
“I like that I can work but be around the farm when someone needs me,” says Jenna. “I can provide a service for my customers, make an income, yet help my family when they need it.”
Some days are long, but Jenna would not trade these days for anything.
“Now Levi notices trucks and tractors. I just love to watch him and wonder what he’s thinking when he’s looking at a book or destroying my kitchen by pulling everything out of the drawers!” she says. “Levi isn’t afraid of anyone or anything. He’s so friendly. Even though he isn’t speaking words yet, he will have a very detailed conversation with anyone! He’s my best little man and is always here to keep my company and cheer me up.”
Jenna encourages young women in agriculture to work hard for what they want.
“Don’t let the status quo intimidate you,” she says. “If it’s something you are passionate about, don’t get scared or doubt yourself. Take a leap of faith and go for it!”
With harvest complete, Jenna is turning her attention to finalizing crop plans and writing her customers’ seed orders. She looks forward to slowing down a bit and enjoy more family meals together. Today she is sharing with us a recipe for one of her favorite comfort meals.
Latham’s 2020 Virtual Field Day Was “Made for You”
At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we have hosted multiple field day on wheels. We’ve showcased emerging technologies that allow us to check crops from the air, but this is the first year we didn’t have to worry about the weather on our field day. It’s also the first time we a virtual day event.
Welcome to 2020! The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses around the globe to deliver information using technology like Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube. Although we prefer to meet with farmers in person, our team of industry experts has developed some interesting and informative content for you. We hope you enjoy it and find it of value!
Below is a recap of our 2020 Latham® Virtual Field Day with links, so you can watch agronomic presentations from the comfort of your office or the cab of your tractor or combine:
Fortunately, weather events did not affect our production fields. It looks to be another banner year for Latham seed production! You’re invited to join us for this 40-minute industry roundtable with Latham’s Product Team.
In this “challenges of harvest” roundtable hosted by Bob Foley, farmers from across the Upper Midwest tell us how they’re managing harvest in not-so-ideal conditions.
Soybean Product Manager Mark Grundmeier provides tips for Selecting Soybean Products that are Built for Battle. Did you know farmers don’t have to give up yield when planting defensive soybeans? Mark talks about how Latham’s exclusive IRONCLADTM products are bred to combat local diseases.
In this 20-minute workshop on seed placement and performance, Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long explains how to use Latham’s product guide to choose seed products for 2021. Did you know that placement can affect yield by up to 20 percent? That’s a 20- to 50-bushel yield swing! Phil walks us through how to match management style to product characteristics for best placement and performance.
One of the things we enjoy most about hosting field days is sitting at the table with Latham® dealers and customers. We always enjoy hearing about our customers’ families and learning more about farming operations. If you attend a Latham Seeds’ event, you can count on great conversation and a wonderful meal.
In true field day fashion, we are sharing with you a typical field day menu. Below are links to some of our favorite fall recipes:
Cranberry Waldorf Salad (Although this recipe isn’t from “The Field Position” blog, it’s a hit every time I make it for a group that visits Enchanted Acres pumpkin patch.)
With the cool fall weather this week, we thought it would be the perfect time to share a new crockpot dish. Scroll down to find a recipe for Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine. Recipe and image sourced here.
Phil Long Puts His Passions for Teaching, Technology and Research to Work
One of Phil Long’s favorite spots has been a tractor seat. When he was growing up in Jenera, Ohio, he would ride beside his dad in the tractor or combine.
Restoring tractors has been one of his favorite pastimes ever since Phil restored a John Deere B as an FFA project. He served as president of the Cory-Rawson FFA plus earned the Ohio and American FFA Degrees. In addition, Phil was a 10-year 4-H member.
Phil’s involvement in 4-H and FFA greatly influenced his career path. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at Ohio State Agriculture Technical Institute (ATI) and worked on the ATI farm.
“My interest in precision ag started at ATI. I worked a lot with precision ag on the equipment with ROI with swatch control on sprayers, auto steer and auto guidance,” says Phil. “My boss would let me move the globes around from combine to tractor. He also had students get in the cab with me, so I could teach them how to run the equipment.”
After attending the ATI for two years, Phil transferred to Purdue University where he was involved with Agronomy Club and crops judging team. He also taught the crops judging team for two years. His interest in crops and soils piqued his interest in research and prompted him to pursue a master’s degree in soybean production.
“In grad school, I got to do quite a lot of work with reflectance tool called the Crop Circle. I ran the crop sensor a lot. You see them put on sprayers now to adjust nitrogen rates on the go. In simplest terms, it shows how much photosynthesis is going on and how much nitrogen it needs. It’s kind of like an ‘on the go’ tissue test as you drive through the field. It was interesting to get to experiment.”
“There aren’t many people who get a project as good as I did with my thesis,” adds Phil, who got the opportunity to work with Dr. Shaun Casteel on his research project. “I got to look at soybean lines that most people don’t ever get to see. We were working with cultivars from the 1920s. We were studying 80- and 90-year-old cultivars to see how they have changed and observed how nutrients moved throughout the plant.”
Also while he was in grad school, Phil shared an office with a doctorate student in wheat breeding. The two graduate students got along famously, so Phil took a job with Purdue Extension to remain close to Shaylyn while she finished her PhD. Upon graduation, Shaylyn was offered a job as a corn breeder in Iowa. The couple had always planned to move to Iowa, but they never planned for it happen just two months after their wedding. Phil then took a job working with a precision agriculture software company prior to joining the Latham Team.
“I ran every precision program in that position. I worked with every monitor because we installed things in cab and weather stations. I learned so much in a short time,” he says.
“What intrigues me the most about precision agriculture is that we can focus on specific areas of a field and manage the field with a level of accuracy that was never before possible,” adds Phil, who joined Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in February 2017 as a precision agronomy advisor. He and Kilah Watson have been broadcasting a weekly “Ask the Agronomist” video series since November 2017. I’m proud to be part of a team that helps reduce risk for our customers, save them time and make them money.”
Phil says he really enjoys working for a family-owned company and being part of a team. He feels blessed to find a job he enjoys that is so close to his wife’s home farm. He and Shaylyn farm 80 acres on their own. Phil also helps his father-in-law farm. He custom seeds soybeans and cover crops, as well.
In their free time, Phil and Shaylyn enjoy being outdoors fishing or hunting. Their Black Labrador Retriever is named Rivie (pronounced Riv-ee). She enjoys going pheasant hunting with them.
“Shaylyn is an outstanding shot. I’m not as good as she is, but I enjoy it,” says Phil. “We also really enjoy kayaking. I love beautiful water so much that I proposed to my wife on a kayaking trip.”
Phil and Shaylyn also enjoy cooking together. Today they’re sharing with us one of their favorite recipes.
Darin Chapman Helps Farmers Move Their Data Forward
Some people embrace change while others do their best to avoid it. Like Socrates, Northwest Iowa native Darin Chapman chooses to focus his energy on creating something new.
A third-generation farmer, Darin is passionate about technology and continually looks for ways to improve his farming operation. He has the ideal background and interests to serve as a Precision Agronomy Advisor with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
Darin farms near Spencer with his brother, Tim, who is a local ag lender. Five seasons ago they purchased a planter to test variable rates of Latham® brand corn and soybeans, as well as conduct side-by-side comparisons of different product numbers. Their on-farm research has increased over time. It also has helped shaped the development and evolution of Latham Seeds’ Data ForwardSM service.
“The more on-farm research we do with my multi-hybrid variable rate planter, the more we learn about product placement of Latham brand hybrids and varieties in my region,” says Darin. “I cannot stress enough the importance of on farm research on your farm.”
“Phil Long and I are conducting two different studies on one of my farms this year with four of our new excellent performing hybrids. The farm we are performing the study on is one single soil type across the entire field, so it is perfect for research,” adds Darin. “We have four different population zones for each hybrid: 32,000; 34,000; 36,000 and 40,000. This will give us great insight on performance of each hybrid with best performance per planting population. We are also doing a fungicide application study across each hybrid. We sprayed the north half of the field to monitor how each hybrid responds to fungicide treatment.”
Analyzing yield to understand optimal seeding rate for each hybrid on your fields is one benefit of Latham’s Data Forward service. Other benefits include data organization and trial results.
Latham Seeds in February 2020 introduced a Data Forward application to help farmers see more profit. Our precision agronomy advisors, including Darin and Phil Long, begin by conducting a data quality analysis. Then they clean and organize each layer of data before sharing results and providing recommendations.
“When I first started working with the Data Forward program in May, I was impressed with its capabilities,” says Evan Hansen, who has worked with three precision management platforms both on his home farm and during his summer internships. “Compared to other applications the Data Forward app is extremely functional and is only getting better. I have enjoyed talking with customers about how Latham can continue to help their operations prosper. Working with Phil (Long) and Darin (Chapman) has been awesome. I have gained a wealth of knowledge this summer from the team at Latham.”
One reason Darin is so passionate about using technology to improve profitability and sustainability is because he and his wife Sarah have three sons. Zander is almost 10 years old and enjoys being with his friends as much as possible playing sports and PlayStation or riding bikes around the neighborhood. Ledger is 6 years old. He enjoys his spending time with friends and pets, as well as working on the farm. Mason is almost 2 years old. He likes watching Elmo, playing with his brothers, and being outside.
Being outside and on the farm is where Darin wants to be, too.
“I have always found on-farm research interesting” says Darin. “What I enjoy most about my current position as Precision Agronomy Advisor is that I get to work with farmers across Latham Country who want to make the most of the data they gather each year and put it to work to make their operation as efficient as possible. This gives me great gratification.”
Outside of farming, Darin enjoys taking his kids fishing and getting together with friends and their families for cookouts. He and Sarah both enjoy cooking. Today they are sharing one of their family’s favorite recipes.
Whether she’s helping plan a Virtual Latham® Dealer Kickoff or planning a road trip to visit dealers across the Upper Midwest, Amy Rohe (pronounced ROY) approaches the task at hand with the same gusto. Her positive energy, combined with a background in sales with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Iowa State University, are the main reasons she was promoted to sales manager at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. She joined our company in March 2010 as assistant sales manager.
Amy’s biggest piece of advice to people pursuing careers in agriculture is, “Find a career that will enable you to do what you love. Do it and do it well. Always be coachable because you can learn something new every day.”
“Be coachable” is the Rohe family mantra. Amy and her husband, Bryan, are the proud parents of three very active boys ages 14, 13 and 8. Their summers are spent riding horses and competing in baseball through 3T’s All Star Sports Academy.
“Our boys have fallen in love with the game of baseball,” says Amy. “They are part of a wonderful program that teaches them the value of hard work and sportsmanship. They also learn to trust the process. There is so much to learn from the game of baseball both on and off the field. One lesson that is so relevant to many other things in life is that it takes a team to win. We can have a few superstars that make big plays, but we need to play as a team. We need to pick each other up on those off days, communicate, show up and give it our all to accomplish team goals. Teams that put team goals ahead of individual goals have a winning record.”
Latham’s Sales Team has experienced 15 consecutive years of growth.
“We have an amazing team at Latham,” says Amy. “We have team members who have many years of experience and others who are just getting into their groove, but each of us appreciates what we all have to offer. We embrace our diverse backgrounds. We listen and learn from each other. This make us stronger. There is nothing better than knowing you are making a difference!
“Building a strong team, working together to reach our goals, tackling our stretch goals head on, and finding opportunities – all while having fun – is what we do best. This is more than a job; it’s how we live our lives and how we do business.”
Amy adds, “The one thing about this company that has been very evident since the day I started is that our leadership not only talks the talk but walks the walk. We try to always do the right thing. Faith and family come first. We show up and work hard. We work together as a team to overcome whatever comes our way and then we celebrate our successes!”
People make a world of difference, adds Amy. “Our leadership has set the vision and lives it daily. We have a team that thinks outside the box and embraces new ideas. We are innovative while keeping true to our traditions, such as hospitality and the spirit of farmer helping farmer. We also focus on personal development for our team members.
“I am thankful to be surrounded by a team that fosters an environment of growing individuals. I have learned so much over the past 10 years. I have been encouraged to push myself to learn new things while understanding that I am a wife, mother, daughter, and friend,” says Amy. “A work/life balance isn’t something that just happens. It is intentional and can work if you have the right team to support you.”
In the spirit of teamwork and baseball, today Amy is sharing with us one of her family’s favorite recipes for pulled chicken. Pair it with fresh sweet corn and watermelon for an easy fix on a busy summer day or night.
In times of uncertainty and unrest, it’s human nature to look for stability and comfort. That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate holiday traditions. Not even a worldwide pandemic can take away our freedom to celebrate our nation’s independence with family and friends – from a safe social distance, of course.
Summer isn’t cancelled. Make the best of it! Photo credit to Jessica Wood.
Americans are learning to adapt festivities and create new events. Fourth of July activities in Clear Lake typically attract 100,000 to this quaint North Iowa community during five days of activities, including a carnival and one of Iowa’s grandest parades. This year’s massive fireworks display over Clear Lake has been cancelled, but the community is joining forces with nearby Mason City to offer a patriotic pyrotechnic celebration on July 3. A Fourth of July boat parade is being held in lieu of a typical parade.
Even if you must pivot – which seems to be the latest buzzword used during the COVID-19 pandemic – we hope you can take some time this weekend to celebrate. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we believe it is a privilege and a great honor to live and work in the U.S.A.
The Latham Team takes great pride in researching seed products and selected those that are bred to perform best in specific geographic areas. We are as committed to helping farmers today as my husband’s grandfather, Willard Latham, was when he founded Latham Seeds in 1947. Our business can only succeed if our farmer-customer succeeds.
This holiday weekend – and all month long – we will pay tribute to America’s beef, pork, poultry, dairy, fruit and vegetable and producers. Special thanks to Gretta Irwin, executive director and home economist at the Iowa Turkey Federation, for sharing with us one of her favorite recipes.
Our heart goes out and our prayers go up for all livestock and poultry producers as all sectors of U.S. agriculture have felt the pandemic pinch when the food chain broke. Half of all turkey is eaten in sandwiches, so turkey farmers were greatly affected when demand for product decreased significantly from Subway® and Jimmy John’s®. However, turkey farms were not included in pandemic relief funding programs.
“Due to deceased quick service restaurant purchases, we have a surplus of turkey,” says Irwin, who adds that promotions like the one Fareway launched on July 1 are so important to encourage consumers to enjoy fresh turkey. “Fire up the grill and help Iowa turkey farmers.”
July is both National Grilling Month and National Ice Cream Month. Following is a recipe roundup to help you celebrate, too:
Back row: Kevin, Rorke and daughter Kayla Murphy and Sandy Geske Front row: Son David, Gary, son Kyle, Averie, Katie and Carson Geske
It’s ironic how two people can grow up just five miles apart in rural North Dakota, yet never really cross paths for nearly two decades. But that’s exactly what happened to Gary Geske and his wife, Sandy. Today – as they have for the past 30 years – the Geskes live only a few miles from where both of their families farmed outside Enderlin, about 40 miles west of the Minnesota border just off Highway 46.
“All roads lead to home” as the saying goes. It’s no wonder that Gary’s career path has revolved around the farm. As a junior in high school, Gary bought a half section of ground from his great aunts and started farming. He continued to farm upon graduation and even worked his college schedule around the farming seasons.
“I enjoyed tearing motors and equipment apart to see how they work. Some of it even got put back together,” Gary says with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. His passion for motors led him to enroll in the Diesel Mechanics program at North Dakota State College in Wahpeton. He ran an engine rebuilding business out of the family’s farm shop, and he also was active in drag racing for six years.
Over the years, the Geske operation grew. Four families were involved at one time: Gary’s parents, Robert and Arlene; Gary and Sandy; Gary’s brother Bobby and his wife, Beth; Gary’s sister, Sherrie, and her husband, Darby Holub.
Gary left the family farming operation in 1990 to become a district sales manager for Keltgen Seed. He enjoyed working for the independent, family-owned company that was a real industry leader at the time. In 1995, Dow bought Mycogen and began merging companies. That was when Gary decided to pursue an opportunity at a machinery dealership.
After two years at the machinery dealership, Gary decided to return to the seed business with REA Hybrids of Aberdeen where his duties included managing the research plots and scoring hybrids. This research and production experience was valuable as Gary and Dan Lund started Quality Seed Genetics in 2001. Sandy handled most of the office duties, including newsletters and mailings, general bookkeeping and dealer communications. A few years later QSG started other profit centers like seed treating equipment, and Gary made the decision in 2009 to concentrate on the seed treater business.
After a two-year hiatus from the seed industry, Gary was ready to join the Latham team in 2011.
“Sandy and I had a chance to meet some of the Latham management team before I joined the company, and it was very evident then that the company revolves around teamwork,” says Gary. “I was impressed by the company’s access to the industry’s best genetics and technologies. I’m glad to now be part of the Product Development Team that helps move our product lineup forward. It’s so much fun meeting with Latham® dealers and helping them select the best products for their farmer customers.”
Whether it’s meeting with farmers to select the best hybrids for their operation or choosing hops for some homemade brew, Gary is sure to have a good time! He and Sandy value time spent with friends and family, including their three children: Kyle, Kayla and David.
David Geske & his fiancee Coty
Kyle farms with his uncle Bobby Geske on the home farm. Kyle’s wife, Katie, is a registered nurse at Sanford Hospital in Fargo. Kyle and Katie are the proud parents of 6½ year-old Averie and four-year-old Carson. David sells and services seed treating equipment, and his fiancée, Coty, is a CNA. The Geske’s daughter, Kayla, is employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. Her husband, Kevin Murphy, is an assistant football coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). This week they welcomed their second son, Thomas Johnathan. They also are the proud parents of Rorke, who is 2½ years old.
Time spent with family and friends usually goes hand-in-hand with good meals. Today the Geskes are sharing some of their family’s favorite “quick and easy” meals.
SPECIAL SAUCE
Ingredients:
½ cup mayonnaise
2 T. French dressing
4 tsp. sweet pickle relish
1 T. finely minced onion
1 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
Directions:
Combine and ingredients, stir well and spread on top of grilled burgers. Makes about ¾ cup.
COOK’S TIP: For added flavor, mix and chill several hours or overnight.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes… Some Donate Life-Saving Organs
It runs in the family.
Marianne (Squires) Nielsen of Greene, Iowa, is as good of a cook as her mother. They share the same color of hair and eyes. Marianne also inherited her mother’s Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
“I found out that I had PKD during an ultrasound when I was pregnant with our oldest son,” says Marianne, who is a registered nurse at MercyOne Cancer Center in Mason City. Her husband, Chad, is an electrician at Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield. They’re the proud parents of three active sons: Sean, 14; Cain, 12; and Will, 11. The boys attend North Butler Community School where they are active in sports and Boy Scouts.
Because she been treated for hypertension since she was in her early 20’s, it was one indication that Marianne probably had inherited polycystic kidney disease. Other risk factors for PKD, according to the Center for Disease Control, are high blood sugar levels and being overweight.
Doctors carefully monitor people with a history of PKD. Marianne’s maternal grandmother was on dialysis for about 14 years. Her mom also has PKD, although she hasn’t needed dialysis or a transplant. Two of Marianne’s first cousins have had kidney transplants. One of her aunts and a great aunt have multiple children and grandchildren with PKD and have had transplants.
Marianne’s kidney function was monitored every 6 months for about 13 years. As her kidney function decreased, her creatinine levels steadily rose. She was referred to Mayo Clinic’s transplant team in April 2019, but she wasn’t placed on the organ waiting list until later that summer. After being told it would be a three- to five-year wait for a cadaver kidney, Marianne appealed to the public for help.
A large pool of family members and friends signed up to help Marianne via Mayo’s website. Many of them requested to be tested to see if they were a match to be her donor. Marianne’s oldest sister, Jennifer, was tested first because the two have the same blood type. She was declined, but Marianne’s youngest sister was accepted.
“Due to her excellent health, Becky was approved to be an organ donor. We were placed on the Mayo Paired Donor program on August 31. On January 2, 2020 – exactly one year after my first appointment at Mayo and on my middle son’s 12th birthday – I received the call that a match had been found for both Becky and me!”
Marianne received her new kidney on January 23, 2020. After three days in the hospital, Marianne was discharged to the Gift of Life transplant house. This non-profit, which runs completely on donations, provides a clean and affordable living environment for transplant patients and their caregivers to stay locally while they’re receiving follow-up care.
“There are no words to describe what Becky’s gift means to me,” says Marianne. “Becky told me that it wasn’t a hard decision for her. I will never forget that moment, and I get tearful every time I think about it. Her gift and that of the Good Samaritan, the living donor whose kidney I received, have changed my future.”
Without a kidney transplant, Marianne says her life would have been planned around the eight to 10 hours each day of peritoneal dialysis at home or trips to the hemodialysis center three days each week. Between driving to Mason City, working and dialysis, she would have had very little time to spend with her husband and their sons. She would have missed attending many of their activities. Plus, visits away from home would have been very restrictive as she would’ve had to take all the boxes of equipment and machine with her
“I watched my grandmother faithfully go to dialysis three times a week for 14 years. My sister and my donor have saved me from that future! I will not have to miss activities like my sons’ ballgames, Boy Scout events, date night with my husband, or time spent with friends due to my sister and my donor’s generosity. It is literally life-changing!
As they say, not all heroes wear capes… some have a kidney they are willing to spare.
“You can live with one kidney, so ‘share your spare’!” encourages Marianne. “I would like people, who have been diagnosed with kidney disease, to know there is hope. I would like others to know that you don’t have to be a match to donate a kidney to a friend, a loved one or even to a stranger. Transplant programs can develop chains of matching people. After all, my kidney came from a Good Samaritan!”
The actual kidney surgery is generally covered by the recipient’s insurance. If you have other financial worries, the National Kidney Foundation will reimburse lost wages and cover the cost of meals, mileage and hotels.
After being on a restricted diet for so long, Marianne said she looks forward to once again enjoying pizza and popcorn night with her family. She still tries to limit her sodium intake to 2,000 milligram daily, and she doesn’t add salt to food.
In celebration of her successful kidney transplant and National Donate Life Month, today Marianne is sharing with us a favorite recipe for Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup.
Chris Latham, chief financial officer of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, recently stepped into his new role as president of the Independent Seed Association (IPSA). At its recent annual conference in Tucson, Arizona, IPSA recognized Chris for his unwavering support of independent seed companies and welcomed him to the table.
John, Ian and Chris Latham at the 2023 IPSA Conference in Arizona
“IPSA is such a great organization, with great innovators,” says Chris, who previously served as president of the Iowa Seed Association. His older brother John was president of the American Seed Trade Association; both brothers followed their father’s example as a steward in the industry. “My dad and my brother have served in this same capacity. I’m proud to be here and I’m excited about the future of this industry.”
Chris credits his dad for instilling within him a passion for the seed industry.
“I always admired Dad’s desire to learn about things and to apply it to whatever he did,” says Chris, who recalls summer vacations spent road tripping across the United States, taking in the sights on their way to the latest seed industry convention. “I literally grew up in the seed business.”
After graduating from CAL High School in Latimer, Chris majored in Finance at Drake University. He graduated in May 1995 and worked full-time in the banking industry. On Saturdays, he attended classes at Iowa State University in Ames to earn a Master of Business Administration.
Chris, John and Shannon Latham purchased the family’s flagship soybean seed company as the third-generation owners in 2009. That’s when Chris came onboard full-time as CFO of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
“While my background was not in agronomy, I felt I was in the right place and time to help grow the business,” Chris says. “John and Shannon have backgrounds in sales and marketing respectively. We each have unique roles, so we can contribute in our own way.”
Chris says his goal as IPSA president is stay connected with customers through communication that is both humble and bold.
“We can stand up to tell our story and advocate for innovations and the free market,” he says. “We want viability for the future, but if we’re not active in helping to tell that story, we’re not doing ourselves justice and we’re not doing our customers justice.”
Chris’s wife, Ann, is a family and child psychologist. She specializes in helping kids with learning challenges. They live in Urbandale, Iowa, and have three children: Will, Courtney and Morgan.
Today the Latham family is sharing with us a family favorite recipe for turkey tetrazzini.
Teresa Erger Stays Strong by Adapting and Overcoming
During a trip to Alaska in August 2018 with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, Tess Erger decided she needed to make getting in shape a priority.
When life becomes challenging for people, they’re either going to get defeated or become more determined. Teresa (Tess) Erger of Brandon, Iowa, isn’t one to get knocked over and stay down. She has learned to overcome challenges by focusing on what she can do to make a positive difference in the world around her.
Teresa is a wife, mother of two, grandmother of eight, and an entrepreneur.
“Because I have my online gym, I don’t have any excuses not to work out,” says Tess. “I can take my ‘gym’ anywhere I go. I carry my iPad with me wherever I go. Last year when the combine broke down, I did my workout in the middle of a corn field. I also have grandkids, so that motivates me. I want to be a positive role model for them. I want to be the grandma that rocks, not the one who sits in a rocking chair!”
In April 2019, Tess opened her virtual gym. She has learned to overcome excuses and makes time to exercise daily. She also encourages others to do the same. Fifty-nine women and nine men join her regularly for virtual workouts.
Tess was an aerobics instructor in the 1980s, but like many of us, she has had lots of other demands on her time based on each chapter of life. She operated her own beauty salon for 15 years. When her children started high school, she went back to college and earned a degree in elementary education with endorsements in Pre-K Special Education and Reading. Tess also earned a master’s degree in Differentiated Instructional Strategies.
While she has always helped on the farm before and after her off-farm job and on weekends, Tess has served as her family’s official grain cart operator for the past 10 years. She has learned to adapt and fill a need as it arises.
Tess’s virtual gym is filled with daily inspirational messages, workouts and recipes.
“On November 19, 2015, our family was hit hard with the reality of how quickly life can change in a blink of an eye,” says Tess. “My husband, Dave, had a massive heart attack at the age of 52. He underwent emergency surgery that day and was resuscitated twice. You prioritize and look at life differently when you almost lose love someone you love.”
“Fast forward one year, and Dave’s health continued to decline. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint why, so we ended up going to the Mayo Clinic. After three days of testing, Dave was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, Hashimoto, Sjogren’s disease. All three are auto immune diseases for which there is no cure. Dave’s disease is treated like cancer, so doctors use various medications to trick the disease into remaining dormant,” adds Tess. “We have spent so many hours, days, and weeks at the hospital dealing with the damage this disease has caused to my husband’s internal organs. His diseases have attacked everything from heart, lungs, kidneys and his nervous system to his eyes, teeth and skin. Eating healthy and getting fit became our main focuses to prolong and to give Dave quality life.”
Tess has a Group Fitness and Boot Camp instructor certification from the American Sports and Fitness Association. She also is certified in POUND, REFIT, BoKwa, and Zumba.
“I didn’t like being put in a specific category as a fitness instructor or having limitations as to what I could or couldn’t do, so I created my own program, routines, and workout programs. I created a group called ‘Choose to Change Group Fitness.’ I have been able to adjust, modify, and develop a program that works for all ages and stages of life. One thing that was missing from my program was a nutrition, supplements/vitamins, meal plans, and helping people change how they view fitness, health, and wellness. That is when I found BeachBody®.”
“Beachbody has such a great success record with workout programs, meal plans, and nutrition,” says Tess. “I became a coach and got my certification in Portion Control. Then I started an online virtual gym for both women and men. People can now workout in the convenience of their own home when it fits their schedules, and they have me as their personal coach, motivator, and biggest cheerleader. I help people work on professional development and help them find confidence in who they are and who they want to become.”
Fitness becomes part of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair, says Tess Erger. She adjusts, modifies and develop workout programs for people in all ages and stages of life.
Working vs. Working Out
“There is a huge difference in working and working out! I feel we need to workout at least 30 minutes a day to stay in shape, build muscles and stay strong, so we can handle all types of jobs and minimize the risk of getting hurt. Working out and getting our heart rate up also helps keep us from getting fatigued. When we workout, endorphins are released which make us feel better and makes us happier,” says Tess.
“On the farm, we work hard from dusk until dawn and even longer hours in the spring and fall,” adds Tess. “Some of the tasks and jobs that must be done require manual labor. Cleaning out a grain bin, for example, requires a lot of strength, endurance and cardio. It is back breaking work. The same is true with baling hay, picking up rocks, fixing equipment, feeding and caring for livestock, and more. There also are a lot of jobs that require sitting such as driving tractors, lawn mowers, going to agriculture meetings, and hauling grain to town.”
“My workouts are my therapy,” says Tess. “I feel lost when I don’t do them. Once you start this journey and you do it every day, it becomes part of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. You do it without really thinking about it. I also need to release those positive endorphins in order to stay positive and keep my mind right. Dealing with a sick husband is stressful. Farming isn’t easy and it takes a lot of dedication and self-motivation to keep going.
Plan for Success
Planning ahead and learning portion sizes is key to success, says Tess. She uses Portion Control Containers because they take all the guess work out of how much to eat and what types of foods to eat.
Because the containers are color-coded, it’s easy to track and measure each of the food groups:
green for vegetables
purple for fruit
red for proteins
yellow for carbs
blue for healthy fats; and
orange for seeds or dressings.
“Many times, we order a salad thinking we are making a healthy choice, but it often is large enough to feed two or three people,” says Tess. “I plan meals on Saturday and prep on Sundays. I keep pre-measured snacks in baggies in the refrigerator, so they’re read to grab and go. I make it a rule to not eat in the car.”
Grapes, carrots, celery, strawberries, diced watermelon, peanuts and almonds are a few of Tess’s prepped “to go” snacks.
“When we go out to eat, I often request a burger without a bun, choose a vegetable or a fruit instead of fries, and take it easy on dressings and sauces. Remember, ‘dip, don’t drench’,” coaches Tess. “I choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. I try to stay away from pre-packaged or processed foods. If God created it, then you can eat it!”
With that said, Tess doesn’t believe in denying oneself from special treats. She says she isn’t going to pass up a piece of birthday cake or a homemade cookie. She just eats sweets in moderation.
“I eat to fuel my body not to fill my belly. I eat when I’m hungry not because it’s time to eat,” she says. “I monitor my moods and make sure I’m not emotional eating or sabotaging the progress I’ve made because I’m upset. Instead of eating to deal with my problems, I choose to push ‘play’ and do a workout instead. The most important thing is to make up your mind to get more active and eat healthy. We all can find time to do a 20 or 30-minute workout or move our bodies. You just need to find something you like to do and make it a priority to fit it into your schedule.”
Remember to practice patience. Results will come.
“It takes 21 days to build a new habit, three months to make it a routine, and one year for it to become automatic,” says Tess. “Keep in mind that our health is our wealth. Invest in yourself!”
To help you take a step toward healthy eating, today Tess is sharing with us a one of her recipes for Perfectly Portioned Lasagna Roll Ups. Perfectly portioned Lasagna Roll Ups use poultry sausage, frozen spinach, and three cheeses to make a crowd-pleasing dinner! Do yourself a favor and make a double batch. It freezes well.
While many people focus on the challenges faced throughout 2020, this year has provided Jenna (Braun) Ricklefs of Rolfe, Iowa, with many reasons to celebrate. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Jenna starting her own successful Latham® and Ag Spectrum dealerships. She and her husband, Jon, will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary in November. Their son, Levi, celebrated his first birthday on June 21.
Jenna and Jon work as a team, helping one another around the farm and with their respective businesses. Jon helps Jenna put in seed plots and sign fields when he can. In addition to farming, Jon also has a painting and autobody business.
Jenna’s career combines all her interests, and being her own boss provides her with more flexibility.
