The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Adam Jefferis is a dynamic figure in the world of business leadership, with a strong track record as both a leader and a sales executive. With a career that boasts over 25 years of professional experience, Adam has been pivotal in driving growth and fostering innovation within the companies he has been part of. His approach to leadership and management focuses on being intentional, serving his tea...

In 2017, Todd Thurman Founded Swine Insights International, (formerly SwineTex Consulting Services) a swine management consultancy focused on helping clients improve the efficiency and profitability of their operations. Prior to that, he amassed more than 18 years of valuable experience in the corporate agriculture sector working for and collaborating with large scale pork producers and agricultur...

Troy Ralston has dedicated his life to Agriculture, with extensive experience on farms and in warehouse/seed-cleaning plants. His journey, characterized by continuous learning through hard work and setbacks, has shaped his current position. Despite lacking formal education, Troy possesses a strong work ethic, a fervent desire to learn, and unwavering faith. His aspiration is to elevate Bailey Seed...

Josh has been involved in agriculture since he was a kid. Growing up in a family who farmed walnuts left him with a knowledge of the industry. Josh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business from California State University, Fresno and has over ten years of experience in the agriculture chemical industry. Josh, as co-owner and CEO of LMG Ag Products, spends his days doing a bit of everything....

Jed Miller is an intentional leader, innovator, and strategic thinker with a diverse background in business management and leadership. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Sterling College, Jed has developed a strong foundation for his career in various leadership roles. As the Chief Strategy Officer of Ag Partners Cooperative, he leads key areas such as Agronomy, Energy,...

Travis Kraft is a seasoned professional in the agribusiness sector, currently associated with Indigo AG, a company at the forefront of sustainable agriculture. With a multifaceted career involving various entrepreneurial ventures, Travis brings vast expertise in sales leadership and team management. Outside of his role at Indigo AG, he has co-founded successful businesses, including a distinct hon...

Matt Lawrence is the Director of Retail Strategy at Valent USA LLC and resides in Prior Lake Minnesota.  He has made a career of leading sales teams at Valent USA over the past 26 years.  Currently he works with the 5 regional managers and all territory account managers on the best ways to be sales professionals and grow with customers in relationships and trust.  Implementing Integ...

Andrew Lauver is a dynamic young professional in the agriculture industry with significant experience in various facets of the field. With a rooted background in farming—being a part of a fifth-generation farming family—Andrew brings insightful perspectives on agribusiness leadership. Currently engaged with Farm Journal, his career touches upon government relations, precision agriculture technolog...

Megan Schmit is the Vice President of Northern Grain and Fertilizer for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).  Her background is focused on the Farm Gate with row crop producers throughout the USA in corn, soybeans, wheat, and specialty crops. She started in the Agriculture industry as a grain originator for an ethanol plant in Northern IL- since then her passion has centered around helping producers...

Jeremy Groeteke is a seasoned professional in the agricultural business sector and currently serves in a leadership role at Syngenta, focusing on computational agronomy.  With a background rooted in practical farm experience, Gretecke has risen through the ranks to lead cutting-edge data science initiatives within one of the largest agriculture companies in the world. His tenure at Syngenta a...

In this insightful episode, Mark hosts Brent from Fibertech Plastics to discuss the nuances of intentional leadership, the importance of maintaining clarity and focus, and the impact a company's culture has on both its employees and the broader community. The conversation delves into the specifics of EOS and how it shapes the strategic and cultural directives of a small entrepreneurial company. Br...

In this insightful episode of "The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast," we're joined by Dean Weldert, whose vibrant energy and passion for agribusiness innovation shine through the conversation. He brings a wealth of experience from farm grade and shares his perspectives on intentionality in leadership, the fluidity of goals, and the art of aligning personal ambitions with larger organization...

As the former US Sales Development Lead at Bayer Crop Science, Courtney lead a team of 8 regional training managers who are responsible for driving sales performance, resulting in market share growth across Bayer's portfolio of crop protection, seeds, and digital solutions. She has over eight years of experience in this role, and over 25 years of experience in the agriculture industry.  In ad...

Steve Olson brings a wealth of experience from the agricultural sector, particularly within the realm of association work. A testament to his growing expertise, Steve has previously served as the executive director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers, Chicken and Egg Association, Midwest Poultry Federation, and several other poultry organizations. Currently, he steers his consultancy business, guidin...

As the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing at AgroLiquid, Dave promotes growth and customer value through leadership and organizational alignment. His career has focused heavily in the areas of value-added sales and marketing strategy development, product management, go-to-market strategy, and financial management/analysis. Dave has over 25 years of experience leading sales management, produ...

Galynn Beer is a seasoned leader in the agribusiness industry. With a strong focus on intentional leadership, Galen has successfully built and led teams that are aligned with a long-term vision and culture. He believes in the power of discipline and patience to achieve goals and retain top talent. Summary: Galynn Beer emphasizes the importance of being intentional in leadership. He believes that h...

Greg Peton is a seasoned professional in the agricultural industry. He currently works at Pivot Bio, a high-growth startup that is disrupting the industry. Greg has a wealth of experience in sales and leadership, and he is known for his intentional approach to achieving success. Greg Peton, a sales and leadership professional in the agricultural industry, joins the podcast to discuss the importanc...

Ryan Risdal is a leader in the agribusiness industry and currently serves as President at ProAgrica, a global provider of data-driven solutions for the agriculture sector. With over 20 years of experience, Ryan has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry. Summary: Ryan Risdal, President of ProAgrica, shares his insights on intentional leadership in the agribusiness...

Anna Cardoze, Vice President at Verdesian Life Sciences, discusses the importance of intentionality in leadership and creating a positive work culture. She emphasizes the need for transparency, setting clear expectations, and supporting the growth and development of team members. Anna also shares her experiences as a young female leader in the agribusiness industry and offers advice for attracting...

Brent Pohlman is the  Owner and CEO of Midwest Laboratories. Brent currently oversees a company with 300 employees that perform analytical testing in Human Health, Animal Health, and Agriculture/Environmental. At present, Midwest Laboratories is experiencing tremendous growth in these industries and is in the process of building a campus to support this rapid growth. Brent credits his leaders...

Jason Walter, founder of National Land Realty, has extensive experience in both land development and land brokerage. From 2003-2007 he headed acquisitions for land development projects totaling more than $300 Million in 31 different states. This was accomplished while serving as Vice President of Business Development for RealtiCorp from 2003-2005, a South Carolina based commercial land developer a...

Sean Arians discusses the importance of intentionality in both personal and business endeavors. He emphasizes the need to think about the desired outcome and make sure that the time and effort invested are worth it. As a leader, he believes in the importance of building strong relationships and effective communication, especially in a remote work environment. Sean also shares insights on attractin...

Emily Negrin is Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Inari, the SEEDesign™ company leveraging A.I. and multiplex gene editing technology with plants to meet the food system needs of the future. Her broad food and agriculture experience helps Emily foster relationships with stakeholders across the value chain to bring forward sustainable solutions from Inari.   Her award-winning work is back...

Mike J. Borel is an accomplished business consultant, visionary and strategist who brings both client and direct success in improving competitive position, increasing sales and profit, and enhancing stockholder value.  He has revitalized, streamlined and turned around organizations to generate positive cash flow, increase market share, improve productivity and reduce costs.  During his e...

Hollie Bunn is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Growers Edge. She previously served as Executive Vice President/Chief Lending Operations Officer and is the architect of the company’s embedded financial software and services products. With Hollie’s leadership, her growing team has built a revolutionary platform for the ag industry while furthering the company’s mission to help the ag industry...