Andrew Carruth Named DSM in Northern Minnesota
“We’ve been interested in growing our sales team in Minnesota for quite some time, so it’s super exciting to see this plan come together with the recent addition of Dan Miller in Mapleton and Andrew Carruth in Danvers,” says Amy Rohe, Latham Seeds sales manager. “Both Dan and Andrew have strong agronomic backgrounds, which really fits our organization because we want to be more than seed sellers. Our approach is to study a given field to determine which of our products best fits the soil, disease and weed challenges, as well as a farmer’s management style and lifestyle.”
Andrew understands firsthand how important it is for a seed seller to understand a farmer’s crop management system and lifestyle. When he was in high school, Andrew helped milk 130 head of Holstein cows at 5 A.M. and 5 P.M. daily. He also helped his dad and uncles farm corn and soybeans. He credits his upbringing for helping him develop good listening and teamworking skills. It also gives Andrew an understanding of the important role seed selection plays in a product’s end use.
“I’ve always spent as much time as I could helping my dad with field work and cattle,” says Andrew, who was active in both 4-H and FFA. He was on a two-person team that advanced to National FFA Convention for the Science Fair. “I’ve always wanted to farm, so I feel fortunate to have a job that allows me to do what I love.”
Andrew enjoys spending time outdoors, walking fields with customers and working on projects. He spends as much time as he can helping his brother, Adam, and their father, Joe, farm. Andrew also enjoys spending time with his two nephews and one niece. Adam and his wife, Kelly, live nearby with their son and daughter. Andrew’s sister, Emily, lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Robb, and their son, Leo. Andrew’s mom, Jolene, provides daycare for Peyton and Maddie. Peyton especially loves riding in the buddy seat with Uncle Andrew.
It took a few years for Andrew to make his way back home, but that journey helps him appreciate the everyday moments even more.
Because Andrew’s siblings had attended South Dakota State University (SDSU), Andrew was familiar with the campus and really enjoyed taking trips to Brookings. He graduated from SDSU in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy with a minor in Soil Science. Andrew worked after college for three years as a sales agronomist for Glacial Plains Cooperative in Clontarf, Minnesota. He gained experience in everything from dispatching sprayers to writing farm plans for seed, fertilizer and chemistry. He also became a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA).
Andrew jumped at the opportunity in 2019 to focus on only selling seed plus he it provided him with the opportunity to work from home in Danvers. His move to Latham Seeds seemed like the next logical move. As a district sales manager (DSM), Andrew will be calling primarily on Latham® seed dealers and recruiting more farmers to become seed dealers.
“Anyone can show up on the farm and hand out a price sheet, so I like to add value,” says Andrew, who enjoys walking fields and sharing agronomic information. “I’m looking forward to helping Latham dealers build their business however they want. I know more farmers in this area will appreciate working with an independent, family-owned seed business. Their focus on family is one thing that drew me to Latham Seeds. Everyone in the office is so welcoming. I know the people I do business with feel comfortable doing business with Latham, too.”
When Andrew isn’t working, he enjoys spending time at the lake. He also enjoys deer hunting and ice fishing. He recently took his girlfriend, Brittany, ice fishing for the first time and she enjoyed it. Brittany teaches pre-school. She and Andrew enjoying spending time with his nieces and nephew, as well as working on projects together.
Andrew also appreciates a homecooked meal. Today he is sharing with us a recipe for Meatballs with Stroganoff Sauce because it’s one of favorite food that his mom makes when the family gathers. It sounds like the perfect comfort food to enjoy during a Midwest winter.
Meatballs with Stroganoff Sauce
Ingredients
Ingredients for Meatballs:
- 1 pound hamburger, thawed
- 1 egg
- ½ cup oatmeal
- 1 onion, grated
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp. season salt
Sauce for Meatballs:
- 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- ½ can of water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 6 T. ketchup
- ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 3 T. pureed onion
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Instructions
Directions for Meatballs:
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Shape burger mixture into balls.
- Place on baking sheet; bake in oven at 350 degrees oven until done.
Directions for Sauce:
- Mix all these ingredients together into crockpot on high.
- Place cooked meatballs into the sauce.
- Cook until the sauce is bubbling.
