Kayleigh Koch’s roots in boots runs deep. When she was a child, her parents couldn’t get her out of the tractor on their family’s corn and soybean operation in Hawkeye, Iowa.

Her favorite memory is the first time her dad let her plant. She started planting in the field right next to the driveway by their house. As luck would have it, she accidentally left a large triangle of unplanted ground. Not only did she have to see her mistake every day for the entire growing season, but her family also never let her live it down! Now she looks back on it and laughs. It was definitely a lesson she won’t forget, and she’s honed her planting skills over the years.

Kayleigh rented 20 acres of farm ground from her dad for her high school FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). She made all of the decisions for that land from seed selection and planting date to herbicides and harvest. Kayleigh had very little nerves starting out, because she had been helping her dad for years, and he continued to guide her throughout her SAE project. When she started, they had two drought years in a row, so corn prices were high. Even though yield was down, the prices compensated the yield loss so she was able to start out on a great foot on her first year. From using this as her SAE, she was able to successful earn her FFA American Degree. To earn this degree, an FFA member must earn $10,000. Kayleigh successfully reached that benchmark and was able to earn that profit over four years of selling corn and soybeans on the 20 acres. She will now have the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis this fall to receive the highest honor an FFA member can earn. As a result from this SAE, she gained a great appreciation for the detail and care that farmer’s put into their businesses.

During her junior year of high school, Kayleigh’s sister convinced her to buy steers and show them at the county fair. The girls didn’t grow up with livestock, but Kayleigh is thankful her sister pushed her to try something new. Kayleigh enjoyed learning about another facet of agriculture and wishes she had shown cattle her entire life! Kayleigh is a member of the North Fayette Valley FFA Chapter and have served various roles. She served as the Sophomore Vice-President, Secretary and President. As a junior in high school, she was elected to serve as the Northeast District Reporter.

Experiences in FFA and on her family farm led Kayleigh to major in Agricultural Business at Iowa State University with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies and a focus on Agronomy. Before becoming involved with FFA, Kayleigh wanted to be an anesthesiologist. Looking back, she considers it lucky that pursuing a career in the medical field was just a phase.

“My classmates kept talking about Iowa State, and that’s when I realized how many career paths there are in the agriculture industry alone,” says Kayleigh.

Anybody active in the agriculture industry knows how vast the opportunities are, and Kayleigh admits that this fact can be a bit daunting! Kayleigh considers the flexibility of an ag degree to be a blessing because she’s not afraid to blaze her own trail in agriculture. She is open minded about where her career path will take her, but she does know that she wants to own a business one day. She plans to be active in her community and do everything she can to promote the agriculture industry. Currently, she is an ambassador for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State and gets to promote both agriculture and Iowa State’s diverse opportunities in the life sciences. When recruiting young female agriculture enthusiasts, she likes to use these three selling points:

1. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University is 51% female which proves that women are a growing demographic that is making a larger impact on the agriculture industry than ever before.
2. The ag industry is very tight-knit. Everyone knows each other, and it’s like one big family!
3. There is something in the industry for everyone. Follow your passion and don’t be afraid to stand out.

Kayleigh has used her involvement in FFA and at Iowa State to build a promising career. This past summer, she was an agronomy sales intern for Heartland Cooperative at its Prairie City location. She got to work with agronomists, deliver seed to farmers, scout fields, and attend BASF, Winfield and Helena Chemical events to increase her knowledge in agronomy.

“Let’s just say that I learned way more about weeds, insects and diseases than I ever planned on,” says Kayleigh. “But I loved every second of it! I love knowing that what I learned this summer, I will be able to utilize in any future career.”

While scouting fields for farmers, Kayleigh noticed that some farmers didn’t take her scouting as seriously as she did. Whether that is because she is a female or she’s just young, she has learned that you have to work to gain trust in this industry, but she’s up for the challenge!

“Being a woman in agriculture may mean we have to work a little hard and dig a little deeper to earn respect and trust,” says Kayleigh. “But the challenge is what makes this career path a true blessing.”

Find more inspiring #RootsinBoots stories below:

• Women in Ag: Tracing Amy Rohe’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Kilah Hemesath’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Jenna Braun’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Ali Luety’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Jessica Faust’s #RootsinBoots

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Without strong women to help shape and manage our company, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds would be a very different company than it is today. We understand the key roles women play in everything from purchasing seed to marketing grain, from public relations and event planning to sales and customer service. That’s why we’re celebrating women who are doing what they love. From now through November we’ll be showcasing women in agriculture by telling their #RootsinBoots stories. Follow along and be inspired by FarmHers across Iowa!

This past week a friend told me that CNBC is interested in visiting with a panel of Iowa to farmers about agricultural issues and the presidential election. Of course, this started my thinking process!

It’s ironic that farmers’ opinions are sought out by media. Consumer surveys show farmers are respected. Yet, there’s a vocal minority that disconnects on certain issues.

Farmers are salt-of-the-earth types of people. It comes with the job! Just when I think I’ve got the farming thing figured out, Mother Nature makes sure every year is different! Weather, disease, bugs, viruses… there is an endless list of problems with which farmers must address. In addition, it takes an enormous amount of money to get crops and livestock to market. Farming is a complicated business!

So when a major television news network comes to the farm and asks questions, we need to be respectful of their interest. But can we use this as a platform to share our knowledge about other subjects dear to us? Can we talk about how the environment and conservation are always top of mind with us? After all, nature is our livelihood! We see how GMOs fit in to the whole world’s food production system and understand that GMOs make conservation possible.

Thirty-five years ago when I first tried no-till farming, it was a struggle. Modern plant genetics, combined with machinery and equipment advancements, make no-till farming possible today. Will I be able to convince people who don’t understand agriculture about the benefits of these practices because I’m a farmer?

Several articles this past week in The Des Moines Register mention farmers state that farmers are finally realizing the need to keep our water clean. Say what!?! This newspaper makes it sound like farmers are the last people to think about water quality! Where’s that trust and interest in what a farmer knows?

We get such mixed signals about how smart and how clueless farmers are. In addition to worrying about the weather, insects and disease, we must also be concerned about “perception.” Understanding the public’s concerns is a big hurdle we must continually overcome. When opportunity comes to the farm, let’s grab hold and use the moment!

The sun is peaking over the horizon in Winterset, Iowa, on a clear summer morning. Dew sticks to the green grass as a girl takes her show calf out of the barn for its daily walk. The morning air is cool. There is a stillness in the countryside. Most people haven’t yet gotten out of bed, but Jessica Faust was up before dawn to prepare for another day on her family’s row crop, beef and hog farm.

Jessica is the fourth generation to grow up on her family’s southwest Iowa farm. When she graduated from high school, however, she never imagined she would pursue a career in agriculture. “I always thought I’d be an accountant or a teacher because I never really knew about the opportunities outside of farming,” said Jessica. After playing soccer for one year and being on the dance team for two years at Iowa Central College, she still didn’t know what she wanted to do. She finally decided to continue her education at Iowa State University, majoring in Genetics. Her adventure at Iowa State has been a winding one, but she eventually found her true calling in Animal Science specializing in Genetics and Beef Science.

During New Initiate meeting with the Block and Bridle Club, Jessica recalls hearing successful seniors stand up and tell the room of freshmen and transfer students that someday they could be executive team members with a handful of glamorous internship experiences. Jessica doubted those statements. Looking back, she says she wishes she would stepped outside her comfort zone earlier.

“Doing things I never thought I would do made me realize how much my negative thoughts had been holding me back,” says Jessica. “I was my own worst enemy!”

She applied her work ethic, borne from her childhood on the farm, to involvement in campus clubs.

“I don’t talk a lot if I don’t know you, so getting involved was a great way for me to be able to connect with people,” says Jessica. “I never thought I’d even apply for an officer position, let alone get positions in two clubs.” Jessica is serving as the secretary of the Delta chapter of Sigma Alpha professional agriculture sorority and as Block and Bridle treasurer.

After graduating from ISU in December 2016, Jessica plans to pursue a career in cattle reproduction while building up capital to start her own beef and row crop operation. As she’s making decisions about her future, she’s taking her own advice. She’s not going to be afraid to apply for jobs for which she doesn’t fit every requirement. And she’s not going to let the fact that she’s a young female stop her from accomplishing her goals.

Women in agriculture have a lot of hurdles to overcome and prove their capability. At a previous internship, Jessica had to prove her competence in driving cattle in order for her male colleagues to feel comfortable with having a female drive cattle. By the end of her internship, she had convinced her employers not only of her competence with handling cattle, but also her talent. “I grew up with two sisters. Gender, size or strength was never an excuse on our farm,” said Jessica. “Dad needed help, and at the end of the day, the work needed to get done one way or another.”

“There’s a long way to go for women in agriculture to get rid of that stereotype,” says Jessica. “At the same time, it makes me proud to be a female. I’m proud of who I am and how I was raised. And I’m excited about my future as a FarmHer!”

Find more inspiring #RootsinBoots stories below:

• Women in Ag: Tracing Amy Rohe’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Kilah Hemesath’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Jenna Braun’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Ali Luety’s #RootsinBoots

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Without strong women to help shape and manage our company, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds would be a very different company than it is today. We understand the key roles women play in everything from purchasing seed to marketing grain, from public relations and event planning to sales and customer service. That’s why we’re celebrating women who are doing what they love. From now through November we’ll be showcasing women in agriculture by telling their #RootsinBoots stories. Follow along and be inspired by FarmHers across Iowa!

Even if you’re not the parent of school-age children, it’s in your best interest to know what’s being taught in the classroom. In fact, your livelihood could depend on it!

Last week an article I read in the Huffington Post go me to thinking about what our kids are given the opportunity to learn. This article complained that students were being exposed to the benefit of GMO crops. The author, a food safety activist, doesn’t believe anything about GMOs can be good. She makes the argument that GMOs information looks good because all the information is supplied by the big corporations that profit from GMOs! According to her, schools present one-sided information.

Being very involved with programs such as Ag in the Classroom, I admit that farmers are trying to get accurate information to our kids. I’m a big proponent of declaring our independence from food fights, but…

One reason farmers are proactively seeking opportunities to get into classrooms is because our schools are being inundated with misinformation from groups that are critical of modern farming! From my personal observations, anti-farming groups like the Human Society of the United States (HSUS) are supplying lots of material to our youngest students. The last couple of years I’ve been invited to share my farming experience with sixth grade students in the Mason City schools to balance the information gleaned from the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, as a text book. There is so much bad information in this book that it should classified as fiction!

We form opinions as we grow up, and sometimes we form different opinions based on our experiences. This is a good thing and we should celebrate our differences. The mix of people coming in to this country has been a big part of what has made the U.S.A. a great country, which reminds me of a great conversation I recently had with a friend who lives in New York City. Four years ago, I met Mike because he’s the news chief for a major news network and was making arrangements for Japanese broadcasters to visit my North Iowa farm.

Mike and I were talking about immigration and education. In particular, we were talking about how the U.S. school system blends all kids together and treats them the same. They have to meet the same standards, but kids are diverse. Should someone from the middle of New York City meet the same standards as someone from a remote Alaska village? Will a child have the same up bringing and the same experience from rural Geneva, Iowa, as he or she has in Hollywood California?

We should let kids excel no matter where they come from, and excellence is what we should expect. Let’s not hold back a child who can do amazing things. Let’s not make these high achievers meet standards that are set too low! Local school boards need the flexibility to matchup with their local standards.

Education can be a very complex issue, but let’s step up to the plate. Let’s get our kids started right. Let’s give them the background to base their future on. Don’t let vocal radical groups have undue influence… Be involved. Know what your local schools are teaching!

by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Coordinator

Agriculture has a special way of holding on to the people who have worked in this industry. This #RootsinBoots story is one of the many reasons why 16.8 million Americans are employed by the American agriculture industry and other related industries.

Ali Luety of Clinton, Wisc., has chosen to remain the agricultural community upon graduation. She grew up in rural South Central Wisconsin where her family currently raises row crops and registered Angus cattle. She followed in her older siblings’ footsteps by showing pigs and cattle in 4-H and the Wisconsin Show Pig Association jackpot series.

One of Ali’s favorite memories is the time she won her first county fair pig show with a barrow named “Bubba,” which her family had raised themselves. This early success sparked her interest in the livestock industry, and led her to double major in Public Relations and Agriculture & Society at Iowa State University.

Although she was raised on a farm and ultimately enrolled in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS), Ali’s career path was filled with a few twists and turns. Ali’s heart was set on becoming a physician’s assistant. Upon graduating from high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She soon realized that was not the right path for her.

“The first two weeks as a Badger were quite a wakeup call,” said Ali. “I had always lived in this little bubble where I was surrounded by others who thought like me and understood the importance of agriculture.”

After taking a journalism class her freshman year, she fell in love with the world of strategic communications and writing. Ali soon realized she wanted a program that incorporated both communications and agriculture, so she packed her bags and made the tough decision to transfer to Iowa State as a sophomore. She never looked back.

Ali took advantage of her fresh start and jumped into extracurricular activities. She became involved in the Block & Bridle Club, Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow, “CALS Connections” publication, and Sigma Kappa sorority.

The amazing opportunities that College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students have outside of the classroom are as helpful as they are bountiful. “Truthfully, the clubs that I’ve been involved in have taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom,” said Ali.

After graduating in May 2017, Ali would like to find a job that allows her to combine her talents for photography and writing about the agriculture industry. She is also considering attending graduate school to eventually pursue her Ph.D. and teach at the collegiate level. Her path to her future career is sure to be just as winding as it has been in the past, but Ali knows that wherever she ends up, agriculture will be the capstone piece in her story.

“I could write a book about all the opportunities agriculture has to offer. The agriculture industry is bursting with entrepreneurial companies that are very exciting, such as FarmHer, the organization I’m working for this summer,” says Ali. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get paid to visit women on their farms, plan events for young women in agriculture and write about what I love.”

Agriculture has a place for anyone with a passion and the drive to make meaningful contributions to the industry. Ali wrote a poem that explains the opportunities and roles “FarmHers” have in agriculture. Be sure to watch the video below!

https://youtu.be/EfNlSPz6zj4

Find more inspiring #RootsinBoots stories below:

• Women in Ag: Tracing Amy Rohe’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Kilah Hemesath’s #RootsinBoots
• Women in Ag: Tracing Jenna Braun’s Roots in Boots

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Without strong women to help shape and manage our company, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds would be a very different company than it is today. We understand the key roles women play in everything from purchasing seed to marketing grain, from public relations and event planning to sales and customer service. That’s why we’re celebrating women who are doing what they love. From now through November we’ll be showcasing women in agriculture by telling their #RootsinBoots stories. Follow along and be inspired by FarmHers across Iowa!

Enter the #RootsinBoots Photo Contest during Fall Harvest!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is teaming up with FarmHer to update the image of women in agriculture! We’re looking for women, ages 18 to 108, who have a passion for agriculture and are willing to share their farm stories.

Simply post photos of yourself on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtags #RootsinBoots #LathamSeeds and #FarmHer. Let your personality and work ethic show. We want to see what a “day in the life” of you is like!

Because each woman in agriculture is unique, everyone who submits a photo of herself either working in the field or working with livestock will be entered to win a $500 shopping spree at Western Edge LTD. There’s no limit to the number of entries, so increase your chances by posting across platforms- via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

To be eligible to win, visit this registration page: https://www.lathamseeds.com/rootsinboots/

Photos must be posted between Sept. 15 and Nov.21. Be sure to use all three hashtags mentioned above.

As many as three women also will win a photo shoot with Marji Guyler-Alaniz of FarmHer and may be asked to appear in Latham Seeds’ new print/digital advertising campaign. Those chosen must be comfortable representing a third generation, family owned and independently operated seed company.

Direct any questions to @LathamSeeds on Facebook, Twitter (@LathamSeeds) or Instagram (@LathamSeeds).

“I’m just an old pig farmer!”

When people ask about what I do, or whenever I’m starting a speech, this is how I describe myself. I do call myself an old pig farmer, but then go on to explain just what that entails! My wife, Janice, and many other people get upset about this description because they think it sounds derogatory.  Yet, as a farmer, this is a natural response! Most farmers are humble, down-to-earth people. We don’t like to brag.

Last week on my Facebook page I shared this cartoon, which depicts a female Century Farm owner who is being told by a young man who is telling her that she doesn’t farm right. A lot of learning can be done through books – and some information on the Internet is true. However, nothing (in my opinion) replaces experience. I’ve written before about how farming practices vary farm by farm, based on soil type, typography, climate, etc.

While I believe this cartoon makes a valid point, some folks in my newsfeed took offense that the farmer was dressed in bib overalls with a patched knee or a white t-shirt. This perception of a farmer is all too common, but it doesn’t portray how a modern farmer dresses. Admittedly, there are time when I wear bibs on the farm because they’re handy. However, I dress up when I go to town or give a presentation to a group about pig farming.

Just like my city cousins:

• I have kids and grandkids.
• I’m interested in our school systems.
• I’m concerned about how our government works – and doesn’t work!
• I go to church and serve as a church elder.
• I participate in local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.
• I worry about health services, including mental health. How can we make them better?
• I’m very concerned about our small towns and how to make them better.

What’s more shocking than community involvement is the reaction I get from people once they see the vast knowledge and experience most farmers have! Farmers must know:

• Computers. Technology continues to define agriculture. I deal with computers every day – and not only like the one I’m typing on now! Computers run almost everything on a farm from heating and cooling in livestock barns to GPS units, machinery and equipment. Farms are like any business in town or even your home as computers have become necessary.
• Medicine. Animals get sick just like you or your kids, do we must take care of our animals!
• Animals. We need to understand how animals act or react. Animals have a natural pecking order. We design barns to fit their instincts. If we can use their natural instincts, we can do a better job taking care of them.
• Carpentry and mechanics. Farmers are always looking ways to improve their operations and often innovate to make things better. Using tools is practically a part of our genes.
• Genetics. Just as humans today are taller and stronger than in the past, crops and livestock have evolved. Today’s crops have been bred to stand up to weather changes, fight pests and, of course, yield more. Our farms are more “sustainable” because of our knowledge of genetics!
• Mechanics. There is always something to be fixed on a farm: tractors and all the implements they pull such as combines, semis, wagons, sprayers. There is an endless list of things that farmers must take care of and maintain.

One last thing that has become “a must” for farmers to do is to defend themselves! So many people are confusing facts with fiction. Activists have done such a great job of spreading fear that people are spending money unnecessarily to purchase bottled water with the “non-GMO label!” Not only that, but there appears to be a ground swell of people calling for organic crops and conventional tillage. Crazy! GMO crops actually enable farmers to till less often, leading to improved soil health and water retention, reduced runoff, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently I read another Huff Post article entitled, “GMO Propaganda has no place in your child’s classroom.”  Imagine this… that editorial was written by an activist. You can bet I’ll address this topic in my next blog!

Interestingly enough, a new poll by Huffington Post shows support for GMOs raises with education level. Forty-nine percent of respondents with a college degree said they believe GMOs are generally safe, as compared with 36 percent who had completed some college and just 22 percent who completed high school or less. The poll also showed that respondents who trust scientists tend to believe GMO foods are safe. Forty-eight percent of respondents who trust scientists “a lot” think GMOs are safe, compared with 28 percent of those who trust scientists “a little” or not at all.

Yes, more “education” is needed to help those who live and work in the city understand what’s happening in the country. I’ll do my part to help tell my story. Will you?

Late summer is a busy time of the year for farmers. Not only are we getting our equipment in working order so we’re ready to roll if a field needs to be harvested early, but we’re also attending tradeshows and seed company field days. This week is a prime example as Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is hosting is annual Seed-2-Soil® Technology Showcase on Wednesday, Aug. 31, on the Latham home farm in Alexander, Iowa. It’s also the annual Farm Progress Show, which his being held Aug. 30-Sept. 1 near Boone, Iowa.

One reason I look forward to Latham’s field day on the Latham Century Farm is learn about future seed technologies.  Latham Seeds is one of a select few companies in the Midwest that has both an Enlist research plot and an Enlist production field.  We also have Balance GT soybeans to evaluate in research.  Once these products have full approval – Enlist has herbicide approval from the EPA but is awaiting Chinese approval – they will be available for purchase from Latham Seeds.
In fact, Latham Seeds’ field day is unique because it’s a one-stop shop for Xtend, LibertyLink and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans. There are 13 new Xtend products in the 2017 Latham® product guide. NOTE: Xtend soybeans have received final approval from the European Union in the global approval process, but the low-volatile formulation of dicamba herbicide intended for Xtend soybeans has not received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Herbicide approval is expected soon, but until it’s received, these soybeans must be treated like Roundup Ready soybeans.

One of my favorite field stops at the Latham plot day is the company’s stress wheel, which demonstrates hybrids’ response to plant population. It’s interesting to see how ear placement changes, depending on plant population. This plot also includes silage hybrids. Latham Forage Product Manager Corey Catt is one of the very best corn silage and nutrition experts in the industry! He is passionate about rebuilding soils management, including the use of alfalfa and cover crops.  Corey will introduce the revolutionary HarvXtra^TM low-lignin alfalfa, which produces the very best quality hay for dairy or beef cattle.

There’s so much to see and do! What I honestly enjoy most about the Latham field day is having direct access to the people who select the company’s product lineup. I appreciate the fact that I can speak directly to John Latham, Mark Grundmeier or anyone on the Latham team – either at this event or anytime I pick up the phone and have a question. I also appreciate that Latham is an independent, family-owned business that has developed a fine reputation for offering only the highest quality products that are bred to perform best in specific geographies.

As a technology junkie, I’ll admit that I’m looking forward to a guest presentation by Latham® seed grower Phil Pitzenberger on ways he uses drones in his farming operation. He’ll share drone images that reveal problem areas he couldn’t see from the ground, and I’m guessing that by the end of his presentation, every farmer in the room will be thinking of ways he or she can put a drone to work!

Tomorrow I hope you’ll be able to visit the Latham home farm, 131 180^th Street in Alexander, Iowa!