Traditions are near and dear to many families, especially during the holidays. The Dawes family of Adel, Iowa, has carried on a unique family tradition for more than 25 years. Every Christmas they gather for a warm meal at their grandparents’ house followed by an annual family cribbage tournament. Now four generations take part in the heated competition, as older family members reminisce about games from years’ past.

From playing cribbage to working together on the family farm, values of teamwork and integrity were instilled in Beau and his brother, Colby. Beau grew up just three miles from where he now lives and says the home farm is where his favorite memories took place.

For example, Beau drove to the field for the first time with his grandpa. His grandma would pile all the grandkids into the front seat of the old farm pickup and let each of them have a turn driving. They would pretend to go through the McDonald’s drive-through, so there was no damage to the crops. He found himself on other side of his favorite memory more than 25 years later, teaching his kids the same “skill.”

Beau and his wife, Amie, are the proud parents of three: Leah, Blake and Lane. Amie stays busy with kids’ activities plus working full time as a physician assistant in a high-risk obstetrics office. She and Beau’s mom bring family favorite meals to the field during harvest and planting season.

Beau farms with his dad, Nick, who became a Latham® dealer in 2000. Beau handles the day-to-day operations related to row crop operation, and Nick runs his own cow-calf herd on the side of their farm. After working for 11 years as a mortgage underwriter in downtown Des Moines, Beau traded in his suit coats and ties for polo shirts and caps. Then, in 2001 he became a full-time farmer and took over his dad’s Latham Seeds dealership. Beau hopes that some day a fourth generation will continue the family tradition of farming.

As an exclusive Latham Dealer, Beau takes pride in personally checking on his customers. He really appreciates working with a family-owned seed company. Beau says the Lathams look out for their people and treat them like family.

“I appreciate knowing that John Latham will make time to walk a field with one of my customers,” said Beau. “That shows a lot about the culture of Latham Seeds and the positive experience they are willing to provide for their customers.”

The Dawes family values time spent together, especially playing games and sharing meals. Today they’re sharing one of their favorite recipes that’s perfect for busy times throughout the year.

Ramon Kuntz’s introduction to Latham Seeds came as a young graduate of Iowa State University, when he went to work for a Latham® dealer named Gene Cole in Grafton, Iowa. Ramon started in sales, familiarized himself with Latham’s lineup and learned how the products compared to others that his boss was selling at the time.

Years later when asked if he’d be interested in taking on a Latham® dealership of his own. Ramon says he was quick to answer: “I went back to the farm and did it.”

Today, Ramon says he’s proud to be “100% Latham” for more than a decade. He’s a fourth-generation farmer in Grafton, continuing to work with his parents and one cousin. Ramon’s dad runs the combine in the fall; his mom runs the grain cart. Ramon and his wife, Sara, have two boys: Raiden and Brantly. Ramon has been thrilled to watch his boys run the tractor by themselves for the first time.

“They can run about anything,” Ramon says of his boys. “It is good to see them going solo in the tractor.”

Ramon’s loyalty to Latham Seeds stems from years of proven product performance and family-owned customer service. When he started experimenting with moving to more conventional corn, Ramon says Latham supported him with product suggestions that fit well in his family’s operation.

“Latham is a regional company that selects hybrids and varieties that fit my area,” he says. “That’s important to my business.”

Personalized service has been important to Ramon’s success, too. A self-proclaimed “old-school” farmer, Ramon says he enjoys working with an independent company with leaders who know him by name. He calls it a “charm” that larger seed brands don’t understand.

“I like working with family-owned companies where I can walk straight up to the top executives if I have a question,” Ramon says. “They’ll not only answer me, they’ll know me. That’s what I get with the Lathams.”

The Kuntzes have celebrated Grafton-area turkey farmers for decades. This is how his family makes a turkey — because, as Ramon says, “If you use an oven, you are ruining a good turkey!”

“Be coachable” is a Rohe family mantra. Amy Rohe and her husband, Bryan, apply this mindset to their roles at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and as parents of three active sons: Tanner, Colby and Tommy. Amy is Latham’s sales manager and Bryan is the company’s dealer recruitment manager.

“We always try to remind each other to be coachable because that’s how you learn something new every day,” Amy says.

The Rohe (pronounced “Roy”) family applies much of that advice through their boys’ active involvement in baseball. The game alone teaches lessons both on and off the field. The message Amy appreciates the most is that it takes a whole team to win.

“We can have a few superstars who make big plays, but we must play as a team,” says Amy, who has worked for Latham since 2010. “Teams that put team goals ahead of individual goals usually have a winning record.”

Whether she’s managing a team of sales representatives or taking a road trip to visit Latham® dealers across the Upper Midwest, Amy 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 two main reasons she was promoted to sales manager at Latham in 2019.

“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,” she says. “We listen and learn from each other. This makes us stronger. There is nothing better than knowing you are making a difference.”

Amy adds, “One thing that I love about Latham is we’re innovative while staying true to our traditions, such as hospitality and the spirit of farmers helping farmers. Our leadership reminds us that faith and family come first.”

When they aren’t watching their boys play baseball, the Rohes enjoy riding horses, spending time on the water and camping — especially in the Dakotas where her father grew up and later farmed.

In the spirit of teamwork and baseball, the Rohes love easy, hearty recipes on busy summer days. This slow-cooked pulled chicken, paired with fresh sweet corn and watermelon, fits the bill.