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®Solutions

100 Years Commemorative Issue

See how we've served local communities for a century, page 20

n 1915, World War I raged in Europe, the transcontinen-tal telephone service debuted in America when Alexan-der Graham Bell called San Francisco from New York, and northwest Iowa farmers gathered to create a new cooperative.

The first stockholders’ meeting for the West Bend Elevator Company (WBEC) was held on April 6 at 2 p.m., with Henry Dunn elected president. The cooperative was incorporated on May 29, 1915. As we celebrate your cooperative’s 100th an-niversary this year, it’s worth looking back on the company’s remarkable history.

To me, 2015 is a major milestone for MaxYield and its pre-decessor, WBEC, as well as the other cooperatives that have unified with the company along the way. While some people say 100 years in business is no big deal, I say it’s a huge deal.

A recent business article made this point in reference to corpo-rate sustainability. In the late 1800s, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was made up of 12 companies. By 1929, 11 of those 12 no longer existed. That was only a 40-year period, not even close to the 100-year mark.

That pattern also exists in the cooperative world. In 1950, there were about 710 grain elevator/farm supply cooperatives in Iowa, which equates to about seven per county. Today, the number of grain elevator/farm supply cooperatives in Iowa has

plunged to 58, and the trend continues.

Sometimes people are quick to dismiss the 100th anniversary because they say MaxYield wasn’t the original company that started in 1915. His-tory has proven, however, that companies built to last adapt to meet the changes that transform their industry.

Think of how much Iowa agriculture has evolved since 1915. MaxYield has had to evolve, too, to meet the needs of our clients. Just like our clients, we would not be in business if we hadn’t changed in the past 100 years by adopting new technol-ogies, shutting down business units that were no longer profit-able, and growing for the future.

While MaxYield isn’t your grandfather’s or great-grandfather’s cooperative, we continue to embrace the cooperative princi-ples that the company’s founders valued. Principles that have stood the test of time. Throughout 2015, we’ll be highlighting MaxYield’s unique history through our website, magazine, ra-dio advertisements, client events this summer, and more.

It has been an amazing journey for your cooperative in the past 100 years, and we look forward to the next 100 years. Congratulations and thank you to all the stockholders, direc-tors, team members, and clients who have made MaxYield the successful cooperative it is today. ■

IBy Keith Heim, CEO

Celebrating a Century of Solutions

He's There When You Need Him:Dave Petty named Solutions Provider of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Leading the Way:Meet MaxYield’s 2014 All Star Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Helping Students Succeed:MaxYield modifies ag scholarship program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

MaxYield Named a “Friend of Extension”:Partnerships benefit local communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Happy Birthday, MaxYield!:Looking back on 100 years of service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Higher Yields Ahead?:MaxYield puts multi-hybrid planting to the test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

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inside

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June 2015

©2015 MaxYield Cooperative. All Rights Reserved. Published in partnership with VistaComm® (www.VistaComm.com).

MAXYIELD EDITORIAL TEAM

Patti Guenther Chad Meyer Diane Streit Steve Tassinari

My Solutions® magazine is sent to you courtesy of MaxYield Cooperative® to offer you an exclusive look into farm-ing and rural life in Iowa and south-ern Minnesota. MaxYield is a local agricultural cooperative that not only works to maximize the harvest but also never loses sight of the bigger picture of why people farm. More in-formation about MaxYield is available at www.maxyieldcoop.com.

My Solutions is published by MaxYield Cooperative, 313 3rd Avenue NE, West Bend, IA 50597.

To subscribe or provide address changes, please send to: MaxYield CooperativePO Box 49, West Bend, IA 50597Call 515-887-7211 ext. 216 or email [email protected]. Subscription cost is $10 per year.

Photography by Greg Latza.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Board Chairman

Howard Haas, Algona (central region)515-295-7993ViCe Chairman

David Garrelts, Emmetsburg (central region)712-852-2792SeCretary

Eric Marchand, Britt (east region)641-843-4167

Barry Anderson, Greenville (west region)712-262-0480 James Black, Algona (central region)515-341-7858Don Hejlik, Britt (east region)641-843-3438Todd Meyer, Everly (west region)712-834-2153Ron Rouse, Curlew (west region)712-855-2434Jim Wirtz, West Bend (central region)515-887-6554

On the cover: MaxYield's 2014 Solutions Provider of the Year and All Star Team. Page 8

LEARN MORE

To learn more about MaxYield Cooperative, visit us on Facebook,

Twitter, and YouTube, or log on to www.MaxYieldCoop.com.

• June 2015 • My Solutions

riter Robert Hughes not-ed that, “A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accom-

plish with all the tools in a machine shop.” He could have been talking about Dave Petty, MaxYield’s 2014 Solutions Provider of the Year. “I work for our clients,” said Dave, who runs the shop and handles outside opera-tions at the Dickens location. “Many of them are more like family and friends to me than clients.” Dave became acquainted with MaxYield’s clients in 2003 when he was complet-ing his ag business degree at Iowa Lakes Community College. The Washta native’s on-the-job training at MaxYield turned into full-time employment after he gradu-ated in 2005. Today, he’s the go-to guy at the Dickens location. “I do a little bit of everything,” said Dave, who also manages the dry fertilizer facility, has a service truck to handle all kinds of repairs in the field, and attends to equip-ment maintenance of all types, from re-pairing a hydrostat in a skid loader to fixing trucks. He credits his father, Reginald, for helping him develop his mechanical skills.

“Dad is kind of a jack-of-all-trades, and I’ve learned a lot from him,” Dave said. "He’d tell me, ’Tear it apart, and you’ll fig-ure it out.’”

Growing up country It helps that Dave grew up around agricul-ture and farm equipment. His grandpar-ents farmed, and his father also farmed for quite a few years. “When I was a little kid, I always wanted to farm, too,” Dave said. “I liked the big machines. I never had a bicycle because I went from toy tractors to a pedal tractor to a real tractor.”

He’s There When You Need Him:Dave Petty Na med Solutions Provider of the Year

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What Defines a Solutions Provider of the Year?“Dave is humble and unassuming, but he’s passionate about his work and does a great job every day. He’s the epitome of a multi-dimensional, dedicated MaxYield team member. He won’t quit until the repair is made, his team members are out of the field, or the job is completed.

“Dave knows all aspects of the opera-tion and can jump in wherever he’s needed. He really understands what it means to be client-focused and makes sure clients have a good experience ev-ery time. Dave is a role model and a true solutions provider.” —Keith Heim, CEO, MaxYield Cooperative ■

What Makes Dave a Solutions Provider of the Year? Here’s what Walt Reichert, MaxYield’s West Area team leader, says:

“Empowerment is one of MaxYield’s non-negotiables. In Dave’s case, letting him spread his wings to do what he is good at has allowed him to excel.

“During the spring and fall he will stay until every piece of equipment is in the yard for the night and it’s established that no repairs need to be made. Dave also plays a key role in many of our cli-ents’ operations, and they will call him directly when they need fertilizer. Dave will be the first to tell you that he works for the client. He understands that MaxYield Cooperative exists to serve our clients.” ■

Dave will never forget the day he went to a salvage yard near Quimby with his dad. When a 1937 Allis-Chalmers WC caught his eye, 10-year-old Dave made a deal with owner Dennis Rupp, who agreed not to sell the tractor until the end of the summer. This allowed Dave enough time to work odd jobs and redeem pop cans to raise almost all of the $200 required to buy the tractor, which had attracted several other offers in the meantime.

Although Dave was still $20 short when it was time to settle up, his father loaned him the money for the tractor, which reminded Dave of his grandfather’s Allis-Chalmers equipment. “By the time I was 14, Dad and I had that tractor running again,” said Dave, who noted that his father is a walking encyclopedia of vintage tractor knowl-edge. “Today, that tractor is the pride of my fleet,” said Dave, who has owned the tractor for nearly 21 years.

During high school Dave worked part-time at a local salvage yard and began to add to his farm equipment fleet. His collection, which now boasts about 24 tractors, along with combines and other equipment, includes his favorite Allis-Chalmers and Farmall machines.

Dave’s practical, hands-on knowledge of equipment has paid off handsomely at MaxYield, where he can handle any fix-it job. “It’s great to have Dave in the West Region,” said Jeff Bonnstetter, shop supervisor in West Bend. “With his skills and his service truck, he can respond to things fast, which benefits our clients. He also has a positive attitude and is an all-around great team member.”

People count on me While Dave is always willing to go the extra mile, he really goes the distance in the hectic spring and fall seasons. It’s not unusual for him to start his workdays at 5 a.m., and he sometimes works seven days a week. “If my farmers need fertilizer on Sunday to beat the weather, I’m not going to make them wait until Monday,” Dave said. “I’ll do what I can to take care of them and make sure everything is done in a timely manner.” He is quick to credit his MaxYield team members, including Tracy Enderson, client care leader at Dickens, for helping him get the job done. “They make sure I have the tools I need and are always there for me,” said Dave, who enjoys mentoring younger team members.

It’s an honor to be named Solutions Provider of the Year, added Dave, who was surprised to hear his name called during the awards ceremony. “People sometimes ask why I don’t transfer to a MaxYield location closer to Cylinder, where I live,” Dave said. “Well, my farmers are here. People count on me, and I want to be there for them when they need me.”

Editor’s note: Dave has two dogs: a Boston Terrier named Bella and a Boxer/Labrador Retriever mix named Oreo, who has been with Dave since his college days. In his free time, Dave enjoys spending time with his family and restoring vintage farm equip-ment. He’s also looking forward to a trip to Hawaii this winter. ■

He’s There When You Need Him:Dave Petty Na med Solutions Provider of the Year


ife is a lot like tennis—those who serve best seldom lose. No one exemplifies this more than MaxYield Cooperative’s 2014 Solutions Provider of the Year, Dave Petty, and the All Star Team, including Carol Laubenthal, Cody Ostendorf, Steve Leman, Jim

Klepper, and John Weiland.

“These honorees are humble, sincere, and highly effective,” said Keith Heim, MaxYield’s CEO. “To them, going above and beyond is just doing their job. That’s what makes them All Stars and the Solutions Provider of the Year.”

Choosing the winners is no easy task. MaxYield team members throughout the cooperative submit many nominations. “These awards are so meaningful because the winners are nominated by their peers,” Heim said.

A committee at MaxYield evaluates each nomination. “A lot of

careful thought is put into this process,” Heim said. “It takes quite awhile to reach consensus, and it’s not easy to narrow this down to the All Stars and Solutions Provider of the Year.”

The process is important, however, because it reflects what MaxYield is all about. “You hear all the time from companies ‘people are our #1 asset,’ but they don’t always live this val-ue,” Heim said. “The Solutions Provider of the Year and All Star Team are a big part of our people-first practices, which are among our key initiatives.”

Motivational coach Zig Ziglar noted that winners are ordinary people doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. That’s cer-tainly true of MaxYield’s 2014 Solutions Provider of the Year and All Star Team, Heim said. “Congratulations to the 2014 winners for what they do every day at MaxYield. As the coop-erative celebrates a century of service, their example reinforces the culture that will keep us strong for another 100 years.” ■

L

LEADING THE WAY:

Meet MAXYIELD’S 2014 Solutions Provider of the Year and ALL STAR TEAM

Carol Laubenthal Client Care Leader, Algona


A uthor and motivational speaker Les Brown noted, “You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.” When Carol Laubenthal start-

ed her career at MaxYield a decade ago, she was up for the challenge.

“Although I grew up on a farm near Rodman, I never thought I’d work in agriculture,” said Carol, a gradu-ate of West Bend-Mallard High School who started at MaxYield’s Hobarton location. “I originally planned on going into the hotel/foodservice industry, so I had a lot to learn about an ag cooperative.”

Her MaxYield education started with running the grain probe and

weighing trucks at the scale and advanced from there. “I still remember the first time I did the settlement checks,” Carol said. “The checks seem big until you realize that farm-ers have to pay for their seed, fuel, and many other

expenses with that money.” Learning the grain indus-try prepared Carol for her next role as the client care leader at the Algona lo-

cation. “You have to be a jack-of-all-trades in this role

and know about grain and agronomy,” said Carol, who

also answers clients’ questions about their MaxYield statements. “While clients can look up infor-mation online, they like the fact

that they can still call us and talk to someone who knows their farming operation.”

Getting to know MaxYield’s clients is one of the highlights of the job, added Carol, who enjoys visiting with members of the local coffee crowd, who often convene at the

Algona office when the weather isn’t conducive to farm work. It’s almost like family—much like the MaxYield team members who make Carol’s job easier.

“We have a great group of people at MaxYield. If you have a question or don’t understand something, there’s always a support system to help you find the answer.”

This spirit of service defines mem-bers of each year’s All Star Team. “I’ve always admired how the All Star Team interacts with MaxYield clients and MaxYield team mem-bers,” Carol said. “It’s a big net-work of people who go above and beyond with a good attitude and a willingness to help others.”

These leaders also look for ways to embrace new technology to help MaxYield provide even more solu-tions, Carol added. “That keeps me excited about the future.”

Editor’s note: Carol has two daugh-ters, Clarissa and Casey, who are both 21 and live in the area. In her free time, Carol enjoys traveling to favor-ite destinations like Las Vegas. ■

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S T O M A X Y I E L D ’ S 2 0 1 4 A L L S T A R T E A M

What Makes Carol an All Star? Here’s what Gerald Zwiefel, MaxYield’s Central Area team leader, says:

“Carol is very well liked, both by our clients and the MaxYield team. She’s very professional, helpful, productive, and knowledgeable. When clients call in, she knows their various farms and their specific needs. She’s also good at explaining things thoroughly to help answer clients’ questions. Carol is a team player who defines a MaxYield All Star.” ■

What Makes Cody an All Star?

Here’s what Greg Sweeney, MaxYield’s seed team leader, says:

“Cody has taken the initiative to grow from an intern/trainee to an agronomy special-ist, which is helping MaxYield grow. Cody is very organized, efficient, hard-working, and knowledgeable, plus he’s a good com-municator. He’s also not afraid to jump in and get his hands dirty when needed.

“Cody relates well to clients. Since his fam-ily farms in the area, he understands the challenges of agriculture here. He doesn’t let things shake him, and his calm demean-or helps the challenging days go a lot easier. It has been fun to watch Cody’s career at MaxYield evolve. I hope he’s here many more years.” ■


CODY OSTENDORFAgronomy Specialist, Belmond

rom his internship in 2010 to his promotion to agronomy specialist, Cody Ostendorf has come a long way in a short time, and that’s good news for MaxYield clients.

“Providing agronomy solutions is a pri-ority for me,” said Cody, who is based in Belmond. “I want to help provide the expertise and products to help clients in this area maximize their yield potential.”

Cody first got connected with MaxYield when he was completing his agricultural business degree with an agronomy mi-nor at Iowa State University.

When Cody joined MaxYield full time in 2011, he was based in Meservey and worked closely with Jon Kaduce, a MaxYield agronomy specialist. Also, the two years he spent at the seed ware-house in Garner were invaluable to helping him become an agronomy spe-cialist in 2013.

“I needed to understand MaxYield’s op-erations better so I can help our clients get the solutions they need,” said Cody, who handled many seed treatment jobs and learned the co-op agronomy busi-ness from the ground up.

Seeing the world through the clients’ eyesCody was no stranger to agriculture, since he grew up on a farm near Meservey. This has been a plus in his role as agronomy specialist. “I’ve known a lot of the grow-ers in the area for years,” said Cody, who enjoys seeing the seasons change and watching the crops grow. “I also know the ground around here, which helps me make recommendations for clients.”

Working closely with clients is appealing to Cody, who also likes the unique role of an agronomist. “It’s like a CSI investiga-tion—there’s something you’re trying to

diagnose, and you need to spend some time in the field to see if it’s a disease, nutrient deficiency, or something else.” Cody also appreciates the new fertil-izer complex at Belmond, which al-lows the team to provide full agronomy services to clients in the region. This is also enhancing SciMax Solutions, which continues to grow in the East Area. “There’s a lot of excitement among growers about the new fertilizer facil-ity in Belmond, which is helping us provide better, faster service,” Cody said. Being able to see the world through the clients’ eyes is the key to supplying this service, Cody added. “Farmers have so much going on, from finding the right crop protection products to managing herbicide resistance. When I help them develop a plan, I take economics into consideration and give them options to fit their needs.”

It takes a team Delivering these solutions takes a team. “I enjoy the people I work with, be-cause we share the same goal of think-ing about the client first and helping each other out,” Cody said. “They aren’t just team members to me. They are friends.” Cody was humbled to be named to the All Star Team. “It’s a huge honor, since there are many great team members at MaxYield. One of the biggest compli-ments I’ve gotten is from clients who say it looks like MaxYield is a good place to work. I feel this way and love hearing that from clients.”

Editor’s note: Cody and his wife, Suni, have a one-year-old daughter, Indi. While Suni used to work for MaxYield at Meservey and Belmond, she is now a stay-at-home mom. In his free time, Cody enjoys spending time with his family. ■

F


I t has been said that the big rewards come to those who travel the sec-ond, undemanded mile. That’s certainly true for Steve Leman and everyone he serves.

This is the second time Steve has been named to MaxYield’s All Star Team. “I was surprised to win again, because there are a lot of people at MaxYield who would qualify,” Steve said. “I’m fortunate to work with people who are willing to go the extra mile.”

Making sure that MaxYield Cooperative’s clients have the diesel fuel and gasoline they need, when they need it, is job one for Steve, who is based out of West Bend. While the majority of the fuel gets hauled from Milford or Clear Lake, Steve could be headed anywhere from Rock Rapids to Des Moines. “I like to get started around 4:30 or 5 in the morning, although some times of the year that gets switched around so I start around 5 p.m.,” said Steve, a 1997 gradu-ate of West Bend-Mallard High School who joined MaxYield in 2010. “It just de-pends on what MaxYield and our clients need at the time.”

Steve can haul more than 7,000 gallons of diesel and more than 8,000 gallons of gasoline per load. “Sometimes I need to haul four to five loads a day just to keep up with my clients in the Central and West areas,” he noted.

Steve heads to the terminal in Milford or Clear Lake to pick up fuel that he deliv-ers to the bulk plant in Emmetsburg. He also makes some direct ships with farmer clients

who can hold a transport load of fuel. While there’s typically a three-hour turn-around on a trip to the Milford terminal, the process can take much longer during the hectic harvest season.

“The 2014 harvest season got pretty hectic, since there was nothing to slow the farmers down,” Steve said. “It seems like the sup-pliers can never ship enough fuel up here through the pipeline, so we work hard to provide clients with the fuel they need.”

Steve also keeps an eye on inventories at the Cenex® facilities where he deliv-ers fuel, including West Bend, Fostoria, and Whittemore. No matter what jobs he has lined up for the day, he always makes MaxYield clients a priority. “MaxYield gives me flexibility to get the job done in the most efficient way I can.”

Living the dream For Steve, truck driving is a family affair. Steve’s father, Dale, who worked at the co-op’s tire station for a number of years, was also an over-the-road truck driver. “I always wanted to be a trucker, too,” said Steve, who worked in the swine indus-try for several years after college before changing his career path.

After completing the truck-driving course at Iowa Central in Fort Dodge, Steve worked as an over-the-road trucker for six years with Decker Truck Line. “While I loved waking up in new places and seeing a lot of the country, you miss out on a lot of family stuff when you’re on the road,” said Steve, who has five children.

He couldn’t pass up the chance to join

MaxYield, where he can be home every night, have access to modern equipment, and benefit from a strong team. “This is the perfect job,” said Steve, who drives a 2015 Freightliner Coronado. “Everyone here is willing to help me out when I need it, and it’s a fun environment to work in.”

Editor's note: Steve and his wife, Angela, will soon be moving to Milford with their five children: Joshua, 10; Sawyer, 8; Grace, 6; Adalee, 4; and Cash, who will soon be 2. ■

Steve Leman Fuel Transport Driver

What Makes Steve an All Star?

Here’s what Chad Besch, MaxYield’s en-ergy team leader, says:

“Steve is not here just to get in the truck and haul fuel. He’s self-motivated and co-ordinates all his own loads, in addition to dispatching the outside carriers we work with.

“Steve also understands the big picture. Since he knows how the energy mar-kets and pricing work, he sees when it’s advantageous for us to haul a lot of fuel and when it’s not. He’s also always asking what more he can do. Late in the season when supplies of #1 fuel were really tight and Mason City got a surprise delivery of #1 fuel, Steve put off his gasoline loads that Friday to haul #1 fuel. Then he came back on Saturday to haul gasoline.

“Steve takes a lot of pride in his work and in his rig. You can spot his truck in an in-stant, and it reflects well on MaxYield.” ■


What Makes Jim an All Star?

Here’s what Chad Besch, MaxYield’s energy team leader, says:

“Jim knows what needs to get done and coordinates with other drivers. He also pitches in wher-ever he can and is always willing to help others out. While he spe-cializes in liquid propane (LP), he also hauls fertilizer and grain and will put in extra hours during the busy times. I appreciate that he’s a trustworthy self-starter who is very client-focused. It’s a bonus that Jim is a lot of fun to work with.” ■

T here are no traffic jams when you go the extra mile. Just ask Jim Klepper. Whether he’s transporting grain, fertilizer, liquid propane (LP), or rock, Jim is in it for the long haul at MaxYield Cooperative, where he handles his work with plenty of professionalism and good humor.

“I’m a commodity relocation specialist—a CRS,” said Jim, who has been with the co-op for 19 years and was on MaxYield’s 2013 All Star Team. “It’s fun, and that’s the best part of it.”

Jim found his fit at MaxYield Cooperative after his previous careers of installing telecommunications equipment around the Midwest and later working as an over-the-road trucker before joining the co-op. “I like how every day is different, depending on the season, and I also like the flexibility of the job.”

Jim covers MaxYield’s West Area for grain and fertilizer, although he drives from Fostoria to Britt to haul LP after picking up a transport load from the terminal at Sanborn, Clear Lake, or Ogden. He ap-preciates that MaxYield provides good equipment to work with and emphasizes a culture of safety. He also likes working directly with farmers in MaxYield’s trade territory.

“I work with them when we pick up grain from the farm in the fall,” said Jim, who is known for his upbeat, positive attitude. “We’re like inexpensive hired help for them.”

Living the good life Regardless of what he's hauling, Jim likes working in the countryside.

“If I pull up to a corner in town and have to wait for three cars, it seems like a long time,” said Jim, a 1983 graduate of West Bend High School.

Jim also likes the flexibility of his work, especially since he can load and unload LP 24 hours a day. “Since I can set my schedule and figure out my own route, it’s like being my own boss.”

No matter where his work takes him, Jim takes the extra initiative to make the workday easier for his team members. “We help out with maintenance work and fill in where we’re needed,” he said.

This spirit of cooperation is widespread throughout MaxYield, where Jim appreciates the support of his fellow truck drivers, the mechanics in the shop who keep everything running, and Judy Frie-den, the West Bend client care leader who handles the paperwork. “It’s all about teamwork here,” Jim said. “These are good, hard-working people I can count on. They know the little things aren’t little at all when it comes to serving MaxYield’s clients.”

Editor’s note: Jim and his wife, Pennie, a fourth-grade teacher in the Graettinger-Terril School District and instructor at Buena Vista University, have three children. Oldest daughter Jackie and her hus-band, Ben, who serves in the U.S. Navy, recently welcomed a new addition to the family in Norfolk, VA. Their daughter, Lily, who is Jim’s first grandchild, was born Dec. 17, 2014. The Klepper’s second daughter, Jamie, is studying radiation therapy at the University of Iowa. Their youngest daughter, Kelli, will be a senior at West Bend-Mallard High School this fall. In his free time, Jim enjoys camping, bow hunting, and firing up his Honda VTX motorcycle. ■

JIM KLEPPER, truck driver


CONGRATULATIONS TO MAXYIELD’S 2014 ALL STAR TEAM

John WeilandAGRONOMY APPLICATOR

A


ristotle noted, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excel-lence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” For John Weiland, excellence is a habit that

has earned him a place on MaxYield’s All Star Team for two years in a row. John was sick the day of the awards pre-sentation, however, and didn’t quite be-lieve what he was hearing from his team members who attended. “I started get-ting texts from my team members that I’d been named to the All Star Team again,” said John, a Britt native who works in MaxYield’s East Area. “I thought they were joking around with me, but they weren’t.” John was surprised and humbled to receive this honor. It’s an award that could easily go to many of his fellow team members, he said. “To me, a MaxYield All Star is dedi-cated, friendly, and has a good attitude. I look forward to coming to work, because I love the job.” John’s work takes him to fields from Britt to Meservey. Whether he’s applying fertilizer, crop protection products, or chicken litter, John works alone but appreciates the team members who support him. “This job gives you freedom but definite-ly requires a team effort, too. You need a truck driver, office personnel to weigh the truck, and someone to load the products before I can apply them on clients’ fields.”

Relying on his team members to serve cli-ents efficiently has been an important part of John’s 24-year career with MaxYield. When he started with Farmers Cooperative of Britt, he worked in the feed mill before joining the agronomy team. In addition to applying fertilizer and crop protection products in the spring and summer, John applies chicken litter in the fall through GE-MAX Nutrients LLC. Providing exceptional service to local cli-ents is important to John, who worked for his Burgardt relatives on their Britt-area farms during high school and college. “The farmers around here are friendly, good people. I’ve known a lot of them all my life and enjoy working with them.”

John also appreciates his team members in Britt. “We have a good group of people, and many of them have a lot of experience here,” noted John, who is glad he can work in his hometown and stay close to agricul-ture. “The team is almost like family.”

Moving into the future While farms and equipment have grown larger, making it more challenging for ap-plicators to keep ahead of the planters and combines, technology has also enhanced John’s job. “MaxYield gives us very good equipment to work with,” he said. “I like how accurate the equipment is today, be-cause it makes precision application much easier.”

John also appreciates the opportunity to work outside, see the countryside, and take train-ing classes each year on equipment mainte-nance and other timely topics. “I also like to see how we’re moving forward, with every-thing from new grain bins to fertilizer sheds,” he said. “We’re not moving backwards be-cause MaxYield is focused on the future.”

Editor’s note: John has three children: Kay-lee, a college student who is switching her major to nursing; Logan, who recently gradu-ated from West Hancock High School and is thinking about studying agriculture at North Iowa Area Community College; and Lucas, who will be in ninth grade next fall at West Hancock. John enjoys spending time with his wife, Catherine, attending his kids’ school activities, and golfing at the Britt Country Club, where he serves as president. ■

What Makes John an All Star? Here’s what Pat White, MaxYield’s east-ern team leader, says:

“John is a client-focused, skilled applica-tor who does a super job year after year. It says a lot that some of the peers who nominated him for the 2014 All Star Team don’t even work in MaxYield’s East Area but appreciate his contributions. His pro-fessionalism, integrity, and willingness to find solutions make John a valued mem-ber of MaxYield’s team. It’s a plus that he’s a good guy who’s fun to work with. ■


Helping Students Succeed:MaxYield Modifies Ag Scholarship Programvery success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision, and change. That includes MaxYield Cooperative’s scholarship program.

For a number of years we’ve offered five $1,000 ag scholarships to graduating high school seniors and college stu-dents pursuing degrees in agriculture. We also offered the annual $1,000 Deanna Engstrom Memorial Scholarship in honor of Deanna Engstrom, who worked for the cooperative for more than 20 years before losing her battle with cancer in 2003. This scholar-ship was available to female college students studying business.

For 2015 we discontinued the Deanna Engstrom Memorial Scholarship and instead offered six $1,000 ag scholarships. While we were proud to honor Deanna’s memory, it was be-coming more of a challenge to manage two separate scholar-ship programs. We will continue to support women’s careers in agriculture through the ag scholarship program and other methods. We’re blessed to have more women working for MaxYield, including those in leadership positions, than at any time in the company’s history.

Meet the winnersWe always have multiple applicants for our ag scholarships, and this year was no exception. A committee of MaxYield team members (including Chad Meyer, Mick Hoover, and Patti Guen-ther) and Don Hejlik, a MaxYield board member, interviewed eight finalists on March 27. While the talent of the applicants made it challenging to select the winners, we’re pleased to an-nounce this year’s recipients of our $1,000 ag scholarships.

• Amanda Anderson. A 2015 graduate of Algona High School, Amanda is the daughter of Matt and Dini Anderson of Algona. Amanda plans to attend Iowa State University to major in ag business and animal science.

• Brianne Bier. A 2014 graduate of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura High School, Brianne is the daughter of Lloyd and Jan Bier of Garner. Brianne attends Iowa State University, where she is majoring in agronomy.

• McCaully Johanson. A 2015 graduate of West Hancock High School, McCaully is the son of Grant and Joan Johanson of Britt. McCaully plans to attend North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City to major in agriculture.

• Taylor Kluver. A 2012 graduate of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura High School, Taylor is the daughter of Lynn and DeEtta Kluver of Garner. Taylor attends Iowa State University, where she is majoring in agri-cultural studies and minoring in agronomy.

• Joe Roberts. A 2015 graduate of Belmond-Klemme High School, Joe is the son of Carl and Carol Roberts of Belmond. Joe plans to attend Iowa State University in Ames to major in agronomy and minor in seed science.

• Jared Wellik. A 2013 graduate of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura High School, Jared is the son of James and Carla Wellik of Woden. Jared attends Iowa State University, where he is majoring in agricultural studies.

Learn more MaxYield sends updated information each year about our scholarship program to every high school and community college in our trade area. If it seems like some high schools have more scholarship winners than others, it’s because those schools typically have the most students apply.

Scholarship applicants need to be a client or member of MaxYield or the dependent of a client or member. For more information about our ag scholarships, contact any MaxYield location. ■

E

hink of this—hundreds of candles can be lit from a single candle without diminishing the flame from the original candle. The same is true with the con-tributions MaxYield Cooperative makes to local 4-H programs and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension,

which helps enrich local communities for generations to come. These efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. ISU Extension’s honor soci-ety, the Iowa Alpha Mu Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, recognized MaxYield Cooperative as a Friend of Extension during an awards ceremony March 10 at the Scheman Building on the ISU campus.

“Partnerships like the one between MaxYield, ISU Extension, and 4-H are vital and benefit many people in local communi-ties,” said Bryan Whaley, a regional ISU Extension education director based in Algona. “MaxYield has long shared our com-mitment to take research-based information to local people, so their Friend of Extension Award is well deserved.”

ISU Extension’s honor society presents its Friend of Extension Award annually to two or three partners who share Extension’s mission and have provided strong support for the organiza-tion through the years. MaxYield has backed a variety of ISU Extension efforts. The cooperative’s commitment to providing current and emerging research-based information to its clients and local residents has been demonstrated in numerous ways, noted ISU Extension’s honor society. MaxYield has supported all agricultural education opportuni-ties for youth and played a major role in the Extension’s farm and rural safety days. “We appreciate the MaxYield team members who help out when we offer farm safety programs in local counties,” Whaley said.

In addition, MaxYield plays a key role in education for all members of the farming community, especially women in ag-riculture. The cooperative has provided financial support for Annie’s Project classes, which educate women about the busi-ness side of agriculture. “MaxYield encourages all their clients to be lifelong learners,” Whaley said. “Their involvement with Annie’s Project is making a huge, positive difference.”

MaxYield also invests in the next generation. For more than a decade, MaxYield has donated $10 per 4-H member in seven northern Iowa counties each year to decrease the cost of 4-H membership.

“4-H is one of the cornerstones in developing youth, and it provides an excellent foundation to build strong families,” said Chad Meyer, MaxYield’s client relations director. “We want to make 4-H an affordable youth program for local families, espe-cially families that have multiple children enrolled.”

MaxYield contributes more than $18,000 annually to 4-H, which teaches members lifelong skills and helps prepare them

for a wide range of careers. “4-H provides many benefits and also offers a great way for young people to learn more about agriculture and its exciting future,” Meyer said. “We’re pleased to invest in the next generation of leaders.”

Reinventing 4-H People sometimes question why 4-H now has a $30 member-ship fee. The fee has been in place for 15 years, Whaley noted. “This money helps provide a lot more support from ISU to 4-H programs across the state. The fee has also supported more curriculum development and opened a whole new world of opportunities to enrich students’ education, from after-school 4-H programs to LEGO Leagues.”

While 4-H still offers traditional clubs, along with livestock projects, cooking, and sewing, today’s youth are also inter-ested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Hancock County offers six to seven First LEGO League (FLL) teams around the county.

Five to eight 4-Hers participate on each team, and kids work together to build robots out of LEGO blocks. “These teams are very popular,” Whaley said. “The kids program their robots with a computer to do specific tasks, such as picking up a ball, and the teams can enter regional and state competitions.”

ISU Extension also offers after-school 4-H programs in various communities, including Garner and Britt. Geared for third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders, the after-school 4-H groups meet for


TMaxYield Named a Friend of Extension

(L to R) Epsilon Sigma Phi President Andrea Nelson, ISU Extension and Outreach Regional Director Brian Whaley, Chad Meyer of MaxYield, and ISU Vice President for Ex-tension and Outreach Cathann Kress. (Photo submitted)

Local Families Benefit from 4-H,ISU Extension

How valuable is MaxYield’s support for local Iowa State University (ISU) Extension programs and 4-H? Here’s what two families in our area had to say:

Lisa Zeller, Bode I was a leader for Riverdale Rustlers 4-H Club in St. Joseph for 15 years and have always appreciated the 4-H pledge: “I pledge my head to clearer think-ing, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

4-H has benefited our five daughters (Maria, Sherri, Jeni, Reba, and Anna) by showing them how to communicate effectively, teaching them how to present their ideas to others, and allowing them to discover that they can accomplish any goal they set their mind to. These skills have prepared our daughters for college and their careers. Maria is a certified public accountant, Sherri is a registered nurse, Jeni is a videographer, and the twins (Reba and Anna) are students at the University of Northern Iowa.

Throughout their entire 4-H experience, our daughters became well-round-ed people and learned many valuable skills that will continue to help them in the future. ■

Karrie Pringnitz, Garner All five of our kids—Jade (ninth grade), Jace (eighth grade), Joe (sixth grade), Jenna (third grade), and Jonah (first grade)—participate in 4-H in some form. We have kids currently active in Concord Challengers Community Club, Bullseye Bunch Shooting Sports Club, FIRE FLL Team, After-School Kids Club, and Clover Kids. I’m also a leader of the Concord Challengers, and my hus-band, Jerry, is a leader for FIRE FLL Team and the Bullseye Bunch Shooting Sports Club.

Our kids are avid outdoor adventurers, so shooting sports were a natural choice for them. Without their FLL experience, I’m not sure they would have been interested in STEM/robotics. Because of this experience, however, Jace is interested in majoring in engineering following high school.

There are so many benefits of 4-H. Through their livestock projects, the kids have learned about responsibility, decision making, and animal care. The kids have also learned communication and leadership skills by taking officer positions in their clubs, serving as mentors to FLL teams, and traveling to other schools and counties to help others learn about starting or improving their 4-H programs. Events like Share the Fun and educational presentations have improved the kids’ ability to speak in front of an audience.

One of the most important benefits of 4-H is the values it instills. While our kids are fierce competitors, they also want to see others succeed. They work very hard to do well, but if they don’t win they can still be proud of what they have learned and the work they have accomplished, and they can cheer on their friends.

MaxYield has been invaluable to the success of 4-H in Hancock County. By offsetting a portion of the membership dues, MaxYield helps more families participate in 4-H. They also sponsor activities like a feed clinic that helps kids become more successful with their projects. It’s wonderful to have MaxYield’s support. ■

8 to 10 weeks at the school for about an hour and a half each session. The after-school programs focus on a different theme each semester, from food science to STEM projects.

“We have to think of different ways to get kids involved in 4-H,” said Whaley, who noted that Extension staff sometimes lead these programs. “After-school programs are making this possible.”

Since leadership and citizenship are cornerstones of 4-H, a unique program called Ricochet provides innovative learning opportunities for area middle-school students during the school day. Popular in Dickinson County and other areas, Ricochet helps middle-school students develop leadership skills, sparks their interest in community service, and em-powers them to reach their full potential. “Kids don’t have to be 4-H members to participate in Ricochet,” said Whaley, who added that Ricochet participants have the option to become a 4-H member.

MaxYield sees the benefits of these programs and will continue to invest in ISU Extension and 4-H. “The 4-H motto ‘to make the best better’ is evident in our team members who credit their 4-H experiences with shaping their future,” Meyer said. “We were honored to receive the Friend of Extension Award and are proud to continue partnering with ISU Extension.” ■

MaxYield Named a Friend of Extension

he 100-year-old company is a very rare organization in the business world. A 100-year-old company in agriculture has managed to survive two world wars, the

Great Depression, the 1980s Farm Crisis, along with the ebbs and flows of multiple business cycles—all while adapting to revolutionary technologies.

That’s why MaxYield Cooperative’s 100th birthday is worth celebrating. “While a century is a long

time for any company to be in business, it’s espe-cially meaningful for a cooperative,” said Howard Haas, MaxYield’s board president. “To me, 100 years is a sign of staying power.”

It also reflects strong, future-focused leadership that creates an organization that’s built to last for gen-erations. Here’s a look back at MaxYield and West Bend Elevator Company (WBEC) through the years.


T1915

The first stockholders meeting for WBEC is held in West Bend on April 6. Henry Dunn is elected president, Leo Balgeman is elected

vice president, George Jacobs is elected secretary, and John P. Mersch is elected treasurer.

1921The co-op’s assets equal $35,239, and the company purchases 575,608

bushels of grain.

1934WBEC has three employees.

1936Farm fuel delivery is established at West Bend.

1946WBEC purchases the Davenport Elevator Company in West Bend. The

operation is moved to the north side of the railroad tracks.

1947All sorts of vehicles line Main Street in West

Bend to wait their turn to unload soybeans at WBEC in the fall.

1948A soybean processing plant that can handle 1,600 bushels per day is built in West Bend, along with the town’s first cement grain elevator.

1959A 240,000-bushel soybean flat is built in West Bend.

1963WBEC’s grain volume surpasses 2 million bushels. Sales

approach $4 million, while assets reach $1,446,951.

Happy Birthday, MaxYield!Looking Back on 100 Years of soLutions

1965WBEC celebrates its 50th anniversary, and sales equal $5.25 million. “When

our forefathers organized this business in 1915, they never dreamed it would reach the size it has,” writes R.W. Jurgens, general manager, in the annual report. “I predict even bigger and better things ahead for us. I do

not believe we have reached our potential by quite a lot.”

1966A dry fertilizer plant and anhydrous ammonia plant are erected in Rodman. “We have just closed another successful year,” wrote R.W. Jurgens, general manager. “We have so much government in business today, however, that

it’s almost impossible to operate as a free agent.”

1967Corn production is changing fast. Demand for liquid nitrogen soars, and nearly 90% is ap-plied before planting. Board President George Thatcher reports that about 50% of the corn harvested in the area would be picker shelled. “It has not been easy for us to keep up with the way farmers are changing our ways of harvest and the like,” Thatcher says. “Yet, we feel we have to keep one step ahead of you; or we just might have to lock our doors.”

1968WBEC handles 1.5 million bushels of grain and reaches $4.5 million in sales.

A new office and 70-foot scale are constructed at West Bend.

1969WBEC purchases the Mallard elevator from Federal North

Iowa Grain Company, adds a new 77,000-bushel wood elevator at Mallard, remodels the office, and adds a new

scale. A new office and scale are also built at Rodman.

1970WBEC grows to 36 employees and begins publishing a

company newsletter called Keynotes. The company’s grain business soars 44% from 1969, spurring the con-

struction of a 400,000-bushel steel grain tank at West Bend. The railcar shortage begins.

1971WBEC ships its first 54-car-unit

grain train on Dec. 27.

1972Following a fire, the feed mill is reconstructed and modernized. Maintenance shops are built in West Bend.

1973A 710,000-bushel concrete storage, workhouse, and 2,500-bushel-per-hour grain dryer are

installed in West Bend, along with a new LP gas bulk plant. The first long-term lease agreement is made on 54 pink jumbo hopper cars for shipping unit grain trains.

1974A 30-foot by 30-foot addition at the

West Bend office houses the new computer system.


1975The Rock Island Railroad files for bankruptcy. WBEC

General Manager Fred McKim helped form Iowa Falls Gateway Shippers Association to keep the railroad in

operation. WBEC also purchases its first semi-truck.

1976WBEC loads its first 75-car grain train at West Bend,

the first in Iowa.

1978Keytrol fuel pumps installed at West Bend, Mallard, and Rodman.

1979A new 650,000-bushel cement elevator is constructed in Mallard. WBEC handles

more than 10.8 million bushels of grain. Local net savings hit $1.1 million.

1980Company grows to 62 employees, nearly $11.5 million in assets, and more than

$1.16 million in savings.

1981WBEC joins Grand Junction Gateway Shippers to upgrade railroad track at Mallard. WBEC employees build 12,000 feet of sidetrack at Mallard and load first 75-car train from Mallard.

1982WBEC merges with Farmers Cooperative Company ofAyrshire with a branch at

Curlew.

1983WBEC constructs second 100-foot by 440-foot flat grain stor-

age facility at West Bend with a capacity of 1.1 million bushels.

1987A new office, attached warehouse,

and truck scale are added at Mallard.

1988 Local net savings reach more than $2.5 million.

1989 New cardtrol fuel dispensing system installed at West Bend TBA service station. WBEC sales reach $70 million.

1990Curlew location closes.

1991Merger with Dickens Cooperative is completed on June 1, adding the Dickens and Gillette Grove locations to WBEC. A new shop is constructed at Mallard. Curlew location is sold.

1992Members’ equity reaches $11 million.

A new office is constructed at Dickens.

1993Whittemore, Hobarton, Irvington, and

Algona cooperatives join WBEC.

1994Ampride store is constructed in Whittemore.

Hobarton location is sold to Murphy Family Farms.Irvington location is sold.

1995A new agronomy facility is constructed east of Algona. The new Ampride store is built in West Bend. WBEC’s

joint venture with Murphy Family Farms is established in Hobarton, where 10 million bushels will be put through the new feed mill each year.

1996WBEC sustains more than $3.3 million in losses due to disputed hedge-

to-arrive grain contracts. Local savings from operations drops to a negative $1,081,807. High-oil corn is introduced to area producers.

1997WBEC’s local net savings rebound to $636,902. The co-op’s precision ag program is established, along with on-farm grain pickup. The Rodman and Gillette Grove

locations are closed. Mallard handles its first 100-car train.

1998WBEC feed mill is awarded Land O’Lakes’ “Dedication to Quality” Award. The

co-op’s first Internet webpage is launched. WBEC sells Gillette Grove location.

1999An 1844 Soilection Ag-Chem Terragator is purchased for variable-rate crop nutrient applications. WBEC

purchases former Emmetsburg Terra agronomy facility from Agro Distribution. Cenex/Land O’Lakes Agronomy Company and WBEC establish an Answer Plot near Whittemore. Approximately 2.15 million bushels of corn are piled outside. Construction begins to replace steel bins destroyed in windstorm at Dickens. Bins are replaced with

a single 212,000-bushel steel bin.

2000WBEC launches a new, improved website. The company purchases Menke Oil Company in Bancroft.

WBEC boasts 13 million bushels of storage and can handle 25 million bushels of corn and 5 million bushels of soybeans. More than 100,000 acres are enrolled in WBEC’s precision ag program. The company reaches

$89.3 million in sales and $1 million in local net savings.

2001WBEC and Midwest Grain Processors announce alliance with MGP Lakota ethanol plant. WBEC will

originate 16 million bushels of corn per year to the plant. WBEC also begins construction on new high-speed, state-of-the-art energy facility

east of Emmetsburg.

2002WBEC begins originating grain for MGP Lakota ethanol plant. Karl Setzer’s grain commentary airs on KLGA/Algona and KBEW/Blue Earth radio stations and ap-

pears in the West Bend Journal and a num-ber of local newspapers. WBEC introduces soy-based biodiesel for farm and retail use. Total sales for the fiscal year top $95.2 mil-

lion, while local savings hit $314,709.


2003WBEC’s unification with Farmers Cooperative of Britt and the Fostoria Cooperative Elevator Company are completed. Cooperative membership approves new Articles of Incorporation, and the name of the organization is changed to MaxYield Cooperative. New client-focused culture is initiated during this time. MaxYield acquires Belmond and Clarion locations under lease-purchase agreement with Agri-Industries.

2004 Britt’s state-of-the-art feed mill reopens.

2005MaxYield Cooperative reaches an agreement to

combine assets, personnel, and business relationships with Mallard Ag Center. MaxYield reaches an agree-ment with AGP Grain Marketing LLC that combines

the operation of Britt, Belmond, Garner, Klemme, and Meservey. MaxYield’s Clarion location is sold to

North Central Cooperative. Significant storage and grain receiving upgrades completed at Belmond, including upgrading the Belmond rail facili-

ties to 100-car-unit shipper status. MaxYield adds 1.2 million bushels of storage and high-speed grain receiving capacity at Dickens. Office is relocated to improve traffic

flow. MaxYield’s retained savings surpass $6 million.

2006MaxYield’s first condominium grain storage bin is completed in West Bend. The co-op achieves a record-

breaking fiscal year, with total earnings reaching the highest levels in company history.

2007Sales for the cooperative reach $179 million, with total savings at $3.7 million.

2008A 12,000-square-foot warehouse facility is leased on the north side of Spencer to accommodate additional storage and seed treatment equipment. Local savings reach nearly $2.5 million, while total savings equal $10.1

million. Frank Schmidt is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

2009MaxYield achieves record earnings. Local earnings reach $7.22 million, while total earnings grow to $11.42 million. Pat White is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

2010A corn origination agreement with Hawkeye Pride Egg Farms, located near Corwith, is established. Hawkeye Pride’s feed pro-duction needs will require approximately 3 million bushels of corn annually. MaxYield also establishes a corn origination agreement with Green Plains Renewable Energy’s ethanol plant at Riga, MI. The 50-million-gallon plant requires 16 to 18 million bushels of corn annually. A new 56,000 gallon anhydrous ammonia storage facility is constructed near Meservey to replace the old 18,000-gallon facility in town. Tom Winkel is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

2011Upgrades to MaxYield’s Fostoria location continue, and construction of a new 750,000-bushel grain bin is completed. MaxYield’s Dickens location opens a one-million-gallon, state-of-the-art crop protection facility for liquid fertilizer storage and distribution. An investment in the North Central Iowa Rail Corridor, LLC fosters the return of rail service to MaxYield’s Garner

location. Don Haverman is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

MaxYieLd Leadership through the Years

William m. KirKWood 1915-1916e.l. hayne 1917-1933r.W. JurgenS 1933-1968Fred mCKim, Jr. 1968-1988gary r. alBertS 1988-1992marV PearSon 1992-1996daVid SChneider 1996-1998roBert WeBB (interim) marCh 1998 – SePtemBer 1998JoSePh K. anniSS 1998-2007Keith heim 2007 - PreSent

2012MaxYield’s Belmond East soybean receiving facil-

ity gets a major grain-receiving upgrade. Con-struction begins on MaxYield’s new 22,000-ton

fertilizer storage and blending facility at Belmond. In addition, upgrades to MaxYield’s Belmond and Mallard grain facilities increase rail loading capac-ity to 110 railcars. MaxYield’s local earnings from operations are third best in company history at $4.1 million. Jennifer Allen is named Solutions

Provider of the Year.

2013SciMax Soil Sampling is established. The new 22,500-ton fertilizer storage and distribution facility opens at Belmond. MaxYield’s total sales reach nearly $373 million. Local savings hit $4.2 million, while

total savings reach $9.1 million. Mick Hoover is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

2014A new tire and service center, along with a new MaxYield

repair shop, are completed in West Bend. MaxYield earns a “Top 100 Workplace in Iowa” award, along with a “Healthi-

est Employer” award. The Ayrshire location is closed and sold. A 110-railcar loadout capacity is reached in West Bend.

MaxYield begins a grain storage agreement with Branstad Farms near Forest City. Phase I of an expansion project at

Mallard is completed, including a 725,000-bushel bin and new grain receiving capacity. MaxYield’s total sales surpass $324 million. Local savings reach $2 million, while total savings hit $6.55 million.

David Petty is named Solutions Provider of the Year.

2015MaxYield celebrates the cooperative’s 100-year an-

niversary. Phase II of the Mallard expansion continues, adding another 725,000-bushel bin. Construction begins on a 725,000-bushel condo storage bin at

Fostoria. MaxYield earns Iowa State University Extension’s “Friends of Extension” award.

And the journey continues…

Thank you for your continued support of MaxYield Cooperative. We look forward to the next 100 years!

Want to Run for the MaxYield Board?

A strong cooperative depends on strong local leadership. That’s why the MaxYield Coop-erative board of directors plays such a key role in the success of the company.

In 2015, directors Ron Rouse and Barry Anderson from the West Area are up for re-elec-tion, along with Howard Haas from the Central Area. In recent years, MaxYield has changed the nomination process. If in-cumbents wish to run again, MaxYield won’t actively recruit candidates to run against them.

That doesn’t mean you can’t run for the MaxYield board, however. “Any class-A mem-ber of MaxYield can run for the board, and we encourage this,” said Haas, who currently serves as board president. “A success-ful board needs new blood and fresh ideas, so we encourage you to run.” For more information, contact Chad Meyer, client relations/communications at MaxYield, at 800-383-0003 or [email protected]. ■


aking million-dollar decisions isn’t something MaxYield Co-operative’s board of directors takes lightly. That’s why your leaders meet annually, usu-ally around February, for an

extended board planning meeting.

This year’s meeting in Sioux Falls was time well spent, said Howard Haas, board president. “There’s no doubt board planning makes us a better company. It’s a key way to keep MaxYield’s directors and managers on the same page as we focus on the future.”

The group spent a few days discussing the general ag economy, key areas of business within MaxYield, the cooperative’s financial condition, equity management, updates from MaxYield team leaders, upcoming capital in-vestments, and plans for growth. Leaders also benchmark MaxYield against other coopera-tives its size and compare financial statements to see how MaxYield stacks up.

Representatives from CHS led certain parts of the discussion, which is both a recap of recent history and looking forward to where MaxYield will invest its time and effort.

“Managing MaxYield is no guessing game,”

said Howard, who farms near Algona. “Board planning is a huge part of developing the pa-rameters we’ll be working on. It also helps avoid surprises where the board goes one way and management goes the other.”

Keeping MaxYield strong It’s especially important to talk early and of-ten about key projects that might be part of MaxYield’s future. “At our monthly two- to three-hour board meetings, we just don’t have the time to cover everything in great detail and focus on the future,” Howard said. “That’s why the annual board planning meeting is so valuable.”

One thing directors don’t want to do is get in-volved in the day-to-day management of the cooperative. “Gone are the days when the board approved every check,” Howard said. “We rely on management to handle the daily issues, because they are close to the business and know what’s needed. We consider their recommendations carefully.”

It takes teamwork like this to guide MaxYield into the future so the cooperative can serve clients effectively. “As a board, we’re often making million-dollar decisions,” Haas said. “We don't take this responsibility lightly.” ■

M

THIS IS NO GUESSING GAME:Why Board Planning Matters at MaxYield

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HIGHER YIELDS AHEAD?MaxYield Puts Multi-Hybrid Planting to the Test

ny farmer knows that not all fields—or even areas within a field—are created equal. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all corn hybrid or soy-bean variety that’s right for each management zone, multi-hybrid planting offers the chance for higher yields.

What was once science fiction is becoming reality in 2015 as SciMax Solutions puts this promising technology to the test in clients’ corn and soybean fields.

“We tried multi-hybrid planting last year, and the results whet-ted our appetite,” said Peter Bixel, SciMax Solutions’ team leader. “We think multi-hybrid planting can bring value to our clients and want to take a closer look at it.”

Multi-hybrid technology provides farmers with the ability to change the seed hybrid they are planting as the planter moves through the field. Instead of selecting an average seed variety for use across an entire field, seed hybrids can be selected and automatically planted to suit different field management zones.

In 2014, MaxYield and SciMax used a six-row planter for multi-hybrid planting on 90 acres. DeKalb also used multi-hybrid planting last year with a prototype 16-row planter on 1,000 acres farmed by SciMax clients.

This spring, SciMax Solutions Specialist Rodney Legleiter used a John Deere 1770 center-fill planter with vSet Select multi-hybrid planting technology from Precision Planting on nearly 1,400 corn and soybean acres on 10 SciMax clients’ farms. The vSet Select technology can plant two hybrids in the same row, switching back and forth as environments change to plant the hybrid that will produce the most in each management zone.

“The vSet Select meters we used on the planter were just re-leased in December of 2014, so this is cutting-edge technol-ogy,” Bixel said.

Does it pay? While a few companies have experimented with multi-hybrid planting in the Midwest, the technology is still in its infancy. SciMax is partnering with WinField® on multi-hybrid planting research in 2015. “This is something SciMax and MaxYield Seed have wanted to do for a long time,” Bixel said. “We have

the information to know where specific hybrids should go, based on SciMax and MaxYield Seed data, the Answer Plot® database, and expertise from partner companies.” The technology doesn’t come cheap. It costs approximately $30,000 to add the multi-hybrid equipment to a 12-row plant-er. “We want to find out if the technology is worth the invest-ment, especially in these times of tighter margins,” Bixel said. “Past research has shown a yield advantage of nine bushels on corn and three to four bushels on soybeans.”

This spring, the SciMax team worked with MaxYield Seed spe-cialists to write the multi-hybrid planting recommendations. The recommendations can include two hybrids or two soybean varieties. These “prescriptions” told the monitor which of the two planter boxes to draw from as the planter rolled through each field. Getting the data entered into the monitor was an important part Legleiter did before planting.

“It’s all about placing the right hybrid or variety in the right management zone to maximize yield potential,” Bixel said. “There’s no need to plant a defensive hybrid in the high-yield environment of an A zone, for example, but this hybrid would be a good fit for the C zone, where the soil tends to be lighter and sandier.”

Technology requires more management While SciMax is interested in multi-hybrid planting for corn, the technology might be especially useful to boost soybean yields. “With the pH, disease, and soybean cyst nematode is-sues we have throughout northern Iowa, we think multi-hybrid planting might have a significant impact on soybean yields,” Bixel said.

While SciMax’s 2014 multi-hybrid planting trials generated promising results for corn and soybeans, the technology isn’t for everyone. “It requires more attention to detail, so you need to be willing to manage for higher yields,” Bixel said. “We’re here to help you combine the technology, seed selection, and information management to help you get the job done.”

Few companies offer this level of service. In addition, SciMax will share the 2015 results from the multi-hybrid planting trials during grower meetings this winter. “Our goal is to stay two to three years ahead of the competition and see more in your fields,” Bixel said. “Stay tuned for more details.” ■

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Boost Your Profit Potential

Big changes are coming to precision agriculture, starting with multi-hybrid planting. SciMax Solutions is work-ing with Keaton Krueger, a WinField ag technology spe-cialist, to help local growers harness the power of this technology.

“We know our hybrids well and know how to manage plant populations, fertil-ity, and hybrid placement,” Krueger said. “With multi-hybrid planting, we have the power to take this to the next level.”

WinField and SciMax are also looking at new tools to help growers manage their crops more effectively dur-ing the growing season. “None of this will make farming less complex, but complexity is a good thing in this case,” Krueger said. “It’s about producing as many bushels as possible more ef-ficiently than ever.”

All this makes your relation-ship with the SciMax Solutions and MaxYield Seed team more important than ever, Krueger added. “SciMax and MaxYield have been a lead-er in precision ag for many years. They are innovators who are good at capturing reliable data to help growers boost their profit potential.”

For more information about multi-hybrid planting tech-nology, contact your SciMax Solutions specialist. ■

“It’s all about placing the right hybrid or variety in the right

management zone to maximize yield potential.”

—Peter BixelSciMax Solutions Team Leader

Rooted in a Proud Heritage


LIVINGHere

Rooted in a Proud Heritage

istory rarely looks like history when you’re liv-ing through it. Think of this classic red barn south of Corwith. At the time it was built, there was nothing remarkable about a barn on a farm. Barns were common across Iowa, and they were the hub of the farm.

How times have changed. It’s estimated that there were more than 200,000 barns built in Iowa, but there are only about 60,000 left, according to the Iowa Barn Foundation. It is also estimated that Iowa is losing around 1,000 barns per year.

While most farmers no longer have a need for barns, these Iowa icons symbolize an enduring legacy that continues to define Mid-

western agriculture. This legacy of hard work, dedication, cooperation, and faith in the future also de-

fines MaxYield Cooperative.

The roots of MaxYield run deep in our local communities, just as the roots of this blooming tree run deep near the red barn. Like a sturdy barn, our cooperative is built on a solid foun-dation that can stand the test of time. Since 1915, we have embraced the philosophy that we all prosper by helping each other.

As spring breathes new life into the world around us, ushering in a new growing season, MaxYield continues to see more in your fields. While it may not seem like we’re making history together, won’t it be interesting to look back someday and see how far we’ve come?

As we celebrate 100 years of service, your co-operative remains rooted firmly in Iowa agricul-ture. We’re also focused on the future. While it’s hard to predict what changes will transform this industry in the next 100 years, one thing is

clear. The stronger we are as a cooperative, the stronger we are as a community. ■

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PO Box 49West Bend, IA 50597www.MaxYieldCoop.com

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