ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

Five years ago, Andrea Meyer and husband, Ryan, watched their hay baling business go up in flames (literally). After years of work building up their crews, customer base and machinery, the business was gone in minutes when a power surge ripped through their side-by-side barns. But it didn’t break their spirit or desire to forge ahead.

“We had worked for so long to get to that point,” says Andrea. “We couldn’t afford to go back to the beginning or jump back into where we were, operationally. So, we dove head first into working with Stine. We weren’t growing the product [at the time], but we liked how Stine was run and how they were moving toward the future. It was our best decision.”

A shared vision
Andrea had always wanted a life in the country. She met Ryan in college and they married in August 2002. It was decided early on in their relationship they would run his family farm together as business and life partners. So, as they started building their baling business, they also raised a family — 14-year-old Gus, 12-year-old Evie and 9-year-old CeCe.

“Ryan and I are totally a partnership,” says Andrea. “We get along well and share the same vision for our farm, family and future. We recently changed our business name to Meyer Family Farms because we wanted a sense of family. We hope to have the kids involved one day and foster that sense of everybody working together for a common goal.”

Field work
The day-to-day work for Ryan, an Independent Sales Representative (ISR) with Stine, and Andrea is what you might expect. From loading orders, all accounting and consulting with other farmers, Andrea says her day is full of making decisions for the betterment of their family farm and that of others.

“Ryan talks to the farmers and sells the seed and I work to ensure everything else is taken care of, customers have what they need and it’s all accurate,” says Andrea. “It frees up Ryan to do other things. He and his dad farm nearly 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.”

Andrea said this kind of partnership and balance give her the flexibility to be involved in her kids’ schools and community activities.

“I like to volunteer or substitute a few days a month,” says Andrea. “It’s fun to be at school with the kids or watch them in their various sports and activities. I love the position we’re in right now." 

And at the end of the day, the Meyers have a small lake house about an hour from their home. Andrea says this easy getaway helps keep them connected as a family, enjoying a different aspect of Mother Nature’s beauty.

Learning from women in ag
With two daughters watchful of their mom’s key role on the farm, Andrea says she and Ryan do everything they can to point out the involvement of women wherever they go.

“Women in ag have such a future,” says Andrea. “When we go to the fertilizer plant, the women are not ‘just’ answering the phone. They are the ones who know what’s going on. And we tell our girls they can do that, too — it doesn’t have to be a traditional ‘girl job.’ There’s a big emphasis to learn everything they can, be knowledgeable and go for it!” 

On the horizon
Andrea is keenly aware of how her farm partnership looks different from women before her. She’s growing her ag career while ensuring their grower customers have what they need to produce a bountiful harvest.   

“We want to be successful and grow, but we want to stay grounded and show our kids they can do this, too,” says Andrea. “They can live in a small community and be successful without having to make millions of dollars. For us, that means working a quarter mile from our home, doing the best work we can for ourselves and others.”

At Stine, we’re fortunate to work with talented individuals who put farmers first. From our knowledgeable employees to our dedicated sales team, our workforce is strong and committed to advancing the products backed by our Stine Has Yield promise.

We select a handful of independent sales representatives (ISRs) to participate in the Stine Directors Council each year. The Directors Council is structured to provide our leadership with valuable insight from the regions within Stine’s territory, directly from the people who serve our customers in these regions. This year’s Directors Council meeting was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stine leadership hosted a roundtable discussion with the ISRs to discuss topics such as our customer programs, seed shipping, new and existing products, customer service, marketing and the future of Stine. During the roundtable, leadership asked ISRs for candid feedback on these topics, including what’s working and what’s not. This feedback helps determine what programs to keep, what processes to change, and how Stine can improve products and customer experience.

Congratulations to our 2023 Directors Council and their accomplishments as Stine brand representatives in their region.

Brandon Lage, Region 21 (northeast North Dakota, northwest Minnesota)

Darren Rubottom, Region 23 (Kansas)

Curt Headington, Region 10 (northeast Iowa)

Kirk Kintz, Region 4 (central Iowa)

John LeBrun, Region 26 (southwest Minnesota)

TJ Todd, Region 18 (Tennessee)

Jeff Armes, Region 27 (Texas)

Craig Schlueter, Region 7 (South Dakota)

Ryan Bruntjen, Region 19 (Illinois)

Trey Brix, Region 20 (southwest Iowa)

Trent Stout, Region 6 (southeastern Iowa)

Brian Snellgrove, Region 29 (southeast Alabama)

Ryan Meyer, Region 25 (Ohio)

Ryan Stockton, Region 9 (Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas)

Chris Maczkowicz, Region 1 (Minnesota)

Tyler Bouy, Region 25 (northwest and central Ohio)

Derrick Dalton, Region 33 (Tennessee, Kentucky)

Shane Thayer, Region 22 (northeast Nebraska)

You may not find “farm wife Uber driver” in the dictionary, but that’s what northwest Missouri-native Kyla Berry calls her role in agriculture. As a mother of four, a partner on the family farm, and a health and fitness coach, she wears many hats. But she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Besides the kids keeping me busy and having my own side business, I run the grain cart during harvest, give rides — I’m better known here as the ‘farm wife Uber driver,’” says Kyla. “I deliver meals when I can, help with office things, and learn more of the ins and outs of farming to help make decisions.”

A family affair
Kyla met her husband, Alex, through high school FFA. Friends first, their relationship blossomed while in college, even though they attended different schools. After spending a few years long-distance, the couple married and settled on Alex’s family farm — an operation he shares with his father — near Maysville, Missouri. The couple raises corn and soybeans and runs a feeder cattle operation.

“Alex is a sixth-generation farmer, and this spring we are gearing up for his 14th growing season,” says Kyla. “We apply all our own chemicals and fertilizer and tackle harvest and spring planting as a family. We strive to take care of the land, be as efficient as possible, and continue to be open to change and new farming practices.”

Kyla and Alex also have some extra help around the farm from their four young children: 7-year-old twins Wiley and Quinn, 5-year-old Saige and 1-year-old Kylan. Their goal is to get the kids as involved as possible on the farm so they can someday carry on the family legacy. 

“There are so many opportunities that we’re able to give to kids [on the farm], like riding in the tractor and the combine during harvest, having conversations, having them read to you in the cab,” says Kyla. “It’s so fun to watch my son’s excitement when he sees the combine. Even loading the cows out or holding the gate, they think it’s the best when they get to do the simple things.” 

Learning the ropes
As a former teacher, Kyla certainly has the patience for the job and a drive to learn how everything works and why it works the way it does. 

“I grew up on a dairy farm, so it was a different type of farming,” says Kyla. “There’s a learning curve coming from a dairy farm to more of a corn, soybean and row crop type farm. It’s a completely different thing, learning the different seasons and day-to-day activities.”

One lesson Kyla said she learned early on is what encouraged her to get more involved on the farm.

“The busy seasons are lonely seasons if I’m not involved,” says Kyla. “If I want to see my husband, I need to be involved. So, I started riding along with him, asking questions about the equipment. Learning the different equipment and why they use it is very interesting to me.”

Kyla’s also focusing on strategic planning for the operation — one of her favorite activities on the farm.

“I enjoy the planning season. I want to learn more about different varieties of seed … I’ve been asking questions and wondering why we’re planting what we’re planting and why we’re placing it on different fields.”

Advice for women in ag
Kyla also turns to other women in ag for inspiration in her career. Through a mixture of social media and by meeting other female operators in her community, Kyla has found a network of individuals with roles similar to hers.

“One of the hallmarks of living in rural America is that bit of isolation,” says Kyla. “ Social media, seeing other moms on the farm and meeting other women in ag has provided good support. You can lean into them and have that community. Social media can be a really cool thing to help you connect and do life with these women.”

While she admits she’s still learning the ropes on the farm, she has an amazing experience in the industry, and some great advice for women just starting out or considering a path in agriculture.

“Do it! Step outside your comfort zone,” she encouraged. “It’s scary to start something new — do those things. Ask all the questions; that’s how you learn. Find other ladies in the ag community to support you, whether in your family, your town or on social media. Having women in ag is an amazing thing. There are so many women out there who can support you and answer any questions you have.”

What’s next?
Kyla and Alex hope to continue the legacy of their multi-generational farm.

“The farm is always changing and growing,” says Kyla. “I will learn more and learn about the planning process, and we will involve the kids more on the farm. In five years, maybe we diversify the farm and change different things. We plan to just be open to change. Change can hit you all at once; you need to be open to it.”

Interested in learning more about Kyla and how she balances family and farm life? Tune in to our next episode of the Stine Seedcast on Tuesday, March 14, for her full interview.