Generating Success: Evaluating Strengths and Defining Roles

Owning an independent business has ample rewards and unique challenges because business decisions can get complicated when family and finances are involved. The key to running a lucrative business is to base major decisions on facts and figures instead of emotions.

The Stine family believes very strongly that sharing their last name does not obligate an individual to join the business or entitle him/her to run the company. Before you invite an individual into your farming operation, determine if he/she has the skills required to keep it sustainable and profitable. When it’s time to define each person’s role, evaluate strengths and weaknesses and “let their respective skills lead the way so each one does what he does best,” advises Stine Seed Company President Harry Stine.

Harry is the guiding visionary and actively involved in the day-to-day operations at Stine Seed. His sons Myron and Warren both chose to work alongside him and have earned key roles in the company.

Myron is very extroverted and found his niche as the vice president of sales and marketing. He provides direction in marketing strategies and sales force infrastructure. He also talks with growers to learn how Stine Seed can exceed their expectations and increase the profitability of their operations.

Warren is very analytical and has a diverse educational background with a B.S. in Agronomy, B.S. in Classical Studies, B.A. in History and M.A. in History. He followed closely in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in the breeding side of the business. Warren currently acts as Stine Seed’s corn product technical advisor. His primary focus is breeding and developing Stine’s proprietary corn inbreds and hybrids, as well as helping manage Stine’s retail corn portfolio.

Defining roles and assigning responsibilities based on each individual’s strengths enables Stine Seed to build a stronger company, provide superior customer service and develop the best corn and soybean genetics on the market today.

Do you need guidance defining each family member’s role within your farming operation? Join us at Successful Farming magazine’s Generating Success Conference sponsored by Stine Seed. Keynote Speaker Jolene Brown, CSP, will provide take-home tools to improve the management, leadership and transition of your multi-generation family farm. The event is scheduled for August 11-12, 2011, at the West Des Moines Marriott in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Register now!