Talent in the GreenSeam

If you would have asked me 11 plans as she did not have a family years ago — when I graduated farm to take over. She didn’t have from Truman High School — if I visibility to agricultural opportuniwould live in Mankato, my answer ties outside of owning or managing would have been absolutely not. a crop or livestock operation. Would I consider working in food/ agriculture? No thanks. “I stumbled upon agricultural engineering with a focus on animal pro-

Growing up, I worked on my duction systems on the internet one grandparent’s farm growing corn day and never looked back.” Klimesh and soybeans and raising beef cattle. During harvest in high school TALENT IN THE GREENSEAM then obtained a Master of Science in Agricultural and college, I found it fun to return By Garrett Lieffring Engineering from home and lend a hand to area Iowa State farmers. However, it was not my goal to be in a University. She said, “Anyone can be field, barn, or tractor for the rest of my life. involved in agriculture even if you The common perception of food and agriculture careers is that they are dirty, smelly, long hours, and hard work. You spend your time in a field, barn or tractor. don’t have a family farm to work on. The opportunities within agriculture are endless, everything from daily animal care to financial analytics to construction supervision.” Sydney Klimesh Two years ago, when I first met Sam Ziegler, Director of GreenSeam, he said, “there’s more to food and ag than cows, sows and plows.” Agriculture is math, business, technology, analytics, animal care, construction, and so much more!

Tell me more… Ben Radke, originally from Lafayette, Minn., is attending South Dakota State University to study

Sydney Klimesh, a reliability engineer at agriculture business and is interning this summer Christensen Farms, was heavily involved with with Wakefield Pork. Ben has always wanted a showing livestock through 4-H and FFA at an early career in agriculture because of his passion for aniage. However, agriculture was not in her college mals: working with them and seeing the results.

When asked about what he is looking for in an internship, he said, “an internship that covers as many aspects of the industry but also goes in depth into each section … and learning Ben Radke more about what it all takes to raise a pig from when they are farrowed all the way to the processing plant.”

Students are not only looking for opportunities and a fulfilling career, but different experiences in the daily operations of agricultural businesses. Organizational leaders — how are you creating an inclusive and engaging environment for students to thrive and consider a career within your organization and the broader industry?

For those considering agricultural engineering or technology, Klimesh recommends, “While technical knowledge is critical to your career, allot time to immerse yourself in the daily operation of agricultural businesses. Nothing is more valuable when implementing technology or innovation than having a deep understanding and appreciation of how it might affect the day-to-day work.”

For students considering an internship, Radke suggests, “Absolutely do it. The information that they provide is invaluable. I would also tell them don’t be afraid to do an internship that you’re not so sure about, better to find out about it now than later in life.”

When asked about a fun fact about food/agriculture, Klimesh shared, “Agriculture is the largest employer in the world and is absolutely essential to life, as well as pretty enjoyable considering all the meal choices we have on a daily basis! It feels good to know this industry is never going away; but also that there’s so many opportunities for improvement in the areas of sustainability and innovation. Agriculture can offer a diverse and rewarding career for anyone!”

Earlier this year, I attended the Southwest Minnesota State University Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational where Brian Knochenmus, president and owner of Ralco Nutrition, delivered an opening address to nearly 1,000 high school students from across the state. What was his message? “There is a place for each of you in food and agriculture … there’s a place for everyone.”

Well said, Brian. As someone who had no intention of returning to the region, more less the agriculture industry, I couldn’t agree more. There is a place for everyone in food and agriculture.

It begins with cows, sows and plows — and ends with feeding the world.

Talent in the GreenSeam focuses on developing talent and promoting careers in agriculture and food. Garrett Lieffring can be reached via email at glieffring@greenseam.org. v

Matt Erickson Fertile, Minn. June 23

The Land spoke with Matt Erickson on June 23 as he reported soybean planting finished on June 10. “The beans are out of the ground and starting to look like beans.” The corn is taking off as well.

“This third storm got our farm.” The Land spoke with Leah Johnson on June 23 as she reported the severe weather on June 20 resulted in 80-mile-per-hour wind gusts.

Leah Johnson Evansville, Minn. June 23

“It’s amazing how fast the corn has grown.” The 22-inch rows are just about “We got substantial damage to our bin site.” There was destruction on all of canopied. “It’s almost knee-high.” Johnson’s corn bin roofs. Thankfully, she found the bins will be able to be The growing season is moving right along for Erickson. “The rye is all baled repaired as soon as possible, as the parts to do so are available. up and in storage.” He has some prevent plant ground which will be seeded As for the crops? “They are looking good … considering” — though with sorghum stand.

“Talking some rain tonight or tomorrow evening.” Three-fourths of an inch of rain fell at the Erickson farm on June 20. “Right here we didn’t have any bad weather.” That rain was perfect timing. “We’re about right.” The gusts that have been present in the spring and now summer, remain. “The wind has been a little relentless.” Erickson is all caught up spraying. He plans to spray Dicamba 2022  on the beans next week. He’ll plant sorghum-sudangrass tomorrow as well as German millet. He is still in the process of moving cattle to the six pastures. It’s been a slow process, hampered by trying to get the rest of the crops planted. FROM THE FIELDS Compiled by KRISTIN KVENO, The Land Staff Writer  

Johnson has observed that the late-planted corn is experiencing rootless corn syndrome. This root development issue occurs when there is little or no nodal root development. Some of that corn tipped over on the June 20 storm. In the next few weeks, Johnson will continue spraying soybeans. “We are going to ramp up to some top-dressing sidedressing of corn.” “We could use a little rain. There is a chance of rain tomorrow.” Moisture is welcome, more wind is not. “We would really appreciate it if the wind would shut off.” “We haven’t gotten a break,” Johnson explained that all three damaging storms in the area came from the southwest. This is unusual as storms mostly come from the northwest.

Bob Roelofs Garden City, Minn. “Crops looks good. We could use some rain shortly.” The Land spoke with Bob July 1 Roelofs on July 1 as he reported the fields are flourishing. The corn is waist-high. “It really shot up. It really pulled moisture out of the ground.” The last substantial rain was three inches, which fell three weeks ago. There’s a chance for rain early next week, which would be great news for the crops.

Roelofs is starting to spray soybeans. He estimates that 50 percent of beans in the area have been sprayed.

He has hired two high school helpers and is hoping to hire one more by mid-summer. They will help with a variety of tasks, which includes assisting in some hog site remodeling.

Roelofs has been on the Mapleton police force for the past few weeks and the transition back into law enforcement has been a smooth one. “It seems to be working well. It hasn’t taken much for me to get re-adjusted.”

“We finally finished getting the old machine shed down.” The Land spoke with Scott Winslow on June 30 as he reported that the shed, damaged in a December 2021 storm, is now gone,

Scott Winslow Fountain, Minn. June 30

making way for the new shed to be constructed in the next few weeks. While storms have stayed away from Winslow’s farm these past few weeks, misfortune has not. “No big storms, but we did have a disaster.” The co-op that sprays Winslow’s corn and soybeans forgot he planted conventional corn and sprayed the field on June 17. That resulted in 70 acres of dead corn. “We had to scramble to find some seed.” He found the earliest seed he could find, 91 and 92-day. Winslow was able to get the corn in the ground that day and finished planting on June 18.

There’s a significant difference between the corn planted in May and the crop grown just a few weeks ago. “I have corn that is a little over waist-high and a little over knee-high on a dog.” Overall, though, the crop is doing well. “All the corn is two weeks behind.” At this time of year, it’s usually above head high.