THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AGTEGRA COOPERATIVE!
p.04 CARBON CREDITS: BREAKING DOWN THE HYPE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: "The carbon offset market was worth $400 million in 2020 and is estimated to be worth $10-$25 billion by 2030. The larger, regulated carbon credit market was worth $261 billion in 2020. This creates tremendous opportunity for farmers to capture extra revenue on their operations." SEE PAGE 04 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARBON CREDITS.
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AGTEGRA APPRECIATION NIGHT FEATURING COLE SWINDELL
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COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEES READY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY CARE
03 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD 04 COVER STORY: CARBON CREDITS 06 CONTRACTING FOR CARDTROL 07 INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT 08 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT 09 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 10 AGTEGRA APPRECIATION NIGHT EVENT 12 IN WITH THE NEW: AG TECH FOCUS 14 AGTEGRA GOVERNANCE 16 READY TO RESPOND 18 DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT
PHOTO BY: SHAWN BARBER FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE MORE AG PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD One of the crucial (and unique) aspects of a cooperative is the fact that they are governed by a board of customers – in our case, farmers. While this can be an advantage for the cooperative, the actual role of the board of directors is often a source of confusion for members, employees, and sometimes even the board members themselves. The primary functions of the board are its fiduciary responsibilities. That means they are obligated to stay objective, manage the company well, and do it in a way that serves the greater good of the members and the company, rather than their own individual interests. Tactically speaking, some of the specific duties include hiring, managing, and (if needed) removing the CEO (or General Manager) of the organization, examining monthly financials, engaging an auditor and approving the year-end audit, approving a yearly budget, reviewing and approving a capital expenditure budget, managing member equity and overseeing the governance, bylaws, and articles of incorporation. Most of these duties are executed by way of a monthly board meeting. In addition to monthly board meetings, we also devote time each year for strategic planning. During this time the board and management team discuss both long- and short-term goals for our cooperative. With the fast-paced changes occurring in agriculture, it has been harder to plan too far into the future and has made yearly adjustments to short-term goals the new norm. However, our focus will always be how to use our limited resources to best serve our members and employees in the future.
BOARD FACTS 15 voting directors 4 territorial districts 3 at-large 2 appointed, non-voting advisory directors 3 year term Age limit = 70
The board responsibilities are quite strategic in nature. Monthly meetings are not a time to work on operational issues, what brand of pickup the co-op should buy, or employee relations. Those decisions are left to the management team that is hired by the CEO who is hired by the board. Finally, I would like to emphasize the value of being local and making decisions locally. The word “local” evokes some debate as the cooperative accomplishes necessary growth to have the ability to serve its members well into the future. Local used to mean, “It’s in my town.” As that became impossible to accomplish everywhere (and as we have grown), local is more regional in nature. What has not changed is the value of decisions being made closer to the farm than most companies do. There is a tremendous value to 15 farmers from our market making decisions about how to operate and re-invest in our market – not in California, or Illinois, or Minneapolis. When profit is generated here, we re-invest those into patronage for our members, our facilities, people, and service right here in North and South Dakota. That is local! Thank you for your commitment to Agtegra and for your business. Our market share growth shows that more and more farmers are doing business here and more are doing a larger percentage of their business at Agtegra. Thanks for working with us as we create a company that will last for many generations to come!
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Rick Osterday, Agtegra Board President 3
CARBON CREDITS: Breaking Down the Hype Carbon credits have become the subject of many agricultural publication advertisements over the past year and have caused many farmers to research the options of selling carbon credits or carbon offsets on farmland. While these options can generate alternative income, what does it take to do that? It depends! It helps to break down what the current lay of the land looks like in the carbon space to fully understand what this could be like in practice.
Farmers in the Carbon Market For a farmer to generate a certificate that allows a purchaser to release one metric ton of greenhouse gas, the farmer must prove they sequestered that same metric ton on their farm. Examples of how to implement this could include: • • •
Reducing passes across fields and reducing CO2 emissions from equipment Doing variable rate application of nitrogen fertilizer or using stabilizers with crop nutrition applications to reduce volatility and nitrous oxide emissions Planting a cover crop or moving to complete no-till to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil rather than releasing into the atmosphere during tillage
Livestock producers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through grazing strategies: • • •
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Implement rotational grazing to keep a healthy stand of grass actively growing Lightly fertilize grass to produce more vegetation Overseed another species of grass to create more vegetation, thus pulling extra CO2 out of the atmosphere and into the undisturbed soil For more information, visit www.carboncredits.com or https://www.essoar.org/doi/10.1002/essoar.10507653.2
Primary Consumer Markets Two primary markets for these carbon credits and offsets exist. The first market is part of the “voluntary” consumer market. This market could include any large company that is advertising to be carbon neutral by a certain date and that has sustainability goals they would like to achieve. These companies mainly purchase carbon offsets. Because this market is primarily self-regulated, purchasing companies set the protocols or farming practice changes they would like to see happen before purchasing a carbon offset from a farmer. These are the main programs advertised right now, asking farmers to switch from conventional tillage to notill or to plant a cover crop. While this voluntary market is self-regulated, there are clearinghouses like The Gold Standard or Verra that verify and track that these carbon offsets are happening at the farm level and make sure that a farmer’s carbon offset is only sold one time during the life of the contract that was signed. While the voluntary market pays less for a ton of carbon, it can have more flexible contract terms, such as allowing partial field tillage in a very wet year or not planting a cover crop in a very dry year. Some are even back paying producers for a practice change such as switching to no-till that happened 10 years ago. The second market is the “compliance” consumer market. This market is heavily regulated and tracked. An example would include a large factory such as an oil refinery that is emitting large volumes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and is under government regulation to purchase carbon credits to offset these emissions. In both markets, one thing is consistent; the farmer can choose if they want to participate. The farmer who chooses to participate in the compliance market generally receives more per ton for the carbon credit. However, the rules of the contract may be more stringent. For example, the contract may require a farmer to be 100% no-till, even under the wettest of field conditions, or plant a cover crop under the driest of conditions.
The Carbon Market and Agtegra The carbon offset market was worth $400 million in 2020 and is estimated to be worth $10-$25 billion by 2030. The larger, regulated carbon credit market was worth $261 billion in 2020. This creates tremendous opportunity for farmers to capture extra revenue on their operations. Agtegra is following these market developments closely and is working on solutions that make sense for our patrons that maximize the value per acre with the least amount of impact to their farms and ranches.
Photo credit: Bo Beers
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Managing fuel or gas expenses for multiple drivers?
Contract station fuel or gasoline purchases with Agtegra Cooperative to: • Lock-in prices. • Give multiple drivers the ability to purchase contracted energy products on a single account using fleet cards. • Easily monitor fuel or gas transactions using the Agtegra Mobile App or the Online Customer Portal.
CONTRACT WITH 94A CARDTROL STATION NEAR YOU BY CALLING: 605.725.8580 Aberdeen, SD Bath, SD
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Explore Agtegra Internships Agtegra offers diverse internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students to gain insight into Agtegra and the agriculture industry, while enhancing their knowledge and experience. These opportunities are designed to put theory into practice, complementing college studies with invaluable, real-life work experience.
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interns*
Internship Highlights
Kick-Off • Agronomy Day • Community Engagement • Continuous Education: Career Search, Business Etiquette, Understanding Total Rewards, Personal Brand • Project Presentations • Lessons Learned • Wrap-Up
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colleges
represented*
*2021 program
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community service hours*
EMPLOYEE Spotlight GARRET FOOS The South Dakota Agri-Business Association has named Agtegra Cooperative’s Garret Foos as the 2022 Applicator of the Year. Foos was recognized on Jan. 19 at the South Dakota Ag Expo held in Sioux Falls. This award recognizes Foos’ technical skillset, customer service and community involvement. “I was shocked to receive an award,” says Foos. “I thought I was just doing the job I was supposed to do for my customers." Born and raised near Woonsocket, South Dakota, Foos joined the local cooperative in 2010 and has been a certified applicator since 2011. Covering approximately 62,000 acres annually, Foos is a natural leader and models exceptional equipment care. He also works on the Agtegra Applicator Training Team where he educates others on different topics regarding monitors, machines and calibration techniques. “Garret is an ideal employee,” says Kaleb Bowman, Agtegra Director of Agronomy Operations. “He takes great pride in his work by treating both the equipment and the land like they are his own. This is why Agtegra trusts him to be strongly involved with leading and training other applicators within our organization.” Pictured above (left): The Foos Family (left to right): JoLynn, Blair, Haylee, Michael and Garret. Picture above (inset): Garret receives 2022 Applicator of the Year award.
“Not only does Garret go above and beyond, but he is also always willing to test and validate any new technology that we think could be a good fit for Agtegra’s future." Neal Hiemstra, Agtegra Agronomy Logistics Manager 8
Hear how Chris Pearson, CEO of Agtegra, is thinking about the future of broadband. Q: What are some of the trends you’re seeing in farming? A: Farming continues to evolve as consumer expectations,
weather, political landscape, and technology change. At Agtegra, we are integrating state-of-the-art farming technology for our member-owners. Technology plays a big role on today’s farm. Agtegra does a lot of work with variable rate fertilizer application, seeding, GPS guidance and autonomous vehicles. We’re excited to be a leader in relevant ag technology in our market. Q: Let’s talk about Aberdeen. What are you excited about that’s happening in the local community? A: Agtegra is a proud member-owner of Land O’Lakes, Inc., and I am really excited about the recent partnership they announced with The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to launch the first American Connection Community, a broadband infrastructure program, in Aberdeen. We see this as a fundamental way to help link our farmers to the future of agriculture, while creating new jobs and business opportunities for communities in our trade area. This is great for rural development. Q: How will a strong broadband infrastructure benefit our local community and farmers? A: It’s important to farmers that rural towns thrive with quality health services, a strong economy, and access to technology. Farmers depend on, in an extended way, their communities being relevant. This investment in the Aberdeen area will help advance our efforts to bring innovation and vitality to our communities. To learn more about Innovation at Agtegra, visit www.agtegra.com. To learn more about the Land O’Lakes and CORI partnership, visit www.landolakesinc.com. 9
AGTEGRA AUGUST 6, 2022
Agtegra offers full service solutions for your whole farm - everything from ear tags to fertilizer! As a member-owner, taking advantage of the comprehensive portfolio Agtegra has to offer benefits your farm, Agtegra and the community you live in. That’s why we want to celebrate our member-owners who support Agtegra’s whole offering and in return, propel the farms, Agtegra employees and communities forward for our future generations.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS | HURON, SD
HOW MEMBERS EARN TICKETS Purchase or sell a minimum of $5,000 in at least 4 categories to receive: 4 categories
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2 tickets
5 categories
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4 tickets
6 categories
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6 tickets
7 categories
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8 tickets
2 VIP passes
8 categories
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10 tickets
4 VIP passes
Qualifying purchase dates: August 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022.
QUALIFYING CATEGORIES OF BUSINESS
Featuring
COLE SWINDELL WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
GRAIN FERTILIZER CROP PROTECTION SEED CUSTOM APPLICATION
Richie McDonald formerly of LONESTAR
AG TECH & INNOVATION CENTER
Larry Stewart from RESTLESS HEART
FEED & FARM SUPPLY
Tim Rushlow formerly of LITTLE TEXAS THE BLUEST EYES IN TEXAS•THAT ROCK WON’T ROLL • AMAZED • GOD BLESSED TEXAS • I’LL STILL BE LOVING YOU • SMILE • WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN•I’M ALREADY THERE • AMY’S BACK IN AUSTIN •WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE (WRONG OR RIGHT)
ENERGY, TRUCK & AUTO
Thank you to our business partners for helping to support this event! For questions regarding ticket qualifications, please contact your local Agtegra Representative.
Agtegra Cooperative hosted “Agtegra Day at the Capitol” in Pierre, SD, on January 25, 2022. The purpose of the day was to advocate on behalf of our 6,600 member-owners on issues that impact Agtegra and our farmers and ranchers. Agtegra directors, delegates, leadership, and employees met with legislators, constitutional officers, and governmental officials to discuss key issues.
AGTEGRA LEADERS CONTINUE BUILDING CONNECTIONS AT THE STATE CAPITOL A Focus on Rural Communities This year, we also shared information about Agtegra Cooperative’s continued efforts to support our members, employees, and South Dakota’s rural communities. The experience was wrapped up with the acknowledgement of Agtegra Cooperative in the House and Senate during the day’s sessions. "Agtegra Day at the Capitol" is an annual event.
Why Cooperatives Matter “We need to continue to advocate for South Dakota agriculture and the importance and value of the cooperative model. 'Agtegra Day at the Capitol' is one of the ways we are able to do this by talking with our government officials.” Mike Traxinger General Counsel and Director of Governmental Affairs 11
IN WITH THE NEW: AG TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCED TO MEMBER-OWNERS
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griculture is an ever-changing industry, and new technology is introduced practically every day. As new developments take shape, Agtegra recognizes the need to adapt and strives to stay ahead of the curve by finding methods to best serve our growers. Recently, Agtegra introduced a scouting platform called Taranis, which utilizes the latest drone and imagery technology to provide growers with valuable insights on their fields. The platform takes crop scouting to the next level by utilizing drones to capture submillimeter imagery of the crop. “Autonomous technology in agriculture will quickly be adopted as products mature,” said Brent Wiesenburger, Agtegra Director of Agronomy Technology Services. “Drone scouting used to require hours of processing time per field, and now, it only takes minutes. Artificial intelligence (AI) built into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) scouting platform can identify weeds, disease, insects and even nutrient deficiency. These products will forever change how fields are monitored.” Taranis’ technology removes the estimation work that traditional scouting requires and, instead, precisely shows where problems exist with “leaf-level precision." This allows agronomists to create targeted, variable rate prescriptions for fields. Agtegra is proud to 12
be an early adopter of this technology and has already witnessed positive results from the platform’s use.
Trial leads to partnership Agtegra also had the privilege of trialing Raven’s autonomous, cabless OMNiPOWER™ platform this past fall. Agtegra team members tested the technology on a driverless fertilizer spinner box, powered by the OMNiPOWER technology, by remotely operating the equipment from a nearby pickup. This trial consisted of 2,600 acres credit: Clay Abramson across varying field conditions, which gave team members the opportunity to evaluate its fit into Agtegra’s custom application business in years to come. “As for Agtegra we’re going to keep looking for what is the best fit for our patrons within the autonomy space,” said Allen Neuharth, Agtegra Centralized Dispatcher and Fleet Manager. Likewise, a few of Agtegra’s member-owners utilized Raven’s OMNiDRIVE™ technology during harvest this fall and were able to provide exceptional feedback for Raven to further develop the technology. With OMNiDRIVE, a farmer can remotely operate a grain cart tractor outfitted with the OMNiDRIVE hardware from a tablet in their combine.
Agtegra’s Innovation Centers are authorized Raven autonomy dealers. Contact your local Innovation Center Specialist if you are interested in utilizing this technology on your farm.
Leading the industry with innovative technology to advance operations “The evolution of technology is always encouraging, as it is there to make our jobs and processes easier, which in turn makes us more efficient,” said Kaleb Bowman, Agtegra Agronomy Automation Manager. “As we continue to try to outpace customer needs, we are embracing technology and automation to meet those demands. When opportunities of technology and automation, like the OMNiPOWER, come to us, it is our obligation to both our vendors and patrons to test and help develop it so those things can be brought to market and give us a lead in understanding how it will fit into our operations moving forward.” Agtegra will continue to partner with Raven, Taranis and other companies to discover, assess and advance ag technology for our growers.
Agtegra is grateful to be serving progressive farmers in the industry.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
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Thank you for supporting Agtegra, a member-owned cooperative! Below is a complete list of the 2022 Agtegra Cooperative elected directors and delegates. With this governance structure, the delegates serve as a liaison between the directors and members. This allows delegates to provide valuable insight and encourages collaboration.
2022 AGTEGRA COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AT-LARGE DIRECTORS: Lance Hanson - Groton, SD Jeff Lakner - Wessington, SD Quentin Larson - Pollock, SD NONVOTING ADVISORY DIRECTORS: Chad Boekelheide - Northville, SD Justin Deutsch - Langford, SD
STRONG. STABLE. DEPENDABLE. LOCAL. If you are interested in running to be a future director or delegate, please contact Val Weisser at (605) 725-8341 or by email at valerie.weisser@agtegra.com.
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DISTRICT 1 DIRECTORS: Glen Crawford - Aberdeen, SD Joel Erickson - Langford, SD Matt Johnson - Webster, SD DELEGATES: Gaylon Anderson - Aberdeen, SD Robert Conn - Bristol, SD Justin Deutsch - Langford, SD Nathan Duerre - Bristol, SD Colin Dutenhoffer - Aberdeen, SD Justin Freeland - Houghton, SD Jeremy Haselhorst - Mansfield, SD Troy Haselhorst - Mansfield, SD Morgan Holler - Pierpont, SD Steve Kuecker - Webster, SD Chris Nickeson - Pierpont, SD Casey Nilsson - Warner, SD Scott Sperry - Bath, SD Darin Wiedebush - Mansfield, SD Jarrett Zimmerman - Groton, SD
DISTRICT 3 DIRECTORS: Mike Clements - Miller, SD Chris Eymer - Reliance, SD Steve Halverson - Pierre, SD DELEGATES: Jerry Busch - Kennebec, SD Clay Fenenga - Hamill, SD Kelvin Grey - St. Lawrence, SD Doug Halverson - Kennebec, SD Jake Horning - Cresbard, SD Liam McManus - Reliance, SD Jeff Messmer - Wessington Springs, SD Norval Millard - Presho, SD Katherine Porter - Highmore, SD Ronnie Prien - Stickney, SD Adam Schindler - Reliance, SD Dennis Simons - St. Lawrence, SD Harlan Smith - Harrold, SD Alec Terca - Presho, SD Andrew Zastrow - Gann Valley, SD
DISTRICT 2 DIRECTORS: Heather Beaner - Mellette, SD Jay Esser - Redfield, SD Wallace Knock - Willow Lake, SD DELEGATES: Mark Boekelheide - Northville, SD Andrew Boomsma - Wolsey, SD Logan Clemensen - Conde, SD David Jandel - Athol, SD Brian Johnson - Frankfort, SD Keith Lambert - Frankfort, SD Steve Masat - Redfield, SD Matt Micheel - Cavour, SD Bob Moody - Huron, SD Jason Pazour - Frankfort, SD Mike Puffer - Hitchcock, SD Gordy Salmen - Madison, SD Dylan Troske - Northville, SD Rory Troske - Turton, SD Eric Zell - Cavour, SD
DISTRICT 4 DIRECTORS: Rick Osterday - Java, SD Steve Pfeifer - McLaughlin, SD Andy Weisser - Roscoe, SD DELEGATES: Darwin Aman - Eureka, SD Troy Beck - Artas, SD Kelly Bosch - Strasburg, ND Don Eberle - Strasburg, ND Jason Fauth - Leola, SD Evan Haar - Onaka, SD Kent Heid - McLaughlin, SD Charles Hettich - Roscoe, SD Andrew Hulm - Hague, ND Thomas Schaefbauer - Strasburg, ND ReEtta Sieh - Leola, SD Gary Ternes - Strasburg, ND Terry Ulrich - Ashley, ND Caleb Wiest - Herreid, SD
https://www.agtegra.com/about#governance
CHRIS PEARSON TO TRANSITION LEADERSHIP OF AGTEGRA Chris Pearson, CEO of Agtegra Cooperative, notified the Board of Directors that he will be departing as the CEO on July 1, 2022. Pearson has been with the cooperative since 2013 and served as CEO for 5 years. He was instrumental in the formation of Agtegra in 2018, which has grown to be the nation’s largest locally owned agricultural supply cooperative with 74 locations. Pearson stated, “It has been an honor to play a key role in the formation of Agtegra four and a half years ago and to serve as its first CEO. The farmers of North and South Dakota own a world-class company and should be proud of its team and its impact on agriculture, farms, and communities both locally and nationally.” “We appreciate the service of Chris, Rachel, and their family to Agtegra Cooperative and to our farmers and communities,” said Agtegra Board Chairman Rick Osterday. “During his tenure, he made many key strategic decisions, created a singular culture, assembled an industry-leading leadership team, implemented marketing plans leading to significant market share growth, and executed significant plans to ensure that Agtegra is well-positioned for the future. ”The Agtegra board has appointed a search committee and started the process of a search to fill the CEO position. It will be imperative for the next CEO to continue the Agtegra philosophy of making decisions with the longevity and stability of Agtegra and its farmer-owners in mind. Pearson will be working extensively with the board and staff over the next four months to ensure the best possible transition in leadership takes place.
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READY TO RESPOND Agtegra employees trained in emergency care through pilot program
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hen an emergency strikes in the rural Dakotas, it can take several minutes before emergency medical service personnel arrive to the scene. With much of the region considered medically underserved, a partnership between Agtegra and healthcare providers has become a step towards filling the need for more people trained to help in emergency situations.
THE DAKOTA RESPONDERS TRAINING PROGRAM In collaboration with Dr. Matt Owens of Redfield Community Memorial Hospital and the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Agtegra has become the first company to implement the Dakota Responders program, a curriculum created to train more people to provide emergency care for serious bleeding, opioid overdose and use of automated external defibrillators (AED). The curriculum was developed by an ad hoc group comprised of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, South Dakota State Medical Association, Northeast and West River Area Health Education Centers, Sanford Academic Affairs EMS Outreach and the Community Memorial Hospital. The group received funding through the U.S. Department of Labor and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to combat the emergency medical service crisis in South Dakota and improve health outcomes for rural residents, which the Dakota Responders program helps achieve.
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Through the training, Dr. Owens and additional healthcare professionals provide instruction in three life-saving areas. These include: - Stop the Bleed, an initiative of the American College of Surgeons and the Hartford Consensus that trains individuals on how to properly stop bleeding - Administering NARCAN®, a nasal spray used in treating opioid overdose - AED operation Because of Agtegra’s footprint in rural eastern South Dakota, employees are well-positioned to provide life-saving care until EMS personnel can arrive. This is one of the reasons why the program was implemented in the cooperative.
A MISSION DRIVEN PROGRAM “Part of Agtegra’s mission is to have a strong presence and be a significant partner in our local communities,” said Beth Locken, Agtegra Director of Safety and Environmental. “We are always looking for ways to help empower and provide training to our employees, and this was an obvious way for us to have an impact in our communities and with our employees.” The first training was conducted for Redfield, Northville and Mellette location employees on Jan. 5. A total of seven training sessions will be held over the next few months to help reach the goal of training 100 employees.
As part of the collaboration’s grant funding, “ditch kits” will soon be provided to trained employees. These kits will hold life-saving tools such as tourniquets so these employees will be equipped in case of emergency.
BEYOND WORKPLACE SAFETY Offering the Dakota Responders training to Agtegra employees goes beyond workplace safety. Trained individuals will have the ability to perform life-saving measures to individuals in need of immediate medical attention. For the many communities in the region that are several minutes from the nearest healthcare facility, this could mean the difference between life or death. "As we encourage First-Aid and CPR training for all of our employees, I would personally encourage this training for individuals because we all have families and loved ones that could need help in the blink of an eye,” said Locken. “In rural communities when our first responders arrive at the scene of an incident, it is quite often an individual they know from the community. With this knowledge, class attendees can be equipped in our professional and personal lives. And, will also be able to provide assistance on a moment’s notice and feel comfortable doing so."
“Part of Agtegra’s mission is to have a strong presence and be a significant partner in our local communities.” Beth Locken
Agtegra Director of Safety and Environmental
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DIRECTOR Spotlight QUENTIN LARSON
After graduating from Pollock High School in 1976, Quentin worked at Pollock Farmers Elevator as a laborer, bookkeeper, and assistant manager. He and his wife Lori were married in 1979 and took over the family farm in 1979 (homesteaded in 1889). Their farm is located in north central South Dakota along the Missouri River, where they raise corn, beans, spring wheat and sunflowers and manage a cow/calf operation. They also farm his wife’s land in North Dakota by Westfield. They have four grown children and six grandchildren. Quentin and his wife farm and ranch with their son Josh and his wife Katelynn. It doesn’t get any better than that! In the winter months, they visit their three daughters and family located in Colorado, Arizona, and California. Quentin enjoys the freedom and daily challenges of being in agriculture, especially opportunities with new technology. When asked what he loves most about agriculture, Quentin shared, “You always learn new things daily, whether it be markets, weather, or technology, if you are willing to keep your eyes and ears open." Quentin has been active in the governance of a co-op for 36 years. “I was on the Pollock Farmers Elevator Board, North Central Farmers Elevator Board and now the Agtegra Cooperative Board,” states Quentin. “Having worked on both sides of the fence, I understand both sides of the business which helps me make decisions to move the business forward. I believe in the co-op system and what it offers to our patrons and shareholders.” As an Agtegra director, Quentin also served on several Agtegra committees, including the board strategic outlook and government affairs committee, where he enjoyed being able to see all the connections associated with similar interests as Agtegra. “I enjoy being able to work with other great people for a common goal,” explains Quentin. He now serves on the governance committee. Quentin recommends becoming a delegate or director and attending local and annual Agtegra meetings. His advice: if you try and don’t succeed at first, keep trying. It’s rewarding and worth the effort.
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Pictured far left: Quentin's farmland Pictured below (left to right): Quentin's rattlesnake hunting prize; Quentin and his wife Lori; Quentin's son Josh, daughter-in-law Katelynn and their children; Quentin Larson
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