EXPANDING AGTEGRA'S FOOTPRINT

Located just a few miles off I-29, Agtegra’s Colman location has become the easternmost location in Agtegra territory. Formerly known as Landis Ag, the location joined Agtegra in September 2022.

“Agtegra was already providing some technology services to customers in the Colman area,” said Jason Klootwyk, Agtegra CEO. “This acquisition gives us the opportunity to bring the full measure of our offerings to those customers. It also provides a point for future growth, and we are honored to do it with the Landis family. They serviced the area for many years, and it’s great to have them on the team as we move ahead.”

The location, managed by Jason Landis, is one that has been in the Landis family since it was started in 1990. Jason and his brother, Justin, the location’s sales agronomist, started working for the business at a young age as they followed in the footsteps of their dad, Robert, who owned the business.

“Our dad started Landis Ag by selling chemical out of the back of his pickup,” Justin said.

Throughout high school, the pair of brothers could be found helping their dad or area farmers. Jason later graduated from Willmar Technical College with a degree in agricultural business, while Justin pursued agronomy classes and a degree in recreation at South Dakota State University while also playing football for the Jackrabbits.

After college, they both joined their dad full time at Landis Ag, and in 2022, Robert retired from the business after serving the Colman community’s agronomy needs for over 30 years.

“I had always wanted to work with my father after I graduated,” said Jason. “I’m grateful for the 30 years we got to work alongside each other.”

Upgrading The Business

Over the years, many changes were made to the family business. In 1995, Robert bought the company’s first sprayer. A few years later, he bought a fertilizer plant from Cargill. As time marched on, Landis Ag continued to find new opportunities to grow and increase their equipment inventory to help them better serve their customers.

Today, the location includes an office building, which was built in 2012, a shop, a chemical shed and the fertilizer plant. The shop and chemical shed were originally built on Main Street in Colman but were later moved to their current location just outside of town after being purchased in the late '90s.

Jason and Justin are looking forward to construction projects that are in the works, including bulk liquid fertilizer storage, bulk chemical storage and a bulk seed system, which will include two seed tanks and a treater.

Joining The Agtegra Team

Location upgrades are not the only business opportunities the Landis brothers are excited about. Joining the Agtegra team has created opportunities for both them and their customers as their portfolio of products and services have expanded to include Agtegra’s wide array of offerings.

“We’re really looking forward to being able to offer more rewards to our customers,” said Justin. “Agtegra’s financing options and sales programs are exciting opportunities for our customers too.”

Their transition to becoming an Agtegra location has allowed them to meet several of their new Agtegra co-workers from across the region as they start implementing the cooperative’s systems and procedures.

Justin Landis, left, and Jason Landis, right, walk around the Colman location. Justin, the location sales agronomist, and Jason, the location manager, have worked at the location since their dad, Robert, started the business in 1990.

“The people we work with at Agtegra are what I’m really looking forward to as a member of their team,” said Jason. “We think it’s really going to grow from here.”

LIVING THE LOCAL LIFE.

Upholding strong community values

Agtegra’s value of local is reflected in the Colman location’s emphasis on supporting the community. Through their business, they have supported their local school, FFA chapter, 4-H groups, fire department, churches, local athletic teams and other city organizations. Since joining Agtegra, they have already donated bottled water to events held at the school.

Additionally, Jason, Justin and two more of the location’s employees, Jess Berg and Alec Landis, all serve on Colman Volunteer Fire & Rescue. Jason has been the fire chief for 13 years and a firefighter for 26, and Justin has served for 15.

From long-standing community support to their strong background in the industry, the Landis family has built a strong foundation for their location as they continue to serve the Colman community as Agtegra.

Agtegra Invests in EGT, LLC

In November 2022, Agtegra finalized its acquisition of a minority interest in EGT, LLC. EGT is the owner and operator of a Pacific Northwest export grain terminal and four high-speed rail terminals in Montana.

“We are very excited to become a partner in EGT to provide Agtegra customers greater access to the global market,” said Jason Klootwyk, Agtegra CEO. “Agtegra continues to focus on growth that expands our presence along the supply chain, and this acquisition provides balance in our grain portfolio as we push farther down the export value chain.”

Agtegra joins Bunge, a leading agribusiness and food company, and Pan Ocean America, an affiliate of Harim, an integrated Korean group, as partners in EGT.

“We are pleased to add Agtegra as a partner, expanding EGT’s origination capabilities to ensure a reliable flow of products to the export terminal in Longview, Washington,” said Jason Gertken, EGT president. “We also look forward to working with Agtegra’s farmer members to increase opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint through regenerative ag practices.”

This investment in EGT will provide Agtegra with deeper market access, thus providing Agtegra member-owners more destination options when they sell commodities to Agtegra. This will also allow Agtegra to better predict when global buyers are interested in purchasing U.S. commodities and allow Agtegra member-owners to capitalize on this interest.

EGT is in a winning position with best-inclass assets, including the newest and most efficient, U.S. based, Pacific Northwest export terminal. By having an ownership stake at both origin and now destination, Agtegra sits in a better position with the BNSF railroad for service and negotiations.

Erwin Added to Agtegra Trade Territory

On February 1, 2023, Agtegra acquired Erwin Grain, a seed and crop protection business located in Erwin, South Dakota. This asset will enable Agtegra to better serve core agronomy customers in the Willow Lake area in addition to gaining new customers in Erwin and its surrounding communities.

Erwin Grain has been owned and operated for many years by Rodney and Randy Page, who farm in the area.

Contact Austin Janssen, Sales Agronomist, or Ryan Schuchhardt, Central Region Sales Manager, with questions about agronomy in the Erwin area.