Finally! Nebraska farmers now have the opportunity to experience the quality products and service that Beck’s has been known for since 1937. Our expansion into Nebraska adds more than 15 million acres of corn and soybeans to Beck’s marketing area, allows us to provide Nebraska farmers access to the world’s most diverse genetics and traits, and provides a culture founded in faith and dedication to helping farmers succeed.

I am excited to see Beck’s plant roots in the Cornhusker state and be a part of this tremendous growth. It’s been a long time coming, but like with everything Beck’s does, they waited until they had the right people in place, quality products, and innovative technologies to serve Nebraska farmers at a local level.

Reagan once said, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.” And while I am only young at heart, I am proud and energized to surround myself with some amazing individuals as I help build a team of professionals to represent Beck’s team in Nebraska.

I am pleased to introduce three of our area team leaders for Nebraska. Matt Hasenauer brings exceptional experience through his roles as an independent businessman and the director of sales for Pioneer. Tony Babe brings a unique combination of skills from his work in pharmaceutical sales, sales management, and his regional leadership role with the legacy Monsanto. He most recently worked as the commercial development lead for the West with Inari’s Seed Architects Division. Mark Dickey whose also came to Beck’s from Inari’s Seed Architect group, was the product and agronomy lead for the western Corn Belt. Before that role, he was the area business manager for Channel Seeds in Nebraska.

There are a lot of great seed brands in Nebraska, but none with the culture that Beck’s has. The “Farmers At Heart” approach Beck’s takes through a team of dedicated seed professionals and their ability to offer a variety of technologies and traits with the most diverse genetic platform in a brand, will be welcomed by many Nebraska farmers. Not only did Beck’s culture and farmer-first approach attract the four of us, but the anticipated arrival has many farmers and industry professionals reaching out to inquire about Beck’s, with people saying things like, “I’ve heard about Beck’s from a friend, and I am interested in learning more!”

What impresses me most in my short time with Beck’s so far is the people; it just seems like EVERYONE at Beck’s is genuine and truly wants to help farmers succeed. The Beck family and family of employees respect and care about each other and live out the mentality that we are all Children of God. Martin Luther King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” I cannot begin to count the number of people who have reached out with a warm welcome and an offer to help.

When I received a call from Ryan Parkin, director of sales and marketing, and Jim Zimmer, director of supplier relations, offering me the opportunity to help introduce Beck’s to Nebraska, I could feel my dad’s presence, whispering to me from above saying, “Shake every tree, you never know what might fall out.” I am so glad I did. For the first time in my career, I, along with Matt, Mark, and Tony, get to help build a team from the ground up.

We look forward to surrounding ourselves with people who value and uphold Beck’s culture and values - team players who are driven to serve agriculture and the great farmers of Nebraska. I will leave you with a final quote, this one from Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

“Life is an opportunity; benefit from it. Life is beauty; admire it. Life is a dream; realize it.”