Agronomist (Production and Conservation)
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In 2024 I returned with my wife and two children from working in community development and ministry in Central America to begin a career with the NRCS as a Soil Conservationist. In the uncertainty of government cuts, I took the opportunity to resign from this job with benefits in February of 2025. You will find I have a broad range of experiences that have prepared me.
I have operated and worked on an abundance of farm machinery; worked managing projects, budgets, and people; have a vision for success; and my experiences align for a position such as this in both the technical and practical essence.
I pride myself in three extremely important areas. Producing profitable crops, building the soil and caring for the environment as those crops are produced, and treating people in an excellent manner to make those crops and land, as well as the people, successful. I carry a self-proclaimed title of Conservation Agronomist who puts people first.
In Honduras I worked closely with the poor in community development, leadership, and project establishment. We did this through education (tutoring and scholarships), agricultural projects (gardens, greenhouses, and laying hens), working to build local reputations and relationships, and training (teaching men and women how to become proficient and then be able lead others).
These agricultural projects consisted of garden, greenhouse, plantain, coffee, and laying hen production systems. The purpose of these endeavors was to provide employment and supplement indigenous family’s income. Coffee is the most popular crop in our area of Honduras but has historically provided little income for small farmers who often produce at a loss after all inputs are accounted for.
Vegetable crops, plantains, and laying hens offer an alternative and diversification to the unstable coffee market. Taking an idea, casting a vision, and working to see that vision through taught me much about working with and leading people.
My work in the States has focused on helping farmers and landowners grow good crops in a sustainable way. As you can see from my resume, I have extensive experience working with farmers; scouting and consulting soybeans, corn, and wheat; and I am currently working in conservation. I have a wide range of on farm experience from working directly for an organic garden to operating and scouting for a 10,000-acre row crop farmer in Iowa.
As my love for crop production grew, I decided to further my education and experience as a consultant and agronomist. I worked for Gateway FS where I started a scouting/consulting service from ground zero. This was rewarding as I developed deep relationships with producers.
I found much joy in helping some of the hardest working people in America understand BMPs, be aware of issues coming on in their fields, and make out of season conservation and agronomic decisions to better their soil health and farms. Gaining these farmers’ respect and trust made me love my job! With the NRCS I worked to help plan with these same hard-working farmers to better their soil, conserve land for future generations, and become educated on important issues to make sustainable decisions.
Mission UpReach- Corquín, Copan Honduras (full time, permanent) Aug. 2015 – Aug. 2024
Crop Consultant Gateway FS- Ste Genevieve, MO (ft, seasonal) March 2018 - Aug. 2020
Sales Intern Agriland FS - Wyman, IA (full time, internship) March 2015 – Aug. 2015
Agron. Ass./Operator JCS Family Farms - Iowa City, IA (ft, perm.) Feb. 2014 – March 2015
I graduated from Iowa State University with a M.S. in Agronomy in 2022.
