2020 International CCA of the Year: Heart In Soil Health
During the 2020 Commodity Classic and American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Annual Meeting, 2019 Iowa Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) of the Year, Adam Kramer was named the International CCA of the Year.
Adam Kramer is a small business owner in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and Waukon, Iowa farmer, he was awarded the Iowa CCA of the Year during an annual award luncheon at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC) on February 12, 2019.
A certified crop adviser utilizes best management practices that protect the environment and lead growers to produce higher yields and increased profitability for their farms. Farmers and employers prefer to work with CCAs because they have demonstrated commitment, education, expertise, and experience to make a difference in a client’s business.
The Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award is designed to recognize a CCA who delivers exceptional customer service, is highly innovative, has shown that they are a leader in their field, and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agriculture industry. The Iowa CCA program then nominates the annual Iowa CCA of the Year for the ASA award of International CCA of the Year.
Heart In Soil Health
– by FarmJounal AgPro
It can feel like walking a tight rope as farmers work to improve soil health and yields simultaneously. And on that trajectory, consultant Adam Kramer aims to meet farmers where they are on their journey—be a bit of a stabilizing and encouraging force.
“The first thing I do when starting to work with a farmer is go to their fields, do an assessment, see what their capabilities are, and talk about their goals,” Kramer says. “And it’s important to see through the producer’s eyes what is happening in the field, so we can put together the right practices.”
His commitment to focusing on the farmer-led Kramer to being named the 2020 International Certified Crop Adviser of the Year.
Kramer’s business, Black Sand Granary, offers soil testing, data management, cover crop consulting, and equipment retrofits. He’s been self-employed since graduating with an agronomy degree from Iowa State University, and his consulting is based in southwest Wisconsin, along with some acreage he farmers in northern Iowa and uses as a demonstration farm. His consulting is focused on soil health with an eye on short-term and long-term impacts on profitability.
“You don’t change 1,000 acres at a time, you try things a bit at a time,” he says. “We’ve been on some of the same farms since 2006. On every farm, we soil test, run data for cropping plans, and serve as another set of eyes for production decisions.”
He says the biggest part of being a crop consultant is just the drive to want to help people.
“It’s about helping farmers mitigate risks while raising top-end yields—and doing it in a profitable way,” he says. “And it gets really exciting when they cross one threshold, master a skill, and then they are already looking for the next thing to do better. The farmers do all the work; as an adviser, I’m challenging them to do what they are capable of.”
Kramer has a natural curiosity about challenging assumptions about the status quo, and he has a deep respect for the environment. Intertwined, those have fueled a lot of ideas he’s tried and shared with farmers.
“I’m always trying to get lean, find efficiencies,” he says.
As an example, the equipment part of his consulting includes rebuilding planters and drills for no-till and cover crops.
That system has shown increased water infiltration, improved organic matter, and reduced tillage and horsepower requirements for the farming operation.
When reflecting on his career and this award, Kramer gives credit to his wife Kellie, employees and partners at Black Sand Granary, and all of the academic mentors he had at Iowa State.
As the recipient, Kramer received hotel and travel expenses to the 2020 Commodity Classic and American Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, a $2,000 honorarium, a commemorative plaque, and a one-year membership in the American Society of Agronomy.
Bockenstedt Named 2020 Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year
Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) has named Terry Bockenstedt, a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions from Dyersville, 2020 Iowa CCA of the Year. He accepted this annual award during the Iowa CCA recognition luncheon at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC) on February 11, 2020.
Iowa Certified Crop Adviser board chairman, Dan Eklund (left), presents Terry Brockenstedt (right) of Dyersville with the 2020 Iowa CCA of the Year award and his 25 years of service plaque during an awards luncheon on February 11, 2020.
A certified crop adviser utilizes best management practices that protect the environment and lead growers to produce higher yields and increase profitability for their farms. Farmers and employers prefer to work with CCAs because they have demonstrated commitment, education, expertise, and experience to make a difference in a client’s business.
The Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award is designed to recognize a CCA who delivers exceptional customer service, is highly innovative, has shown they are a leader in their field and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agriculture industry.
Bockenstedt grew up on a farm just southeast of Petersburg, Iowa, in Delaware County, and graduated from Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, Iowa, in 1971. He started working for Crop Production Services, now Nutrien, in northeast Iowa in 1974. He has always had an eye on environmentally and economically sound practices. Due to the northeastern Iowa terrain, he is committed to advising his growers to place fertilizer where needed to promote stewardship of the land and environment. He was one of the first in the area to begin using grid sampling and variable rate technology for spreading fertilizer and believes that CCAs have a responsibility to do what is right for the grower and the future of agriculture’s stewardship of the land.
Brockenstedt has earned the Environmental Respect Award from Crop Life Magazine for the first time at a Dyersville, Iowa, location in 2006, and a second time at a Worthington, Iowa, location in 2008. The past four years, he has been working extensively with vineyard growers in Iowa, demonstrating his commitment to helping growers. Nominated by his peers, he was awarded the Outstanding Industry Partner Award in 2019 from the Iowa Wine Growers Association.
Not only is Brockenstedt committed to his growers, but he is also committed to his company. Over the years, he has mentored managers at other Nutrien locations and even working with college interns during the summer at many the Nebraska and Iowa locations.
Currently, he is a board member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee for Dubuque County. He and his wife, Gloria, currently live in Dyersville.
Over 150 Iowa Certified Crop Advisers Recognized for Years of Service at Awards Luncheon
Des Moines – The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) board of directors recognized one hundred fifty-three individuals for their dedication to best management practices, professionalism, and years of service to agriculture. The Iowa CCA program celebrated twenty-eight individuals for fifteen years (certified in 1995), thirty-eight individuals for twenty years (certified in 2000), and eighty-seven individuals for twenty-five years (certified in 2005) – view award flyers.
Recognitions were held during the Iowa CCA Years of Service luncheon on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The luncheon is annually held in conjunction with the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC) in Des Moines, Iowa. Certified Crop Advisers utilize best management practices that protect the environment and lead growers to produce higher yields and increase profitability for their farms.
The Iowa CCA board also presented the “Iowa CCA of the Year” award to Terry Bockenstedt of Dyersville, Iowa. Bockenstedt has been an agronomy professional advising farmer customers since 1974 and became certified in 1995. The Iowa CCA of the Year Award is designed to recognize a CCA who delivers exceptional customer service, is highly innovative, has shown that they are a leader in their field, and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agriculture industry.
At the conference, approximately two hundred CCAs received continuing education training to maintain their certification. The 2020 ASC offered over a dozen hours of continuing education units (CEUs). An Iowa CCA must accumulate a total of forty hours of CEUs every two years to maintain their certification.
The Agribusiness Showcase & Conference provides attendees the opportunity to explore the innovative tools they need to enhance their careers and grow their business. Save the date for next year’s event on February 9 & 10, 2021. For more information visit www.agribizshowcase.com.
The Iowa Certified Crop Adviser Program is supported at the national level by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Certified Crop Adviser Program. The CCA certification was established in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States. CCAs meet examination, education, experience, and ethical standards that assure their competency as a partner to the producer in achieving the most from their farm. For more information on the Iowa CCA program, please go to http://iowacca.org or the American Society of Agronomy https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org
More photos of the event available on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pg/agribusinessia/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3032069810166279
Years of Service – 25 Years, Certified in 1995 (87 individuals)
Iowa Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) Program awards local agronomy professionals “Years of Service” plaques for 15, 20, and 25 years as an Iowa CCA during an awards luncheon in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
David Aude Dewitt IA
Joe Auliff Eldridge IA
Dave Baack Clear Lake IA
Wayne Barnes Iowa City IA
Carl Bergstrom Ogden IA
Jeff Blauwet Larchwood IA
Terrence Bockenstedt Dyersville IA
Darrell Bowman Redfield IA
Thomas Brincks Carroll IA
Boyd Brodie Roland IA
Lawrence Buck Lime Springs IA
Tracy Cameron Lenox IA
David Chambers Orchard IA
Charles Cornelius Bellevue IA
Tim Dacken Ames IA
Edward Drake Corning IA
Alan Fairley Monticello IA
Roger Fish Eldora IA
James Frederick Orient IA
Dennis Gogerty New Providence IA
John Grandin Spring Hill KS
Gregory Griffin Crawfordsville IA
James Gruenhagen Davenport IA
Robert Gubbels Defiance IA
Leslie Handley Sac City IA
John Haney Lincoln NE
Robert Hanson Milford IA
Therese Hart Beswick Greeley IA
Jack Hiles Ankeny IA
David Jakoubek Garner IA
William Johnson Cedar Rapids IA
Scott Johnson Garwin IA
Roger Kenkel Manilla IA
Mark Klein Dunlap IA
Timothy Knutson Wapello IA
Charles Kolbet Manchester IA
Kelvin Kopp Anita IA
Kevin Kuhn Des Moines IA
James Lafrenz Maysville IA
Brett Langfritz Allison IA
Denny Lawrence Wall Lake IA
Danny Leerar Williams IA
William Long Cedar Falls IA
Leonard Luebker Columbus NE
Timothy Lueders Lake Park IA
Max McCoy Norwalk IA
Jim McDermott Spencer IA
Gary Mensen Dyersville IA
Brent Metzger Nevada IA
Tim Montgomery Lone Tree IA
Mitchell Montgomery Fort Dodge IA
Thomas Moorhouse Manchester IA
Donald Mulder Ireton IA
Joel Nelson Carroll IA
Eric Nelson Moville IA
Brent Neuberger West Des Moines IA
Curtis Nienhueser York NE
Phil Petersen Tipton IA
Norman Pottebaum Manchester IA
Rusty Raper Fontanelle IA
Jay Richter Bancroft IA
Scott Roberts Panora IA
R. Aaron Saeugling Lewis IA
Troy Schlapkohl Durant IA
David Schwartz Ankeny IA
Jeffrey Sernett Kelley IA
David Shields Mount Ayr IA
David Simonson Algona IA
Aaron Smith Cherokee IA
Barbara Stewart Newton IA
Robert Streit Ames IA
Scott Svoboda Atlantic IA
Todd Thumma Morrison IL
Mark Tinnes Keota IA
R. Hovey Tinsman Davenport IA
Gary Tuxhorn Crete NE
Allen Van Grouw Springfield MN
Troy Vincent West Branch IA
Michael Wagner Clarence IA
Daniel Weber Ames IA
David Weiskircher DeWitt IA
Brian Williams Boone IA
Thomas Winkel Algona IA
Ronald Woeste Marion IA
Alex Woodall Kamrar IA
Mark Young Knoxville IA
Eric Zumbach Springville IA
Years of Service – 20 Years, Certified in 2000 (38 individuals)
Clark Adam Postville IA
Stacy Bellcock Sac City IA
Dennis Benning Hampton IA
Marc Benson Winfield IA
Joseph Bollig Algona IA
Tim Bruns West Bend IA
Jon Buseman Rockford IA
Leslie Alan Clampitt New Providence IA
Kelly Els Pella IA
Lynn Fisher Keswick IA
Jeffrey Fitzgerald Newhall IA
Jason Michael Franck Rowley IA
Jeffrey Giesman Clear Lake IA
Tony Gross Manilla IA
Terry Grote La Porte City IA
Brian Hartman Des Peres MO
Martin Hegland Holmen WI
Pat Holloway Adel IA
Jeffrey Hough Lincoln NE
Chad Kunzman Hartley IA
Larry Lahr Cedar Rapids IA
John Long Sidney IA
Larry D. McCaulley Maquoketa IA
Neil McCubbin Marshalltown IA
Rodd McNeal Letts IA
Mike Perkins Rake IA
Ryan Peterson Pocahontas IA
Brian Renze Ames IA
Stan Schaaf Villisca IA
Bruce Schmidt LeMars IA
Gregg Schmitz Wall Lake IA
Joe Shirbroun Farmersburg IA
Chad Sieren Keota IA
David Slechta Carroll IA
Barry Tlach Prole IA
James Torkelson Mason City IA
Nick Vandervort Cresco IA
Evan D. Wielenga Hull IA
Years of Service – 15 Years, Certified in 2005 (28 individuals)
Bryan Arndorfer Bancroft IA
Ryan Burns Marion IA
Scott Fischer Melbourne IA
Michael Fredrickson Newark IL
Bob Gannon Delmar IA
Brett Gregory Montezuma IA
Phillip Hill Fredericksburg IA
Jeremy Ide Creston IA
Daniel Jacobsma Sheldon IA
Kyle Jensen Neola IA
Jason Alan Jensen Milo IA
Andrew Richard Krogman Doon IA
Jay Matthews New Hampton IA
Paul Mausser Epworth IA
Michael Mitchell New Sharon IA
Merlen Noess Sac City IA
Leonard Phillips Madrid IA
Adam Rahe Dyersville IA
Ronald Roling Cascade IA
Abraham Sandquist Woodbine IA
Andrew Scharnhorst Plainfield IA
Lance Allan Scott Avoca IA
Patrick Thilges Algona IA
Levi Tipton Cary NC
Keith Tranel Aredale IA
Peter Westra Hull IA
Brian Wischmeier Mediapolis IA
Ostendorf, Clayton, Schomburg Elected by Peers to the Iowa CCA Board of Directors
Des Moines, Iowa – During fall elections, the Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) of Iowa elected three new board members to serve and represent them. A total of six candidates vied for just three open seats. Newly elected board members are Todd Schomburg, Stine Seed Company; Ryan Clayton Corteva Agriscience; and Cody Ostendorf, MaxYield Cooperative. New terms begin January 2020 and run through December 2022.
The Iowa CCA board is responsible for developing local performance objectives, a state-level certification exam, approval of experience requirements, as well as local education opportunities, and marketing. The CCA program provides the standard for expertise and competence in the crop and soil management services industry and overseen by boards at both international and local levels.
Members retiring of the Iowa board of directors include John Bergeson, Nutrien Ag; David Chaffin, Yara Digital Farming; and Randy Law, Frontier Labs, Inc.
Ryan Clayton is a Pioneer Field Agronomist at Corteva Agriscience and provides agronomy, product, and sales support for two Pioneer sales territories in South Central Iowa. Certified in 2002, Clayton has provided agronomy support to over 36 Iowa counties. “I believe continuing education is the key to success in our industry, and I would be honored to serve on the Iowa CCA board,” says Clayton.
Todd Schomburg is the Director of Agronomy for Stine Seed Company. Schomburg is responsible for agronomic training. Schomburg is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Studies. Todd is a well-rounded agronomist with a 33-year background in farming, sales, and management, product support, and advice to farmers and dealers.
Cody Ostendorf is a Seed Solutions Specialist for MaxYield Cooperative in north-central Iowa. Ostendorf serves as a mentor to new agronomy specialist team members within MaxYield and is an active member of the Eldred Sherwood Watershed Project Advisory Council. “My passion is to read industry research, determine their efficacy, and implement changes to improve nutrient use efficiency and profitability,” says Ostendorf.
The Iowa Certified Crop Adviser Program is supported at the national level by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Certified Crop Adviser Program. The CCA certification was established in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States. CCAs meet examination, education, experience, and ethical standards that assure their competency as a partner to the producer in achieving the most from their farm. For more information on the Iowa CCA program, please visit iowacca.org or the American Society of Agronomy certifiedcropadviser.org.
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Data Takes Center Stage at 2019 Summer Workshop
Ames, IA – Certified Crop Advisers from around Iowa took advantage of an opportunity to increase their knowledge toolbox this week at the 2019 Summer Workshop – a workshop for CCAs by CCAs. This is an annual opportunity to earn CEUs in the summer and is held in cooperation under the umbrella of the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference.
Featured speaker Dr. Harold van Es, Professor of Soil and Water Management at Cornell University, provided insight on the opportunities and challenges of modeling data for real-world field applications. Dr. van Es also provided some insight into the progress of various applications to help with making data-driven decisions.
Also on the docket was an update on preliminary data from the 2017 crop year nutrient reduction strategy practice implementation assessment, presented by Shawn Richmond of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council; an overview of how data is currently being used and the future uses for data assessments in crop production by Jamie Brand, AgriVision Equipment Group; hands-on presentations with equipment from Ag Leader, John Deere, and Precision Planting; insight into drones in production agriculture by Kevin Butt, Ellsworth Community College; overviews of data usage in decision making by Andrew Knaack, The Climate Corporation, and a farmer panel to end the day.
The 2019 Summer Workshop learning sessions are sponsored by the Iowa CCA Program and the program is coordinated by the Iowa CCA Education Committee. The luncheon was sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and 4R Plus.
More photos on Facebook.
Exciting News! Iowa CCA Office Launches Apparel Store for 25 Year Anniversary Celebration
NEW in 2019!
Iowa Certified Crop Adviser Apparel, Accessories, Supplies, and MORE!
Show Them You’re One of the Best
All Iowa CCAs should show off your hard-earned credentials with apparel, outerwear, hats, etc. The new Iowa CCA store items are hand-selected by CCAs just like you. Our board of directors wants our Iowa CCAs to get the word out that the CCA program provides the standard for expertise and competence in the crop and soil management services industry! We’d like to see our CCAs wear the logo with pride.
Popular brands such as Carhartt, North Face, Eddie Bauer, and Stanley are in our store.
Give Your Staff the Appreciation they Deserve
Attention Upper Management: Do you have CCAs on staff? You need to be showing them off! We have bulk order items and quantity discounts for your business to show your CCAs off to your customers. Don’t send your CCAs out empty-handed. Have them looking professional and ready to get the job done. Need to customize items? We can add your company’s logo to all apparel items, dual branding is a foolproof way for your employees to look their best in- and out- of the fields. Our durable clothing and outerwear selection means you won’t have to buy as often and our easy payment system will get you on the road faster. (more…)