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…)
Summer Workshop – Save The Date
TURNING DATA INTO DECISIONS | August 15, 2019
Jeff & Deb Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center | Ames, Iowa
2019 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Summer Workshop (7 CEUs)
Event Sponsored by Iowa CCA Program
Luncheon Sponsored by 4R Plus and The Nature Conservancy
Coordinated by the Iowa CCA Education Committee, we invite you to 2019 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Summer Workshop. Experts will join us at the Hansen Learning Center to share their experiences on the use of technology and turning all that data into impactful decisions. It is a full day of industry insights you can take straight to the field. You’ll earn 6 CEUs for this hands-on experience. Sessions run 55 minutes each. Register today, your farmer customers are counting on you!
Turning Data into Decisions | Thursday, August 15, 2019
8:30 AM
Registration opens at the Hansen Learning Center
9:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
A Deeper Understanding of Soil Health and Nitrogen Management
– Howard van Es, Professor, Cornell University
10:30 AM
INREC Statistical Survey for Measuring Nutrient Reduction Strategy Progress
– Shawn Richmond, Director of Environmental Services, Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council
11:00 AM
The Fuel for Managing Field Variability and Maximizing Profitability
– Jamie Brand, AgriVision Equipment Group/ John Deere Dealer
Noon
Lunch / Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy/ 4R Plus
12:30 PM
Group Breakouts: 1) Ag Leader Technology 2) Precision Planting 3) John Deere
1:30 PM
Drones and Technologies in Production Agriculture
– Kevin Butt, Agriculture Professor, Ellsworth Community College
2:30 PM
Using Data for Decision Making
– Andrew Knaack, Field Product Specialist, The Climate Corporation
3:30 PM
Farmer Panel – Utilizing Data for Decisions on the Farm
4:30 PM
Adjourn
REGISTER ONLINE: agribizshowcase.com
Armstrong Awarded 2019 ICCA of the Year Award
Iowa CCA Walter Armstrong Named International CCA of the Year by ASA
By Denice Rackley
Original post from ASA – click to view
Above photo was taken during the 2018 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference Iowa CCA Awards Luncheon on February 13, 2018. Walter was honored with the Iowa CCA of the Year Award in February of 2018 and nominated by the Iowa CCA board to receive the International CCA of the Year Award in March 2019. Walter pictured front row left – the plaque was awarded to Armstrong for his dedication and commitment to what it means to be a CCA.
Education and innovation are the hallmarks of the career of this year’s International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) of the Year Award recipient, Walter Armstrong of Ames, IA. For more than three decades, Armstrong has been listening to his customers and helping to solve their problems. Each year, one of the more than 13,000 CCAs is selected to receive this award based on his or her customer service, innovation, leadership skills, knowledge, and ability to exchange ideas and educate those in the agriculture community.
Armstrong grew up on a diversified crop and livestock operation. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in education emphasizing agriculture. Active in the Iowa CCA program, Armstrong has served as a board member, a marketing committee chair, and as president. While on the board, he sought opportunities to speak with college students about his vocation and the CCA program. Bill Northey, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, believes Armstrong’s leadership has fostered greater trust between farmers in the community and their CCAs. Armstrong has worked in the sales, marketing, and management areas of prominent agriculture companies and currently works for Bayer CropScience.
It’s no surprise that an education major enjoys learning and advocates for education. Armstrong believes “the more you know the more you can help,” adamantly supporting the CCA program and the knowledge, skill, and professionalism it represents. The CCA program’s extensive continuing education requirements “encourages you to be more on your toes,” Armstrong comments. Learning and the exchange of ideas takes place not so much in a classroom but in the field assisting his customers. Perceiving a problem and figuring out possible solutions for the customers is what Armstrong enjoys most in his work. Combining experience and knowledge with innovative ideas that solve problems is Armstrong’s passion.
“Walter does not sell products to his customers—he helps customers solve their problems,” says David Nelson, owner/partner of Nelson Farms and Ag Solutions Group. “These solutions come about from Walter’s way of listening, assessing, and communicating with the customer. Walter has been and is an excellent representative of what I believe the Certified Crop Adviser Program strives to portray in its commitment to U.S. agriculture.”
Armstrong tries to understand the challenges his clients face on a day-to-day basis. He has been involved in helping design and market new equipment ideas and devising adaptations of equipment to meet the ever-changing challenges faced by producers. Armstrong, in collaboration with a chemical equipment manufacturer, was the marketing lead that developed spray kits for the conversion of floater spray equipment. This equipment was designed to navigate the rough terrain of CRP acres, spraying glyphosate in preparation for production. This concept minimized soil erosion caused by tillage and encouraged the use of no-till. Along with an equipment manufacturer, Armstrong was involved in the early developmental stages of equipment that would till and level the ground in one pass prior to planting. He also collaborated on a universal injection system that was able to apply an insecticide and fungicide in-furrow. Armstrong was also involved in the concept and design of equipment that saves farmers time by spraying glyphosate while no-till drilling soybeans.
Armstrong became a CCA in 1996 and has been a crop adviser for 34 years. Over the years, he’s seen many changes in agriculture. “In the 1980s, we were growing crops in wide rows, now we use narrower rows. We used to think 140- to 150-bushel corn was good, now we produce 200- to 250-bushels/acre. Bio-technology has played a considerable part in agriculture and will continue to do so into the future. Hybrid seeds and varieties are now specially designed for different soil types and environmental conditions. Everything from fertilizer application to pesticide and weed management has evolved and continues to
do so.”
Looking to the future
Armstrong views agriculture as an increasingly competitive and sophisticated business, “Not only are producers competing for acres but also markets,” he says. He sees CCAs deciphering the vast bombardment of digital information, using their education and skills to sort out what actually works and is practical from the continual stream of information. Armstrong expects the challenges of balancing production with environmental concerns to increase. “Producers need to produce as much as possible while simultaneously dealing with a shortage of individuals in the ag workforce. We will need to continue working toward environmental preservation and address soil and water quality issues.” The role of CCAs will expand with continued advancements in knowledge and digital technologies, Armstrong believes. New technologies will help provide answers, but this will be an evolving process. “CCAs will need to partner with other ag professionals as more pressure is applied to produce the world’s food in a safe, ethical way while preserving the planet,” Armstrong says.
“The advances in digital technology and climate data enable us to overlay information on soil types, fertility, insect pressures, diseases, precipitate, humidity, heat, and other factors affecting production. This will lead to compelling changes for the future of agriculture,” he says. Armstrong believes CCAs are committed to agriculture and desire to see the industry continue to advance.
CCAs along with others in the ag industry must share the responsibility of getting accurate information about agriculture in front of the general public. The perception of agriculture and biotechnology combined with production needs and environmental preservation is where challenges of the future lie, according to Armstrong. “Stepping out of the shadows [and] having an open discussion will benefit everyone.”
Armstrong’s advice for young agriculture professionals is to “jump in, be proactive.” He goes on to say, “if you grasp concepts and are continually learning; if you focus on trying to solve problems and making a difference, you will succeed.”
To learn more about the American Society of Agronomy please visit https://www.agronomy.org/