Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award presented to Brian Berns
The Greene County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture award was presented to Brian Berns of Lohrville at the 2021 Greene County Farm Bureau member appreciation picnic held Tuesday, July 20, at the Grand Junction Community Center. About 55 members attended and shared a catered meal.
Greene County Farm Bureau board member James Holz gave the welcome and made introductions.
Board member Perry Parker presented the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award after reading the following:
“This year’s Greene County Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Ag Award goes to an individual who is an expert in the science of soil management and crop production.
“Our recipient grew up on a farm near Churdan and graduated from Paton-Churdan High School in 1988. Post high school studies took him to Iowa State University where he earned a BS degree in ag business and a minor in agronomy.
“After graduating from ISU, he worked for two years as an agronomist for Double Circle Farm Supply in Ida Grove. Greene County was fortunate that our recipient chose to return to his hometown where he went to work at FC Cooperative as a field sales agronomist at the Churdan and Farnhamville locations, where he became an agronomist for many of the growers he grew up with or knew. This was an opportunity yet a challenge at the same time. Ultimately, a rewarding experience, he has developed a trusted, valuable, and long-standing working relationship with his growers stating that they make him better because they want to do better.
“In 2016, FC and West Central merged and Landus Cooperative was formed, and his career as a field sales agronomist continued at the newly formed cooperative. Doing more than $18 million in annual sales, working with 120 customers and more than 100,000 acres, he received the 2017 Certified Crop Advisor of the Year for Iowa. Very humbled to have been nominated by his peers in the agronomy sector, it spoke volumes about the level of service he provides to his growers, his extensive knowledge, and commitment to the agronomy industry. Never one to take all the credit for the success he has had, he is very appreciative of his customers, his support staff, agronomy operators, and the incredible support of his family.
“In 2021, our award winner was hired by New Coop as a sales agronomist based out of the Lohrville location, serving growers in Greene, Calhoun, Webster, and Carroll counties, where he continues to bring his high level of knowledge of the seed industry and his unmatched over-all knowledge of the agronomy sector to his customers. The value he brings to his customers and clients is top-notch as well as his willingness to mentor others in the agronomy field.
“Our recipient is a member of First Baptist Church in Churdan, American Society of Agronomy, and Greene County Farm Bureau. Most importantly, he is the father of Jake and Chloe and husband of Lori.
“It is with great pleasure that Greene County Farm Bureau presents the 2021 Greene County Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture award to Brian Berns of Lohrville.”
Berns was then presented with a plaque to commemorate the honor.
Also recognized were Greene County Farm Bureau 2021 scholarship winners Chloe Berns of Lohrville, Laci Riedesel of Churdan and Ashlynn Frederick of Bagley.
Greene County Historical Society members gave a short and entertaining program on Greene County history.
