Cottonwood Staff

Adam Wink started with Centrol in 2008. He was born in Glenwood, Minnesota and grew up in Cyrus, Minnesota. Adam received his B.S. Degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Minnesota. He and his wife Andrea have two children and are living in Hancock, Minnesota. His hobbies are, "anything that you can do outdoors". Adam likes his job of consulting because he can be outdoors all summer and works with other great consultants. Adam feels that his greatest value is, "the fact that he is not tied to any one product and can bring an independent based solution to the table".

Andy Karssen has been with Centrol since 2004. He grew up in Chandler, Minnesota. Andy graduated from South Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy as well as a Minor in Insect Pest Management. He and his wife, Katie, live near Hartford, South Dakota. In his free time Andy enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and sports. “We work for the farmer, which means our job is to improve their yields and profits. We accomplish this from our hard work, knowledge, education, and the other consultants on staff.”

Austin Magnuson began his business in 2001, and started with Centrol in 2005. He grew up on a farm near Sunburg, Minnesota. Austin is a South Dakota State University alumnus, holding a B.S. in Ag Business and a Minor in Agronomy. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. In his free time, Austin enjoys: hunting, snowmobiling, downhill-skiing, water-skiing, racing, softball, basketball, and golf. His values include, “No corporate politics dictating what products we recommend. We only recommend what is best for the farmer.” Austin likes the people he works with, both clients and colleagues. He values the Centrol network, as it helps everyone keep up with the industry and one another.

Belynda Metz has worked with Centrol as bookkeeper since 2005. She was raised in Jackson, Minnesota. Belynda received a B.S. in Accounting in 2000. She has worked in the bookkeeping field since 1984. In her free time, Belynda enjoys spending time with family, traveling, walking, and going to movies. Belynda and her husband, Gary, have two children.

Brandon D. Englund started with Centrol in 2005. He grew up on a small farm south of Rosholt, South Dakota. Brandon is a graduate of South Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. He is a Certified Crop Advisor. Brandon and his wife, Brenda, are expecting their first child in the spring of 2006. They currently have two spoiled rotten chocolate labs, Jax and Zaeda. In his free time, Brandon enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, bowling, and poker. He likes the people he works with in his job; his co-workers, clients, and others in the agricultural industry. Since 1996, he has worked in many areas of the agriculture industry, with experience including; custom applicator, sales rep intern, retail sales agronomist, and coop agronomy manager. Having worked with several independent consultants, Brandon has learned what works and what can be improved. Brandon has developed a good understanding of the many facets of the industry with his experience. Innovative in his approach, Brandon continually strives to improve his work to benefit his clients and the agriculture industry. He was a member of the United States Army Reserve’s 452nd OD Company, Aberdeen, South Dakota, from 1993 to 1999.

Brent Werven started with Centrol in 1991. He grew up in Cavalier, North Dakota. Brent attended North Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Soil Science. He is a Technical Service Provider. Brent and his wife, Chris, have two children. He enjoys outdoor activities, target shooting, pheasant hunting, camping, and spending time with his children. Brent provides his clients with unbiased opinions and recommendations to increase their profits and yields. He works with a great group of farmers who make his job very enjoyable. “We are not tied to any company where we have to peddle a product, we sell and advise. Our grower retention is in the 90th percentile. Many of our customers have been on for more than 15 years. I think this fact alone speaks volumes in today’s agricultural environment. Also, with our network, I feel we catch problems before a lot of other people start to look for them. Having as many consultants as we have on staff, we get to share a lot of information on new hybrids, chemicals, and other problems that arise.”

Brian Velde started with Centrol in September of 2006, working between Granite Falls and Marshall. After graduating from high school in Granite Falls, he majored in Agronomy & Ag Business at SDSU in Brookings, SD. He spent a year working on the East Coast for Aventis CropScience as a chemical representative. After that excellent experience, he came back home and worked as an agronomist at the Cottonwood Coop Oil for 5 years. In his free time he enjoys playing softball, golf, farming, hunting and spending time with friends. He currently lives near Hanley Falls with his wife Heather. “Now I’m honored to work for Centrol Crop Consulting. I enjoy working with the farmers, helping them make the best management decisions to become most profitable. Independence is nice because it allows us to make the best possible recommendation.”

Bryan Smith is the manager of Centrol Inc. of Cottonwood. He began working with Centrol in 1995. Bryan grew up in Chandler, Minnesota. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. Bryan is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children and are expecting their third in the summer of 2006. Bryan enjoys hunting, fishing, being outdoors, and spending time with his family in his free time. He values the fact that every season and year is different, each bringing new challenges to overcome and learn from. “Our sole job is to help our customers do better and maximize profits, nothing more, nothing less. We accomplish this through our education, training, hard work, and networking with the other consultants on staff.”

Chad Estebo began with Centrol in November 2008. He grew up on a farm near Clear Lake, SD and received his BS Degree in Agronomy from South Dakota State University. Chad and his wife Joan have one son, Evan, and live in Marshall, MN. He enjoys traveling, walking, lifting weights, and spending time with his family. In the past, Chad was a member of the SD National Guard serving in Desert Storm. He worked in sales and as an Agronomist before joining the Centrol team. He likes working with growers, helping them solve problems and planning for success. Working at Centrol, Chad feels he has, "an excellent communication network with other consultants, giving the growers unbiased opinions on what will work best for their farming operation."

Chad Luze began working with Centrol in 2002. He grew up in Egan, South Dakota. Chad is a South Dakota State University alumnus and holds a B.S. in Agronomy, as well as a Minor in Ag Business. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. Chad enjoys any outdoor activity, hunting, fishing, water sports, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching professional and college sports. He values working and interacting with his clients to help them optimize profits and to become as efficient as possible. Chad likes being able to work outdoors and how his work provides many different challenges and situations on a day-to-day basis.

Dave Opsahl started with Centrol in 1995. He grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Dave is a graduate of North Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agriculture. He enjoys snowmobiling and hunting in his free time. Dave is father to son, Connor. He likes the flexibility of his job and being able to work outdoors. Dave enjoys working with growers for success. When asked what sets his business apart from the rest, Dave states, “Independent recommendations and decisions”.

Ed Gruenes started with Centrol in 2002. He grew up on a family farm near Eden Valley, Minnesota. Ed holds a B.S. Degree in Broad Area Management, with a Minor in Agronomy from the University of River Falls, Wisconsin. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. Ed and his wife, Sarah, recently had their first child, son Dylan. Ed enjoys hunting, fishing, and following professional sports in his free time. Ed voices what he values: “The chance to be out doors, working with people I grew up with...farmers. I really enjoy working with progressive farmers who are continually looking for ways to farm better than the way they farmed the day before.”

Griffin Vlietstra started with Centrol in 1997. He grew up in Orange City, Iowa. Griffin is a graduate of South Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Ag Business. He is a Certified Crop Advisor, a Technical Service Provider, and a Certified Nutrient Management Planner. Griffin and his wife, Summer, have three children. He enjoys camping, golfing, outdoor activities, spending time with his family, and following the Dallas Cowboys in his free time. In his business, Griffin provides unbiased advice to increase profits for his clients. He values working with clients to achieve success.

Jason Fussy has been working with Centrol since 1998. He grew up in Royalton, Minnesota. Jason is a North Dakota State University alumnus and holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences. He and his wife, Sadie, live in Willmar, Minnesota and are expecting their first child in the summer of 2006. In his free time, Jason enjoys golfing, hunting, yard work, and landscaping. He brings his knowledge in the form of unbiased information to benefit his clients. Jason is values working with his clients, the Centrol Crop Consulting network, and working in the great outdoors.

Jeff Kranz has been with Centrol since 1996. He grew up in Kranzburg, South Dakota. Jeff is a graduate of South Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and values the trust and respect that he has earned with the producers he works with. Jeff and his wife, Vicky, have three children. In his free time, Jeff enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with his family. “I like the team concept at Centrol, we can all help each other.”

John Mahoney began working with Centrol in 1998. He grew up in Morris, Minnesota. John attended North Dakota State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. He is involved with the local Corn Growers and the Barnes-Aastad group supporting Ag research. John and his wife, Kitty, have a dog named Abby. He enjoys hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and outdoor activities in his free time. John likes his job because it is the closest occupation to farming. He values the large group of professionals that make up Centrol, and the sharing of ideas and experience that enrich the whole network.

Josh Brusven bagan with Centrol in 2006 as a scout and is a full time consultant as of May 2010. He was born in Olivia, Minnesota and grew up in Hanley Falls, Minnesota. Josh received his B.S. Degree in Environmental Science from Southwest Minnesota State University. He is single and enjoys hunting, fishing, grilling, and playing softball in his spare time. Josh believes that being with the Centrol organization is of great value because, "he can help his growers get the best yields they can and give them an unbiased opinion". The ability to network with other consultants helps to understand the industry better and can give our growers the best advice possible.

Kevin R. Banken started with Centrol in 1997. He grew up in Appleton, Minnesota. Kevin is a South Dakota State University graduate and holds a Bachelors Degree, as well as a Masters Degree in Agronomy. He is a Certified Crop Advisor, a Technical Service Provider, and a Certified Nutrient Management Planner. Kevin was involved in USDA-ARS research from 1998 to 1994. He and his wife, Leanne, live in Brookings, South Dakota. Kevin enjoys: spending time with family and friends, volunteering at his church, football, volleyball, racquetball, golf, weight lifting, softball, and motorcycles. He has been a member of the Brookings Volunteer Fire Department since 2001. Kevin values being a part of the Centrol Consultant network. He likes the diversity and the wide range of agronomy topics in his job. Kevin looks forward to the new challenges, technology, and agronomy of every year. “We do not sell any products, nor do we have any ties with seed, chemical, or fertilizer companies. This allows us to be unbiased in our advice to truly help our clients succeed. Centrol has 30 years of experience in the agronomy business, and nearly 50 agronomists on staff. This is what sets us apart from the rest.”

Kip Rowe started with Centrol in 2007, after receiving his BS degree in Agronomy from South Dakota State University. His territory is South and West of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born in Gregory, SD and grew up near Winner, SD. He enjoys golfing in his spare time. The reason he likes working for Centrol is, “I have always wanted to be a consultant and work closely with producers to increase their productivity. Working for Centrol gives me the opportunity for networking among professional agronomists.”

Larry Braem started with Centrol Crop Consulting, as one of the first consultants, in 1984. He grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Larry attended college in River Falls, Wisconsin, where he earned a four year degree. He and his wife, Dianna have been married for 35 years. They have three children and six grandchildren. Larry enjoys woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren in his free time. He values working with farmers and managing his own work. “Our company is the leader in the industry because of the top-notch people and our network with each other.”

Mark Moeller started with Centrol in 1988. He grew up on a farm in Rock Valley, in the Sioux Center area in northwest Iowa. Mark attended Iowa State University and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. Mark earned his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2002 . He and his wife, Tammy, have three children. Mark enjoys snow-skiing, water-skiing, and most outdoor activities. In his job, Mark feels that he works with some of the best producers in the area. He likes that each day presents a different set of challenges, and that he gets to wear shorts in the summer. “I truly believe it is the quality of our staff. We have a wide range of ages and experiences. In the ever-changing world of agriculture, this knowledge base is priceless.”

Matt Eich started with Centrol in 2008. He was born in Rapid City, SD and grew up in Eagan, MN. Matt received his BS in Agronomy and a minor in Pest Management from South Dakota State University in 1999. He has been a Certified Crop Advisor since 2001. Matt and his wife, Beth, have 2 children. He enjoys woodworking and hunts in his spare time. Matt likes "the ability to help growers become more profitable and efficent in their operations." Matt believes that the greatest value being with Centrol is that he "has 26 other consultants to call on and the professionalism of the group."

Matt Weller has been with Centrol since 2004. He grew up in Brooten, Minnesota. Matt is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and holds a B.S. in Ag Industries and Marketing. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a technical Service Provider. Matt and his wife, MacKenzie, have a son, Klayton. He enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, outdoor activities, and spending time with his friends and family in his free time. Matt helps his clients increase their profits with unbiased recommendations. “Our unbiased recommendations come from university research and research amongst our clients. We have a large network of consultants that we can use for information. It is like having 24 consultants working on every farm.”

Nick Pieske began working with Centrol in 2005. He grew up on a farm north of Slayton, Minnesota. Nick is a Southwest State University alumnus and holds a B.S. in Biology with a Minor in Environmental Sciences. He is a licensed private pilot. Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, riding motorcycle, camping, insect collecting, and flying in his free time. He values having a key role in the success of farms, as well as working outdoors. “We represent an unbiased source of proven information whose only goal is to maximize the yield potential for our growers.”

Paul Groneberg started with Centrol in 1979. He grew up on a farm near Hoffman, Minnesota. Paul is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and holds a B.S. in Forestry. He is also holds a Masters Degree in Agriculture and in Pest Management. Paul is a Certified Professional Crop Consultant-Independent (CPCC-I) by the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants Association. He has worked for the Minnesota Extension service for 5 years. Prior to his work with Centrol Crop Consulting, Paul earned valuable industry experience in various job positions, such as: University Plot Supervisor, Wholesale Nursery Department Foreman, Technical Supervisor for a major Ag product distributor, and Assistant Weed Control Specialist at the University of Minnesota. In his business, Paul is committed to helping his clients become successful. He values the relationships that he has built with his clients over the years. Paul enjoys the variety of work that comes with every season and getting together with other consultants to share ideas. He and his wife, Sandy, have three children together, and have been married for 35 years. Some interesting insights into Paul Groneberg's character are: 1. He still lives on a farm and participates in all farming activities. 2. Paul once ran 18 miles in the dark on a mountain road. 3. Paul has faith in Christ, which he says cuts down on worry time.

Randy Vancura started with Centrol in 1992. He grew up in Lakefield, Minnesota. Randy is a University of Minnesota-St. Paul alumnus and holds a B.S. in Agronomy. He also earned an Associates Degree in Diversified Ag Science from the University of Minnesota-Waseca. Randy is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. He and his wife, Shawna, have two children. You can find Randy woodworking, collecting mini-tractors, and restoring mini-tractors in his free time. He values working side-by-side with producers to find solutions to the challenges that come with production agriculture. Randy finds that his success comes from the success of his clients. “We pay close attention to details and possess a very good understanding of most agro-economic issues. Our staff is powered with the knowledge and experience that runs throughout our network of qualified professionals.”

Rose Bot has been working with Centrol Crop Consulting since October of 1993. She grew up on a farm near Marshall, Minnesota. Rose attended the Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She enjoys working with the great group of guys at Centrol Crop Consulting. Rose and her husband, Don, have been married for 35 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. You can find Rose gardening, traveling, and enjoying her grandchildren in her free time.

Tim Moline began working with Centrol in 2000. He grew up on a farm near Slayton, Minnesota. Tim is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and holds a B.S. in Crops and Soils Resource Management. He is a Certified Crop Advisor and a Technical Service Provider. Tim has a wife, Erin, two children, and enjoys hunting, fishing, and shooting skeet and sporting clays. He values providing producers with his knowledge and experience, and finds their successes are his. Tim voices what is most important: “The independent advice we bring producers. We are in business for the producer, if he is successful we are."

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