AGRONOMY
Seed pickup days!
Are you excited for spring? We are, too!
Spring means it’s time to get back in the field
and get growing. Mid-County Agronomy is host-
ing seed pickup days Monday, March 20 and Tues-
day, March 21. Stop by the main office (700 W. Lake
St. in Cologne) anytime from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to get
all the seed you need. Choose from companies like
Producers Hybrids, DeKalb, Asgrow, NK, or Stine.
We’ll also have refreshments and door prizes,
as a way to thank you for working with us. We’re
looking forward to helping your planting season
go smoothly. If you need anything, call us at (952)
466-3730.
STINE
Introducing Arthur Forst and Jared Deutz
Arthur Forst’s fi rst day as
a sales agronomist at Mid-
County Agronomy was Jan. 16.
Although this is his fi rst full-
time job in the ag industry, Forst
has gained experience through
three separate ag-related intern-
ships in various parts of Min-
nesota.
“I just graduated in Decem-
ber from college at South Dakota State University,”
Forst said. “My major is in ag science, with a minor
in agronomy.”
Forst grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Gib-
bon, and he’s still involved in the farm’s operations.
His other hobbies include outdoor activities like
hunting, fi shing, and snowmobiling.
Jared Deutz is the new yard man-
ager with Mid-County Agronomy.
Since his fi rst day Jan. 3, he
has been busy with everything
from hauling grain, to assembling
orders, to ensuring Environmental
Protection Agency compliance for
chemical containers.
“Everything’s going good so far,”
Jared said. “When spring rolls
around, I will be making up the tanks for chemical and
fertilizer application, and getting chemical orders in for
farmers.”
Jared grew up on a crop farm in Marshall, and attended
college at North Dakota State University for ag systems
management. Before coming to Mid-County, he spent
three years in Fargo, ND working as a crop researcher
for WinField. He currently has an apartment on Lake
Minnetonka, and loves to hunt and fi sh.
NYA native part of national dairy judging team
Carley Vinkemeier knows
a thing or two about dairy.
The daughter of Jeff and
Tina Vinkemeier, Carley
grew up as the sixth gen-
eration on her family farm
in Norwood Young Amer-
ica, and is now part of the
Northeast Iowa Community
College dairy judging team.
During the 2016 World
Dairy Expo national dairy judging contest, Car-
ley’s team was named national champion in
the post-secondary dairy judging and practical
contests. Other team members included Aaron
Houdek of Caledonia, Ellis Frank of New Rich-
mond, WI, and Chelsey Jensen of Amery, WI. Each
of the four team members earned All-American
honors and placed in the top three teams in ev-
ery breed. Team coaches are Megan Kregel and
www.midcountycoop.com
David Lawstuen, and the team chaperone is Jess
Rediske.
As national champions, Carley’s team has the
opportunity to travel to the international con-
test in Scotland. The trip is scheduled for June 17
through July 4, and includes tours of European
dairy farms. The team is currently raising funds to
help make this trip possible.
The Vinkemeier farm in Norwood Young Amer-
ica milks 130 cows in a double-four step-up par-
lor, and the family also tends to 370 acres of land.
Growing up, Carley was active in 4-H for 12 years
showing and judging dairy cows. She served as
a Carver County Dairy Princess in 2015, and was
selected as one of 12 Princess Kay of the Milky
Way finalists.
In college, Vinkemeier is studying dairy science
and agriculture business, with plans to enter agri-
culture business and communications.
SPRING
CONFERENCE
Is Tuesday, March 7 starting
at 12:30 p.m. at the Dahlgreen
Golf Course located at 6940
Dahlgren Rd., Chaska, MN
55318. This meeing will be
for growers to get information
on seed, weed control and the
latest in Agronomic news and
updates.
Please call the main offi ce
at (952) 466-3730 or go to
midcountycoop.com to RSVP
by March 2, 2017.
CHS
SCHOLARSHIP
DEADLINE
MARCH 31
What: One hundred $1,000
scholarships are available
through the CHS Foundation
to help pay for college.
Who: Graduating high school
seniors pursuing a degree in an
agricultural related fi eld at any
college or university through-
out the U.S. and Canada are
invited to apply. Students pur-
suing a STEM (science, tech-
nology, engineering, math)
fi eld of study with an interest in
agricultural or energy-related
careers will also be consid-
ered.
Why: To encourage students to
discover career opportunities in
the ag and energy industries.
Deadline: Applications must be
received by March 31, 2017.
Info: Go to chsinc.com/stew-
ardship to apply.
Page 5