Two more leading agronomic professionals have joined Meristem Crop Performance, one of the fastest-growing crop input suppliers in America. Izaak Rathke becomes Meristem’s director of large farm Business accounts and Jim Sitar becomes sales representative for the upper western Corn Belt. Rathke and Sitar both have deep experience in helping growers boost their profitability with the right products and practices.
“We are growing quickly and grateful to have two more talented professionals to help us carry out our mission,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO in announcing the hires. “Izaak and Jim are the latest to join our team of all-stars and it’s exciting to turn these experienced agronomists loose to serve farmers with our growing line of high-quality products.”
Izaak Rathke is former director of sales for Allied Cooperative in Wisconsin and holds an ag economics degree from Chippawa Valley Technical College. A former professional bass tournament fisherman, Rathke has helped focus his farmer-clients on better soil-sampling and careful nutrient stewardship. “It’s good for the farmer’s ROI and it’s also good for the fishing holes,” he smiles. “Meristem’s approach with high quality products for every pass through the field can help to reduce waste and get farmers a better return.” Rathke and his fiancé Sandy have a blended family of three sons and two daughters ages ages 16 to 24. They reside near Elroy, Wisconsin.
Jim Sitar, with a degree in agronomy from North Dakota State University, comes to Meristem with experience as a partner in an ag retail business and former regional manager with Simplot Grower Solutions in North Dakota. Sitar will serve growers in the Dakotas and the Red River Valley for Meristem, applying his keen eye to bringing a return to growers for every dollar they spend on inputs. “Meristem’s people and products are oriented toward boosting ROI for farmers and that fits perfectly with my personal mission out here,” says Sitar. “Every day, I’m working with growers to figure out how to help them grow more.” Sitar will operate out of his home in Devils Lake, N.D., where he lives with his wife Cyndy.
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