April at AGRI-SEARCH: Preparing Your Team for the Unknown

How ready is your company for the unexpected? In agriculture, we often think about extended wet periods, droughts, and hail storms along with market swings and sudden cost increases. With these, we are told, "It’s just the way agriculture is."

But what happens with your team when the unknown becomes personal and a reality? When a valued team member suddenly has to undergo surgery or is out with a lengthy illness, are you ready? Or perhaps a team member is expecting a new baby and will be off work for several weeks, or someone needs to care for a family member and will need to be absent from work off and on for an extended period?

Perhaps even more impacting, what if a team member suddenly retires, resigns, or passes away? What strategies do you have in place to continue to keep your business running as smoothly as possible in the most challenging of scenarios?

Most of us can relate to at least some of the above situations. These challenging scenarios occur and must be dealt with. But how we deal with them depends on how well we have prepared for them. This brings up a number of questions we can ask ourselves as we think about the future, knowing that these unplanned scenarios are part of life and will someday confront us.

How well have we cross-trained teammates so that every key job and responsibility has at least two people who know how to do it?
How deep is our bench? If a key team member goes down, do we have the breadth within our organization to cover for them?
What critical hardships will occur if something unexpected should happen to any of our teammates?
Have we defined and discussed these potential hardships, and do we have a plan for each possible scenario?
Are our hiring processes well defined so we can identify, interview and hire qualified talent within a reasonable timeframe?
Do we have “temporary” people identified who can step in to help on a short-term basis?
Is our company’s internal communication process open and honest so we can prepare for, respond to, and deal with issues and continue to function as efficiently as possible when the unexpected occurs?

Over the years, our AGRI-SEARCH team has dealt with surgeries, sickness, pregnancies, the loss of loved ones, the sudden passing of a team member, and a variety of other “unknowns” that became our reality. We have learned from all, but sometimes our memory is short. Discussing regularly and dealing with the possibility of the unknown will make your team stronger, more in tune with each other, and well aligned when things do happen. Prepare now. Surprises will come. You’ll be better able to function efficiently and support your team members who need to be focused on things elsewhere.

Need help preparing for the unknown or deepening your talent bench so you can continue to operate smoothly when someone is gone? Contact our AGRI-SEARCH team, and we’ll be glad to help you with your plan. We were recently blessed with a new family member (see Chelbi’s article else in this newsletter) and have a fresh understanding of what a major void it is when a key player on our team is not here. Welcome back, Chelbi!

5830 - Cooperative General Manager, Eastern Iowa

A reputable and financially sound agricultural cooperative in Eastern Iowa is seeking a General Manager to replace their retiring GM. This solid agricultural leader will have direct knowledge of managing a diverse agricultural facility and will excel in communicating with customers and team members alike. As a multi-division company, they offer grain, feed, agronomy, fuel, and retail services for their customers.

5829 - Grain Inspection General Manager, Texas Gulf

A long established and successful grain inspection services company is seeking a General Manager for their Texas Gulf operations.

5821 - Grain Marketing Advisor, Ohio

An extremely successful and profitable ag company in Ohio is seeking a self-motivated Grain Marketing Advisor to join their risk management team. You must love working directly with producers and being on the phone. The company uses several creative products and strategies to serve their customers' needs.

3925 - Agronomy Sales Representative, Pacific Northwest

A talented Wholesale Fertilizer salesperson who is aggressive, dynamic and a team player is needed for a territory including most agricultural states west of the Rockies. You will be calling upon independent agronomy retail customers and buying groups selling primarily ammonium sulfate and UAN. There is an existing customer base and ample opportunities to identify new customers in a variety of agricultural settings including vegetables, small grains and legumes.

5825 - Structural Engineer, Iowa

An industry leading structural steel solutions company in Des Moines, Iowa is seeking a recent graduate in Structural Engineering to join their successful and growing team. This multi-family-owned company offers a laid-back culture while priding themselves on their customer-centric processes. This growing team has a culture of accountability to yourself, your team, and the company; you will not be micromanaged. They offer competitive pay and benefits, and your career opportunities are unlimited!

5827 - Grain Company General Manager, Central Illinois

A thriving central Illinois grain company with an excellent track record is seeking a General Manager to replace their retiring long-term GM. With 100+ years of rich tradition providing great customer service, they need a grain professional with solid merchandising experience and excellent people skills to lead the skilled team at this very efficient, modern and large-capacity elevator.

6252 - Director of Feed Sales, Kansas

For this company, feed is their priority and the sole focus of their business. They have great assets, great people, a wide range of customers in a large trade territory and are well positioned to continue to grow and be more successful. There is ample opportunity for growth and great resources to build the company up to take it to the next level.

5817 - Grain Merchandiser, Kansas

This Kansas cooperative is seeking an experienced Merchandiser who can step in and hit the ground running to help lead their team forward. You will be working closely with commercials and keeping the operations team well-informed of grain movement. The successful candidate will not be micromanaged and must have the entrepreneurial spirit to make marketing decisions quickly.

3935 - Agronomy Location Manager, Central Illinois

Join a full-service, fast-paced agronomy team in north central Illinois with a family feel and a team focused approach where they care about their employees and customers. Responsibilities will include daily management and oversight of equipment, facilities, sales, and staff while being the point person in an important customer facing role. You will lead by example, solve problems and utilize critical thinking skills.

In May of 2023 my husband and I received quite a surprise; we were expecting Baby #3! We had nine months to plan and prepare for our newest arrival, and with our boys being so young we thought we had everything we would need. Outside of buying smaller diapers, a newborn doesn’t need much anyway, right?

Fast forward to January 2024 and we welcomed our baby GIRL (we were completely shocked to have a girl). Carolyne Casey has been the sweetest baby and the perfect addition to complete our family; however, adding a girl to our all-boy mix did mean I wasn’t as prepared as I thought, and I would be lying if I said having three kiddos, three and under has been easy. As with most things in life, we have had to learn to pivot and pivot quickly.

While I was busy adjusting to a new little person in my household, my AGRI-SEARCH family members took over my responsibilities to ensure pieces weren’t falling through the cracks at work. Our team was once again reminded how important it is to have multiple people experienced and knowledgeable in all tasks.

Whether it is in your personal or professional life, we all need to be prepared to take on the unexpected. Would your team be ready to handle a big change such as a maternity leave, an illness, or a retirement? If the thought of being one or two team members down gives you a jolt of panic, reach out to us, and let us help you work through the planning process so your team is setup for success… even if you have nine months to prepare!

Supply Chain Manager – this professional specializes in supply & demand planning management, logistics, and inventory management with experience in the agriculture and trucking industries. Knowledge-seeking and brings excellent data analysis, decision making abilities, and problem-solving skills. Candidate has a successful track record of saving money and reaching goals, will work remote or hybrid, and has the CPM certification (Certified in Production Inventory Management).

Do you have a wealth of industry knowledge, several years’ experience in the ag industry, and a network of peers you enjoy engaging with? Do you have the grit to not give up and stay true to the course, no matter how difficult it may be? Are you competitive and possess a strong sales mentality where every "no" is just one step closer to a "yes"?

If so, and you have a passion for connecting with and helping people to go along with your strong agricultural industry background in agronomy, grain, accounting, safety, or other areas, please contact Dave Allen. We would enjoy having a discussion with you about how a recruiting career may be a great fit for you.

Founded in 1995, AGRI-SEARCH is a professional recruiting firm providing clients with customized recruiting solutions in various niches within the agricultural industry. Our success results from our industry focus, our specialized approach to recruiting, and our staff's lifelong roots in, dedication to, and vast understanding and knowledge of the agricultural industry.

At AGRI-SEARCH, our mission states that we “are committed to serving the agricultural industry with integrity, passion and excellence by assisting our candidates to reach their career goals and helping our client companies build successful teams.”