Meet Our Merschman Seeds Team
The team at Merschman Seeds values quality and integrity and we approach each and every day with a farmer-first mentality. For all of us, farm profitability is our number one goal and we stay focused on this by offering superior seed products, best in class service, and the most innovative management practices.
Meet the team that makes up Merschman Seeds below or contact us here to get in touch.
A Family-Owned Company with a Farmer-First Mentality
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Joe MerschmanPresident & CEO, Second Generation Seedsman
Joe MerschmanPresident & CEO, Second Generation SeedsmanClick To EmailSince Joe was 4 years old, he was his Dad’s shadow (Bill Merschman, Founder of Merschman Seeds) learning and helping anyway he could in the seed business. Joe wanted to be like his dad. He worked in all phases of the business from production to logistics throughout his high school career at Marquette Catholic in West Point, Iowa and coming home to work while in college at Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois. Full time employment for Joe started in 1977 after graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree from Quincy College (now Quincy University) with a focus in Management.
Joe’s first job out of college for Merschman Seeds was an Area Sales Manager for central Iowa. Soon, Joe became Seed Division Manager and directed production, logistics, marketing, sales and sales management. He was then promoted to President and CEO when his father semi-retired. Throughout his career, Joe has attended many short courses to stay up to date on crop production, seed quality practices, and agronomy through Iowa State University. He continues to engage in various sales training through conferences and company training events.
Joe currently also serves as the President of MS Technologies, LLC, Merschman Trucking Corporation, and Mertec, LLC. He is also a Director at Lee County Bank in Fort Madison, Iowa. Besides the valuable information he learned from his parents, Bill and Bernice Merschman, Joe has felt very fortunate to meet incredible seedsman and individuals that helped him with additional knowledge and experience throughout his career.
Joe believes honesty and integrity are keys to a long-term successful business, especially focusing on the success of your customer above all else. He believes you should treat people like you would like to be treated. He believes businesses need to embrace change, strive for perfection, and never give up if they want to remain relevant. Joe says that being a business owner means running a marathon; not a sprint. Having passion for what you do is critical to success, especially in the seed industry. Lastly, be positive and count your blessings every day, because life is short.
Joe’s first passion is his family business which takes up most of his time. When not at work, he enjoys cleaning/detailing his cars. In addition, he maintains his 1 acre property with his John Deere mower and Gator. These activities help Joe relax from the highly competitive seed industry. He also enjoys watching the Iowa Hawkeye basketball and football teams with his family. Learning new things related to the seed business is another passion of Joe’s, as well as occasional travel.
Contact Joe Merschman
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Turk RegennitterDirector of Sales
Turk RegennitterDirector of SalesClick To EmailTurk has been with Merschman Seeds in a sales role for Eastern Iowa since 1998 as a Dealer. He then became an Assistant Area Sales Manager in 1999, responsible for two counties, and in 2001 Turk was promoted to an Area Sales Manager for Eastern Iowa. He became the General Sales Manager in 2009. As the General Sales Manager, he was responsible for hiring and training the right people that can help Merschman Seeds provide the best service for our Dealers and farmers that they can’t get from any other seed company. In 2022, Turk became the Director of Sales. He enjoys working for an independent, family-owned seed company like Merschman Seeds that cares about their employees. As a Certified Crop Advisor, Turk has always enjoyed helping customers be more profitable on their farms. Turk’s words to live by are “A positive attitude yields positive results.”
Contact Turk Regennitter
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Lynn WilliamsGeneral Sales Manager
Lynn WilliamsGeneral Sales ManagerClick To EmailLynn has worked at Merschman Seeds since 2019. He was drawn to Merschman Seeds because of the launch of Enlist E3 soybeans and the relationship with MS Technologies. Lynn is grateful for the opportunity to work for a company that is on the leading edge of soybean genetics, technology, and seed treatment; an opportunity he could not pass up. Lynn was also drawn to Merschman Seeds because of the people. He was very fortunate to have several friends already working for Merschman Seeds. This opportunity has now lead to new friendships with colleagues, Dealers and farmers throughout the Merschman Seeds Sales Area.
Helping farmers raise their yield ceiling is Lynn's favorite part of his job. He says it's a unique process depending on each grower's situation. Sometimes the limitations are obvious, other times it takes a deep dive into a multitude of field dynamics to get the needle to move. It is very rewarding to know we are helping the farmer continually achieve high yields.
Lynn assumed the position of General Sales Manager in 2022 overseeing Area Sales Managers.
Contact Lynn Williams
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Ben PieperProduct Manager & Agronomist CCA
Ben PieperProduct Manager & Agronomist CCAClick To EmailAs Product Manager and Agronomist, Ben is responsible for selecting soybean, wheat, corn, and alfalfa varieties that excel in different regions of the Merschman Seeds sales territory. He works closely with genetic suppliers to ensure high level yields across all product platforms. Ben also spends time with the Merschman Seeds Area Sales Managers doing various training and coaching concerning correct product placement that provides maximum return for customers, locating agronomic limiting areas with customers, and providing solutions to increase yield and overall performance of products. His favorite part about his job is helping farmers and Dealers solve problems along with his fellow co-workers.
Before becoming Product Manager, Ben was an Area Sales Manager in Southeast Iowa and Northeast Missouri covering 10 counties and helped support other sales territories with agronomic advice. Ben came to Merschman Seeds because he wanted to work for a family-owned, honest, hard-working company that is leading the industry in soybean traits and germplasm. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Agronomy. Ben is also a Certified Crop Adviser.
Ben was born and raised in Wever, Iowa. He spends his free time farming on his family farm, and water skiing and boating on the Mississippi River.
Contact Ben Pieper
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Shannon McGowanSeed Operations & Logistics Manager
Shannon McGowanSeed Operations & Logistics ManagerClick To EmailShannon has worked as the Seed Operations and Logistics Manager for Merschman Seeds and Trucking, respectively, since 2014. Coming to Merschman Seeds with a background in Agricultural Business and Finance, he is in charge of all company-wide production and logistics. Shannon oversees and manages everything inbound and outbound of both seed plants in Olmsted, Illinois, and West Point, Iowa, as well as production itself.
Shannon works closely with our Merschman Seeds Drivers and Owner-Operators concerning inbound and outbound shipments, both seed plant and warehouse managers concerning production, as well as Seed Production Growers concerning which variety to produce based on seed quality. Shannon also directs which varieties are produced and when they are produced.
Shannon’s favorite part of his job is leading people, problem solving, and working with Seed Production Growers as well as our Dealers and customers.
Outside of work, Shannon enjoys riding ATVs, working on ATVs, farming, shooting guns, and spending time with his sons, especially watching them both wrestle.
Contact Shannon McGowan
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Brian McKillipAssistant to Seed Operations Manager
Brian McKillipAssistant to Seed Operations ManagerClick To EmailBrian McKillip had an early start in the family business. He helped his grandmother, Bernice Merschman, with the mail for Merschman Seeds at 4 years old, and worked during the summer season starting at 12 years old. Brian has experience working in the warehouse before moving into his current role of being the Assistant to the Seed Operations Manager and Customer Service Manager.
Brian schedules deliveries of seed to Dealers and customers on the company’s small Western Star box trucks. Brian’s favorite part of his job is interacting with customers and Dealers on the phone.
Brian enjoys tailgating at Iowa Hawkeye football games and hiking.
Contact Brian McKillip
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Chase VogelAssistant to Seed Operations Manager
Chase VogelAssistant to Seed Operations ManagerClick To EmailChase has joined our team as an Assistant to the Seed Operations Manager.
Chase’s favorite part of his job is helping our Dealers and Farmers as well as scheduling deliveries. For several generations, Merschman Seeds products have been planted on his family farm. Chase jumped at the chance to come be a part of the success and growth that is happening at Merschman Seeds.
Chase holds an Associate’s Degree from Kirkwood Community College in Agriculture Production Management as well as a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Agricultural Studies with a minor in Agronomy.
Contact Chase Vogel
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Brian OwensAssistant to Seed Operations Manager
Brian OwensAssistant to Seed Operations ManagerClick To EmailBrian has been with Merschman Seeds since 2018. He started out in the warehouse with seed production and would deliver seed in the small Western Star box trucks when needed. After the new office addition was completed, Brian moved into more of a logistics role in the office. He currently is the Assistant to the Seed Operations Manager (Shannon McGowan). Brian schedules our truck drivers out of both West Point, Iowa and Olmstead, Illinois. He feels that Merschman Seeds is a very pleasant place to work and says all the employees are nice to work with to get the job done. He likes the relaxed work environment and talking with customers. Brian says that coming to work is easy when you have a lot of great people to work with, and he feels this is true at Merschman Seeds. He says this is the best job he has ever had.
Contact Brian Owens
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Jacob FoeckeController & Treasurer
Jacob FoeckeController & TreasurerClick To EmailAs Chief Financial Officer, Jake oversees all financial aspects of the company including banking, credit, insurance, and financial statements. Additionally, he acts as the Human Resources Manager.
Jake received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Ambrose University, majoring in Accounting and Finance. He assumed his current role at Merschman Seeds in August 2018. He enjoys working in the agricultural industry and feels fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join a local company in West Point. Jake’s favorite part of his job is working with numbers and following the grain markets in many different areas. Prior to joining Merschman Seeds, Jake was the accountant at a local grain elevator and feed mill, as well as a credit analyst at a local bank.
Jake was born and raised in West Point. In his free time, he likes to hunt and be outdoors, help on the family farm and spend time with his wife and kids.
Contact Jacob Foecke
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Cindy SchinstockSeed Order Manager
Cindy SchinstockSeed Order ManagerClick To EmailCindy has had a unique role at Merschman Seeds, being employed for a total of over 40 years. She first started working at Merschman Seeds in 1975 as a Receptionist in the old office building when Bill and Bernice Merschman only had a small number of people employed. After working nine years, she took time off, and came back full time in 1988. Her role with the company has changed as the company’s needs changed over time with growth. Cindy has seen the technology advance at Merschman Seeds firsthand from manually writing orders and filing them, to using a typewriter, to then using the first computer (only one person could use it at a time), to the system we have today, Merschman Easy Order System, that greatly streamlines the ordering process, managing the seed needs of the company. Her current role of Seed Order Manager encompasses a variety of tasks including receiving shipments (incoming and outgoing), ordering seed, reporting paperwork, invoicing the incoming seed shipments, as well as other accounting duties. Cindy earned her Associate of Science degree from Southeastern Community College majoring in Accounting. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, tending to her cattle on the family farm, and traveling with her five sisters.
Contact Cindy Schinstock
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Katie SchinstockSeed Order Assistant
Katie SchinstockSeed Order AssistantClick To EmailKatie received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Buena Vista University in conjunction with Indian Hills Community College majoring in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. She started working for Merschman Seeds in 2019.
As the Seed Order Assistant, Katie manages the full seed ordering process; how to order and invoice seed, receiving shipments incoming and outgoing, and all of the other paperwork that goes along with the process. She works closely with the Seed Order Manager, Cindy Schinstock, throughout her daily work. She loves the family dynamic that is a part of Merschman Seeds’ culture. Katie is excited to come to work every day where employees and customers are treated like family.
Outside of work, Katie enjoys being outside, riding horses, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and being with close family and friends. Katie and her husband Chad have a Merschman Seeds Dealership and live on the family farm outside of Salem, Iowa.
Contact Katie Schinstock
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Jenny WilkensReceptionist & Trucking Clerk
Jenny WilkensReceptionist & Trucking ClerkClick To EmailJenny started working for Merschman Seeds in 2020 as the Trucking Clerk. She processes the daily paperwork and writes checks for all of the incoming and outgoing trucks delivering seed at Merschman Seeds. She works closely with the Seed Operations & Logistics Manager (Shannon McGowan), and also helps in the Accounting Department with various jobs. Jenny earned a Medical Assistant Degree from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA and went to Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Fort Madison, IA.
Jenny likes to spend her free time with family and friends. She was born and raised in West Point, IA, where she currently resides with her husband Jordan and three children, Emma, Cole and Riley.
Contact Jenny Wilkens
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Carol KeesterAccounts Receivable and Payable
Carol KeesterAccounts Receivable and PayableClick To EmailCarol has been with Merschman Seeds since 1999 in her current role taking care of the Accounts Payables and Receivables for both the seed and fertilizer divisions.
Carol works with Merschman Seeds Seed Production Growers and their local elevator to buy their seed production soybeans and wheat. She makes sure the checks that come into Merschman Seeds and Merschman Fertilizer are applied to the appropriate accounts and issues all of the appropriate checks to vendors and customers.
She loves Merschman Seeds’ great family atmosphere and work culture that values their employees and employee’s families. Her favorite part of the job is to print the checks that we send out to our vendors and customers.
Outside of work, Carol enjoys spending time with her dog, family & new grandson & watching home improvement and reality TV shows.
Contact Carol Keester
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Caryl AboltSeed Production Manager
Caryl AboltSeed Production ManagerClick To EmailCaryl has worked at Merschman Seeds since 2009. In her current role as Seed Production Manager, one of her many responsibilities includes working with Seed Production Growers. Caryl sets up their grower contracts for both wheat and soybeans, assigns acre amounts, receives and grades Grower’s soybean and wheat samples from their bins or off the field, tracks production seed in the computer for both production plants, and works closely with the Iowa State University Seed Lab sending soybean and wheat testing information to them several times throughout the production process before the seed is bagged and shipped.
Caryl also works with the Merschman Seeds Field inspectors that inspect all seed production fields to ensure quality throughout the growing season, as well as working with truck drivers and managing the scale room with inbound and outbound seed production. She creates all of the bag tags for each variety of soybeans and wheat that we produce, as well as green beans and sweet corn bag tags.
Caryl previously worked at Sheaffer Pen for 27 years before coming to Merschman Seeds. Her favorite part of her job is grading the soybeans and working in the scale room.
Contact Caryl Abolt
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Alex StewartMarketing Lead
Alex StewartMarketing LeadClick To EmailAs the Marketing Lead at Merschman Seeds, Alex is responsible for all marketing projects. He continually creates a content archive of our soybean products in all stages of growth and development. He takes video and photos from the time the seed is planted to being harvested, stored, cleaned, bagged, shipped, and in the customer warehouse to be planted. He works on Merschman Seeds' social media, product guides, and all other marketing materials. He produces our weekly video series Merschman Seeds Cup of Joe. He is happy to work at his family’s business.
Prior to working at Merschman Seeds, Alex received a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Art & Science with a focus in Post-Production from Columbia College Chicago. He appears in the movie Pitch Perfect 3 as a USO photographer.
Alex was raised in Fort Madison, Iowa. He spends his free time traveling and playing with his dog, Gilly.
Contact Alex Stewart
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Dylan StueckerAgronomy Sales Lead
Dylan StueckerAgronomy Sales LeadClick To EmailIn July of 2023, Dylan began as an intern and then joined full time as Agronomy Sales Lead at Merschman Seeds. With a background in agriculture from years of working on his family farm, he has experience in both livestock and crop production.
As the Agronomy Sales Lead, Dylan works with the entire Merschman Seeds team, from Sales to Agronomy, on projects and day-to-day activities. He works with Ben Pieper and Lynn Williams on research projects.
Dylan spends his free time on the family farm, plays recreational sports and enjoys watching the Hawkeyes and Cardinals.
Dylan holds an Associate's Degree in Crop Science from Kirkwood Community College.
Contact Dylan Stuecker