Complete Story
02/01/2006
Mercer County Farmer Gains Experience From Leadership Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2006
Mercer County Farmer Gains Experience From Leadership Program
Columbus, OH - A sixth generation farmer, part-owner of a family business and a community activist, the plate for a Mercer County farm boy can hardly get any fuller. But Luke VanTilburg has found time for one more activity, one he hopes to gain experience from to use on the farm.
VanTilburg, a resident of Celina in Mercer County, was selected by the Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) to participate in the 2006 DuPont Young Leader program, a leadership program administered by the American Soybean Association and sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont.
"The DuPont Young Leader Program was implemented in 1984 and is designed to train future leaders in the soybean industry," said OSA president Jeff Sollars. "A goal for the program is to give participants the building blocks they need to pursue leadership roles within the soybean and agricultural industry."
A 1998 high school graduate, VanTilburg went on to receive an extensive education from the Lake campus of Wright State University and has since returned to the family farm where he is putting his education to work. He has an associate's degree in financial management, a bachelor's of science in organizational leadership and an MBA in general management studies.
"My non-stop education proves that I am always looking to learn," said VanTilburg. "It's how I plan on staying ahead of the competition."
Applying his financial management abilities, VanTilburg serves primarily as the controller, book-keeper and payroll supervisor, something that occupies a lot of his time with 25 employees. Couple this with other day-to-day activities, and he rarely sees any down-time.
"It (VanTilburg Farms) is a family run operation but it is more than working with family," said VanTilburg. "I have to have the ability to work well with others and my education background is very useful."
VanTilburg Farms began as just a grain operation with Luke's parent's Jim and Brenda VanTilburg being the main proprietors until the late 1970's when they added the ag retail portion of the business. Since then all three sons have returned to the farm and the once grain only operation has developed into a wide variety of businesses.
The VanTilburg family business consists of an independent ag retail center, crop insurance, a ditching and excavation service, grain elevator operation and management of a small fleet of semi trucks.
"My parents along with my brothers and I are the owners of the business," said Luke. "I started working on the farm since I have been old enough to walk."
Even with the business expansion, the VanTilburgs still find time to farm 3800 acres of corn and soybeans on a 50/50 rotation all while utilizing the latest technologies. Consistent implementation of on farm test plots using global positioning system enabled equipment and yield monitors ensures high quality results.
The Dupont Young Leader program provides VanTilburg the opportunity to participant in two phases, he will complete phase I in conjunction with the 2006 Commodity Classic and will travel to Des Moines, Iowa in December for the completion of phase II.
"I think it is a good motivational, leadership program," said VanTilburg. "The neatest thing is networking with other growers in the corn belt and learning from them and sharing ideas."
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