Company Information
Kim Alberty and Jim Balcom founded Agassiz Seed and Supply in 1985. Initially we were a distributor of agricultural seed, lawn seed, soybean inoculants, seed treatments and grain fumigants. The business has grown through the years by natural expansion of product lines and acquisition of other businesses. In 1990 we purchased Youlden Supply of Grand Forks ND , a distributor of grain testing equipment and grain elevator supplies, we added repair and calibration of electronic testing equipment in 1992 to add to the service aspect of this part of the business. We purchased the wholesale garden seed division of Holland ’s Distributing in 2001 to better serve our diversified customer base and better utilize our packaging facility. As we merged these two businesses into Agassiz Seed it has given us the opportunity to expand our customer base, trade area, and continue to diversify our product lines. Legume inoculants have always been important products to Agassiz Seed starting as a distributor in 1985. In 2000 Agassiz Seed and two partners formed Advance Inoculants LLC, changing the way soybean inoculants are distributed in the Midwest. We sold Advance Inoculants LLC, but maintain control of the Advance Brand and distribution of all Pro Inoculant brand products. We remain a wholesale distributor of all our products. Today our core products include forage/native grass seed, lawn/turf seed, vegetable seed, legume inoculants, testing equipment and farm supplies.
Trade Area
Our trade area is the upper Midwest including North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Product Commitment
Agassiz Seed and Supply has developed a product line specifically suited for the upper Midwest. Our business is located here, we live here, and we know what it means to have products that will perform in this environment.
Mission Statement
Agassiz Seed and its employees will provide our customers with the quality products they expect, at a competitive price, while delivering service that exceeds expectations.
Key Employees
Kim Alberty - General Manager - Corporate President
Kim attended the University of South Dakota and has been employed in the seed and grain industry since 1976. Kim started his career in Thief River Falls , MN in a grain and seed business, then with Arrowhead in Fargo , ND before co-founding Agassiz in 1985. Kim is active in the agricultural industry as a member of the North Dakota State Seed Commission, executive committee of the Field Seed Institute and North Dakota Crop Show Committee. Kim is past president of the North Dakota Agriculture Association and the Northern Seed Trade Association. Kim is our corporate President and is responsible for the day to day management of Agassiz Seed.
Dave Vandal - Operations Manager - Corporate Vice President and Treasurer
Dave grew up on a farm in north central ND and has been employed in the seed industry since 1978 starting with Arrowhead. Dave has been instrumental in the growth of the company serving in many different capacities as the company has grown and has been with Agassiz Seed since 1985. Dave is our corporate Vice President and is our operations manager overseeing the shipping, receiving and processing of all Agassiz Seeds products.
Al Holleman - Specialty Products - Corporate Secretary
A graduate of South Dakota State University, Al has been in the seed business since 1986. Starting with the Sexauer Seed Co. in Brookings, South Dakota, then West Fargo, Al has been with Agassiz Seed since 1989 and is our corporate secretary. Al is active in the seed industry serving on the board of directors for the Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council and the North Dakota Agricultural Association. Al is responsible for all DOT seed sales activity, purchasing seed grains, and is our inside customer service representative for inoculants, seed treatments, and for our electronic equipment service department.
Lavern Erikson - Turf and Forage Specialist
Lavern grew up on a farm near Madison SD and has a degree in accounting from Nettleton Business College. Lavern has been involved in the seed industry for the past 26 years in sales, ownership and management. Lavern has been active in the seed industry and is past president of the South Dakota Seed Association and the Northern Seed Trade Association. Lavern specializes in purchasing and customer service for all Agassiz forage seed including alfalfa, native grasses, forage grasses, annual forage and all lawn and turf seed.
Brian Hersch - Sales - North Dakota
Brian grew up on a farm in eastern ND and has worked in the seed and related ag industry since 1993. Brian has been with Agassiz Seed since 1999, and is responsible for all sales and marketing in our North Dakota sales territory.
Mark Rieger - Sales - Northern Minnesota
Mark grew up on a farm near Kindred ND is a graduate of North Dakota State University and has been employed in the Ag industry since 1992. Mark started with Agassiz Seed in 2000 and is responsible for all sales and marketing activity in our northern Minnesota sales territory.
Scott Patterson - Sales-Southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Scott has been employed in the seed industry for over 30 years. Scott started his seed career with Peterson Seeds at Savage, MN in 1972 and has been employed in the seed industry since that time, Scott started with Agassiz Seed in 2003. Scott has been active in the industry with the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association and the American Seed Trade Association. Scott works with our Turf and DOT programs and is responsible for sales and marketing of all our products in the Twin Cities, southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Dustin Bjugstad - Industrial Supplies Sales
Dustin is a West Fargo native and comes to Agassiz Seed with a strong background in retail sales. Dustin graduated from Aakers with an Associate of Business degree. Dustin has worked in retail sales the past six years, initially in the automotive field and most recently with Menard’s. Dustin handles sales of our industrial supplies and testing equipment throughout North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Chris Alberty - Sales - Southeast North Dakota, West Central Minnesota, and South Dakota
Chris grew up in West Fargo ND, but spent most of his time at the family farm near Britton, South Dakota. His experience on a diversified crop and livestock farm will be an asset to both Agassiz Seed and our customers. Chris graduated from the University of North Dakota and is responsible for sales of all Agassiz products in the Southern Red River Valley and South Dakota.
Dennis Bjugstad - Retired / Special Projects
Dennis attended Valley City State University and has been in the seed buisness since 1970, originally employed by Sexauer Seed Co. as branch manager in West Fargo and with Agassiz Seed since 1992. Dennis has been active in the industry including a North Dakota State Seed Commission member, past president of the North Dakota Ag Association and Northern Seed Trade Association.
Herm Holland - Vegetable Seed Consultant
Herm has been in the nursery and vegetable seed industry for over 30 years with Holland Distributing. Herm consults with us on new variety additions, discontinuing of outdated varieties and pricing. Herm takes care of much of our customer service and handles most of the spring shipping of vegetable seeds and related products.
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