b'REAL CONVERSATIONS STILL MATTERMissouri Southern Seeds Mike Cowan steps into the Western Seed Association presidency with a focus on authenticity, connection and keeping agriculture grounded in reality.By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. EditorWHEN MIKE COWANtalks about the seed business, he doesnt sound like someone whos chasing titles. Yet the president of Missouri Southern Seed is stepping into a bigger role as the new president of the Western Seed Association (WSA).A little nervous, he says. I said were a small seed company and this is a relatively large organization, so its hard to believe people let me do this to be honest. But no, Im excited at the same time.Cowans humility is part of what makes him an authentic leader. That authentic-ity is also what he believes makes the Western thrive.Seedsmen are an interesting group, he says. Theyre very forward and yet at the same time can be very reserved. We all get together once a year and we like to be face to face. That handshake and eye- Missouri Southern Seed President Mike Cowan just assumed the reins as president of the to-eye contact with people is important.Western Seed Association. Its a genuine group.He says those personal connections,like WSA fill a different role than largepoints to the challenges that began not just transactions, define the associa- national organizations. during the pandemic.tions culture. Some of the national organizationsWhen we started with COVID, we saw You can always tell if someonesfocus more on speakers and gather- just this huge increase in turf products. getting the better end of a wheeling andings and things of that nature, he says.People were sitting at home and so we dealing situation, he says. Weve got aSometimes they can also be so large thathad an underproduction, he says. Now lovely, honest group of seedsmen withinyou cant have that one-on-one interac- were coming out of that and you see this organization. They do a good job oftion. This organization is focused on thatoverproduction. Youve got a lot of com-including other groups as well. Its a funconnectionits very much like speedpanies that are stuck with this massive time. dating at times. supply and a decreasing market.He says that connection is part ofLayered on top of that, Cowan adds, Regional Connections Still Matter what keeps WSA relevant as the seedare political and economic uncertainties.Cowan believes regional associationsindustry faces cycles of change. CowanYou throw in the politics side of things 70/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2025'