b'We want to make sure we thank everyone every single day for what they do.Julie Petersonhave direct access to leadership and to family ownership. We always have an open door, and a group of people who are willing to talk to you and listen. We always want to know where were missing an opportunity and where we can do better.Peterson agrees that mutual respect is imperativeso much so that they dont refer to their employees as employees. Instead, theyre team members. We want to make sure we thank everyone every single day for what they do, Peterson says. Youre coming to work every single day regardless of your job, and everyone wants to feel wanted and thanked.Peterson says this idea of mutual respect and thanks was shown to her in one of her first jobs in school at a retail store. I worked three nights a week, and sometimes there would only be two customers in the store, she says. I had a manager that would thank me every night I worked as we shut the store down. When I asked why she she was thanking me when I didnt sell anything that night, she said that I had come in on time, and I always tried to do my best. She really showed me that people want to be thanked for everything they do, so similarly, we try to do everything we can for our team members to show that we care.We have an annual employee dinner to show appreciation to everyones commitment and loyalty to the business, Wyffels says. We recognize three groups every year: new employees,John Wyffels serves as president of Wyffels Hybrids. service anniversaries and retirements. This allows everyone from those groups, to tell their stories. We want to celebrate mile- Family Comes First, Alwaysstones, and we want to congratulate those retiring and movingFinally, as an independent company, both Peterson and Wyffels on to the next chapter of their lives. agree: family comes first.Similarly, Peterson works to recognize their team membersFrom time to time, everyone runs into a personal challenge and their work in unique ways.or family matter, Wyffels says. When you run into those chal-On your 10-year anniversary at Peterson Farms Seed, we givelenging times, weve done a great job showing that family comes you and your spouse a an all-expense paid vacation anywherefirst. We always want to talk about those problems when they in the United States, she says. It is our way of saying thanks forcome up, because you need to take care of your family and their hard work and commitment. yourself.Peterson says the first two people who received this trip haveI was a working mom, and I understand the challenges of stayed with Peterson Farms Seed their whole careers.balancing career and family, Peterson says. I never want a team The question then became what do we do for 15 years? Formember to miss their kids concert, ballgame or recital. We will that, you get added to the Superhero Wall of Fame, completework hard to change someones hours so they dont miss out. with a Superman bobblehead in your likeness, she adds. TheYou only get to be a mom or dad once, so we always want to be folks that make our Wall of Fame are truly our heroes. Theyvesupportive.been with us through tremendous growth and change andWhen it comes to competing with salaries and benefits, inde-theyve had the flexibility to weather the storm. Thats somethingpendents can always put up a fight if theyre creative with their worth rewarding here! benefits and solutions to provide their employees.SW46/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2020'