b'Larger corporations have a lot of similarities.SW: Total Seed Production operates in a Independents dont. IPSA can bring lots of differ- complex marketplace. What lessons from ent options to the table so independent companiesTSPs growth will influence how you lead can capture what works best for them. IPSA?Conaway: We must stretch our comfort zone. SW: Policy and regulation continue to shift.If ideas come in that may make the association Which issues do you think will have thebetter, we must consider trying them. We need biggest impact on independents? to look at different things, different ways, and Conaway: Government politics and regulation are abe adaptable and flexible. Weve had so much sandbox we dont play in much. We keep our headmomentum the last three years. To keep that down and work on the things we can control. Wellmomentum, we must try new offerings and pro-jump in where we feel like were experts and canvide new value. make a difference, but to monitor and track high-level policy shifts, we just dont; we keep our noseSW: How do you balance leading a company to the grindstone. and leading an association, along with Theres so much up in the air. There hasnt beenfamily life?any certainty in the government. I cant rememberConaway: Strong team and great people. Yes, IWe must stretch the last time there was certainty. The unknownshold the title of president, but I dont feel like I hold have become the norm. The people who adapta very big title. Im a meeting scheduler at most.our comfort zone. and understand when to worry and when to focusIm a head coach of a team. Our success has come on their business are the ones capitalizing onfrom the team. My family balance comes from aWe need to look growth. This is the new norm, and everyone mustteam of five at home. at different things, adapt to it. The association is the same. We have a great board. Constant communication and teamworkdifferent ways, and SW: Consolidation continues acrossare what make it stronger. My job is to help leadbe adaptable and ag inputs and technology. How canthat team and give people the platform to do what independents stay competitive whiletheyre really good at. flexible. maintaining identity and flexibility?Aaron ConawayConaway: One of the biggest things I was taughtSW: How important is humility in early on by my father-in-law is to figure out whatleadership?you do best and do better than everyone elseConaway: Its the foundation. Honesty, trust, and and then do a lot of it. Its simple but holds a lot ofhumility are the key factors to being a good leader. weight, and weve proven it in our business. I make a conscious effort to be the same person at Theres always a place for independent com- work, at the association, and at home. Thats just panies as long as theyre willing to change. If theythe life I live.start to become rigid or fear change, thats when they lose their place. If you welcome change atSW: Finally, can you tell me a little about every level, theres always a place for you in theyour family?seed industry. Conaway: My wife Christy is the backbone of eve-rything I do. She holds a Ph.D. in natural medicine, SW: Talent is a major pressure point. Whatand she has made me better emotionally, physi-can independents do differently to attractcally, and mentally. Shes my solid foundation. We and retain the next generation? have three boys. Maverick is 21, plays college golf, Conaway: Its a multi-prong approach. The ag- and is studying business with the intention of find-based foundation coming out of school isnt asing his way back to our family business. Oliver is large as it once was, and even when students havea freshman at Vincennes University focused on an ag focus, its different. Theyre more technology- Precision Ag and Diesel Mechanics. He has worked minded, more willing to push the envelope. in the business for the past five years and plans to Weve had to continually adapt our organiza- come back to our operation. Raleigh is a freshman tion to capture and bring in talent with the interestsin high school and has a lot of passions and people they have. Once we understand their career path,skills, and has worked the past two summers in our we can be flexible and provide them with addi- business. Hell be super successful whichever direc-tional opportunities to continue to grow inside ourtion he chooses.SWorganization.10/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2026'