b'TOP 10 NEXT GEN LEADERSMATT WEHMEYERMatt Wehmeyer, vice president of AgriMAXX, likes to remember that he was a future All Star in the makingbut not an All Star of the seed industry. An All Star in basketball, of course!Towards the end of elementary school and into middle school, I was 100% convinced that I would play in the NBA, he says. There was no stopping me.But, growing up in the seed industry, that wasnt how it necessar-ily all panned out. Im fortunate to have grown up with the experiences of farm life and seed business life, Wehmeyer says. He studied agribusiness management at the University of Missouri, and worked for FCStone following graduation but ultimately, he returned to the family business to help launch AgriMAXX Wheat into a national brand. Now, deciding what to do in the business was another oppor-tunity for Wehmeyer. As a family-owned, independent seed business, you get the opportunity to occupy multiple seats in a company organization chart, he says. Marketing is one of those seats that I currently fill, as well as sales, sales management and product development.Luckily, while the job encompasses a lot, Wehmeyer is fortunate to have a great team behind him that has great communication.Especially in marketing, its important to communicate how we help growers exceed their goals with wheat production, he says. In the future, Wehmeyer is looking forward to more innovation. Just look at the last 15 years of innovation in genetics, breeding, seed conditioning, digital ag, technology at the farm Wehmeyer says. As of today, its strange to think that my son will one day consider todays cutting-edge technology old school.ARIEL WIEGARD combined her dedication to both agriculture and Ariel Wiegard, Ariel Wiegard, director of govern- conservation.ment affairs at the American Soybean AssociationWhen an opportunity opened at ASA to lead (ASA), says her love of agriculture started thankstheir conservation and precision ag portfolioto an opportunity at an early job. She was able toright when climate change was becoming the take masters courses in environmental law andhot topic in D.C., with farmers at the center of the policy, and although a passion for food led her toconversationI knew it was the right time to make start taking classes in food law, she quickly ran outa move, Wiegard says. Maintaining farmers ability of classes.to freely choose their seeds when facing increasingInstead, I signed up for my first of many agri- droughts, flooding, temperature variations, or pest culture classes, and was instantly hooked, Wiegardpressures, is an important part of the climate policy says. The range of issues facing ag, and the diver- discussion.sity within the industry, are fascinating. I knew rightWiegard says many lawmakers in D.C. dont away my next job would somehow be tied to ag. know or appreciate that its imperative that growers From there, she bounced to a hunting and fish- have access to the latest innovations. Because of ing policy organization, where she ran their agri- that, she says theres a lot of educating to do!culture and private lands conservation program. ItFor any aspiring leaders, Wiegard says know was here that she got to know some of the majorthat a successful career path isnt always linear. players in ag policy before transitioning into a roleSometimes it meanders and takes you in unex-as government relations lead at Syngenta. However,pected directions, she says. Dont be afraid to go this year, she knew it was time to make a move thatwith the flow!52/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2021'