Category: 2020

AJ OLSEN’S STORY


AJ Olsen

From keeping up to date on the latest technology to driving up a grower’s lane and just talking with them about their needs AJ Olsen is willing to do whatever it takes to make your farm run smoothly. Working as a Precision Ag Advisor at Jenner Precision for the last two years, AJ spends his days assessing what areas of a grower’s operation could benefit from precision ag technology.


“When I show up at a location, the first thought I have is efficiency. What can I do that will help this customer with their efficiency?” says AJ. “If a customer has run the same piece of equipment for years, and they just aren’t seeing the performance they envisioned when they bought the machine, that’s where I come in. When I help them put a system on that machine that brings their vision to life and ups their bottom line…you wouldn’t believe the smiles.”

AJ has worked in the agriculture industry his whole life. He worked as an operator for 10 years before coming to Jenner Precision. “I like to talk with growers about my background and career; I am really big on that kind of stuff; how it helps me in the job I have today. I believe it gives customers an insight into who you are and how your knowledge and experience can help them. I have learned a lot in my time and continue to learn daily.” AJ believes his background offers him a different perspective and allows him to better help his customers.

“Part of what makes us great at what we do is that our customers rely on us, and we rely on each other. You don’t just have your advisor in the field with you; you have the knowledge of our entire team,” says AJ. “We have three separate locations, but I don’t view them that way. There is an open channel of communication across all locations. It makes our job easier and fun. There’s not one person who holds themselves above the other, that goes from our CEO all the way down. If I’m stumped, I reach out to our fantastic team to ask questions, it makes a better knowledge base and experience for the customer.”

Whether adding yield monitoring to a combine or fitting a planter with upgrades, AJ is just trying to keep his customers happy and informed. “I really am there to fill an advisor role, to be someone that they can lean on when it comes to the agronomy side of things. I help assess their operation and then point them in the right direction for their farm world,” he says. “Customers trust in Jenner Precision; they trust that at the end of day, we will help them come up with a plan and achieve their goals…that means a lot.”

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CLINT HOHENSTEIN’S STORY


Clint Hohenstein

Going from the Accounting Department to Location Manager of the Jenner Ag Agriculture Division is quite a story, and one Clint Hohenstein is proud to tell. Clint got his start in our Accounting Department 18 years ago and in that time has held multiple positions. He has been the Auditor of Internal Policies, CFO, VP of Finance and more. His newest role is managing the Taylorville store.

“Some people might ask how I got to be on the path I’m following today and what qualifies me to be a store manager. The truth is, I have always put a lot of faith into the management team at Jenner Ag. They have always done myself and my family well, and I have never been put into a role that I didn’t feel was the best move for me,” says Clint.

He says working at a company that promotes from within has allowed him to change positions, take on new responsibilities and always feel confident to take on those new roles. “Each day of work for the past two decades has allowed me to hone my skillset to successfully be the liaison between the parts, service and sales teams and what the needs of our Taylorville store are,” he explains.

Clint knows the ag industry the store serves because he’s always been part of it, having grown up driving nurse trucks for his dad, a fertilizer plant manager, and even after he graduated Illinois State University with an accounting degree up to now, working as a hired man running auger carts, driving trucks and doing tillage for farmers across central Illinois.

Likewise, he knows about the community this store is serving because he’s been part of it. “I went to high school here in Taylorville. From the moment Jenner Ag acquired this location six years ago, I have had a deep desire for it to be successful,” he says. “I wanted to be able to step up and do whatever I can do to help make this the next big thing for the company and the Taylorville community.”

Part of how he plans to make that goal a reality is through the Jenner Ag management style and its key principal – communication. “I want our people to know that they’re making a difference every single day. One thing I try to make sure I do as part of that is to connect with team members daily,” says Clint. “Sometimes it’s as simple as a ‘How’s it going’ or ‘Is there anything I could be doing to help you?’ I just try to keep that constant line of communication open.” It’s easy for an associate to think nobody notices the work they put in. He wants each team member to know he spends a lot of time noticing and making sure those efforts are appreciated.

At the end of the day, Clint believes that growing up in the agriculture field has given him a sense of what it means to work with customers and be a part of that community. And that helps him do his job day to day. “What I love about this field is being surrounded by good, honest, hardworking people,” he says. “It’s an industry where people do what they say they are going to do, and they appreciate companies that do that same thing for them. That’s one of the things Jenner Ag does very well: We try to always keep our word.”

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TERRY NORVILLE’S STORY


“I’ve been working on farm equipment for 35 years, and I’m still working every day to learn more. I try to know everything there is to know about our equipment; that’s my personal goal.” Being knowledgeable is only the beginning for Terry Norville, Ag Service Manager and U-Maxx Technician with Jenner Ag. He has been working on equipment since 1984 and prides himself on wanting to know everything he can when going into the field to help a customer with any problems they might encounter.

“My favorite part of my job is working with the equipment and being out and interacting with our customers. Being able to resolve any issue for them is rewarding,” he says, adding that even though he’s the face a customer sees in the field, he’s just one part of the team that makes it happen. Being a member of the Jenner Nation doesn’t just mean having to problem solve on your own. “Whenever you need assistance or help, there is always someone on your team you can work with to find a solution,” says Terry.

He believes the reason associates have that open line of communication with one another is due to management. “Jenner Ag at its core is a great company, working together. We have all three locations, Precision, Application and Agriculture, all working together to help customers throughout the whole season,” says Terry. “We used to have just the one location in Harristown, but we have expanded our expertise to be able to provide more services to our customers. We want to be able to help the customer through planting, growing and harvesting. We do this by assisting them with their parts, service and equipment all throughout the year – trying to meet any and all needs they might have.”

Terry says the goal as a company is to have all UPTIME and no downtime, and Jenner Nation means coming together to provide that for customers. That commitment doesn’t just stop at service; it extends to improving every day. “We pride ourselves on fixing problems in the field on first time visits,” says Terry. “One of the ways we do this is sending out surveys asking customers about what our technicians can improve on. Once we get their feedback, we really take that input to heart. I care about what our customers are saying and how they are rating our team. I want the customers to help us be the best we can be for them.”

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MARK HARTMAN’S STORY


Mark-isms have become part of daily communication at Jenner Ag – and after eight years, the guy behind them shows no signs of running out. Mark Hartman, sales director at Jenner Ag, operates by these strong pieces of advice and principles, and regularly shares them to help our associates build and maintain lasting relationships with not only customers but each other. First and foremost: “Everything you need to do to be successful is understand it’s all about the follow up and follow through,” says Mark. “I am always telling the sales staff that business grows as a result of the follow up.”

He goes on to explain that you can call and talk to all kinds of people to get your foot in the door, but if you make commitments to those customers and don’t follow through on those commitments, you will likely not do business with them again. “When you commit to do something for not only a customer, but fellow associates, you keep that promise. There is great importance behind doing what you say you’re going to do. That is part of what helps everyone at Jenner Ag feel like they belong to a great team,” Mark says. “I believe that principle is one of the many characteristics that sets our company apart.”

His favorite part of the job is helping associates become more knowledgeable about the business and watching as they grow into their roles. “It gives me great satisfaction to take a look at a member of our team who two years ago was just learning the business and is now turning in orders and managing a successful territory; that’s incredible,” says Mark. “Part of what makes that possible is the opportunities we have here. Associates are offered the chance to attend trainings on business principles, financial literacy, and specialized trainings pertaining to their individual departments. Working at Jenner Ag is like receiving a college education – and getting paid for it. Management and The Great Game of Business help us offer that.”


He believes the attitude that you encounter at Jenner Ag is an accumulation of every single associate feeling the heightened level of commitment and engagement that comes with enjoying your work. “Being a member of the Jenner Nation isn’t just about doing business. It’s about doing business with a partner that cares, operates with integrity, and lives up to our promises,” says Mark.

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DAVE SCHMIDT’S STORY


Most companies can’t claim 30 years of experience themselves, but Jenner Ag has a single employee with 30 years! Dave Schmidt, U-Maxx Service Technician, has been a crucial part of our service force for the past three decades. “Nowadays, they say the average amount of time someone works at a company is three to four years. I pride myself on being a part of the Jenner Ag team for three decades. I have seen how the company changes and adapts with the times to keep up with the needs of their customers,” he says.

Customer service is key, and no one knows that better than Dave. “The lesson that stands out the most from my 30 years at Jenner Ag is when a customer has an issue, the quicker you can address and resolve that issue, the better the business. I always tell people, don’t put things off, especially when it involves a customer. Bigger companies have a hard time addressing those issues fast; the team at Jenner Ag works to resolve issues as fast as we can for a better customer experience.”

Dave says being at one company so long allows him to learn the ins and out of not only the company but the industry as a whole. “My favorite part of my job is also what has taught me the most: running our machines and putting myself in the shoes of the operators,” he explains. “As a U-Maxx Tech, you are tasked with working on the machines, but you seldom get to go out and just enjoy using the machines for what they were built for. [Making a point to use] the equipment allows me to know what an operator does daily and helps me connect with that side of the business.

He believes you need to not only understand your customers but also your fellow associates. “It is good to know how a different department within the company is doing. Then you can understand better why a department is making the decisions that they are,” Dave says. “It helps you relate to other associates in different areas of the company and in turn gives you more knowledge about your own job.


Fully understanding both your customer base and the other members of your own team allows you to do your job to the best of your ability. “If you know what challenges your team is facing, it better prepares you to deal with anything that comes your way,” he says. “All of us at Jenner Ag are a team, but we are also more than that; we are a family. Jenner Nation means my business family to me; it’s that simple.”

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