2021 marks Jenner Ag’s 60th year of business. When you think of Jenner Ag, we hope you think of the many faces of Jenner Nation who made all this possible. One of those faces belongs to our CEO, Steve Jones. If you run into him in the hall, he might not tell you he’s the CEO, but he’s been one of the many people who made this company able to celebrate its 60th year of business.
Raised on a farm in Central Illinois, Steve has been in the agriculture industry since the time he could walk. “Growing up I was feeding hogs and spraying crops; from there I went to college to be in the agriculture industry. I sold fertilizer, spread fertilizer, ran a combine; you name it,” says Steve. “I loved the ag world; the industry itself is full of a lot of good honest, hardworking people. It stuck with me that food is something everyone needs and is connected to. I wanted to be a part of that.”
Steve has been with Jenner Ag since 1997, when he started as Sales Manager. “The company has changed exponentially since I started. At the time we had 17 associates and only one location, the Harristown office,” says Steve. “Today we have three locations that serve two states. Our workforce has advanced to many associates that work both in office and remotely. We have a mobile fleet of service technicians who now live and work in their territories. We haven’t just grown in size either; we also carry more products than before.” In 1999, Steve became the General Manager, which has developed into the role he holds today as CEO.
When asked how he got to where he is today, he had this to say: “I never thought I would be CEO. I put in a lot of hard work every day, a lot of hours. The founder of Jenner Ag, Gordon Jenner, and his son, Mike Jenner, saw that. I have done my best to make sure I have done their legacy justice. I try to share the same lessons with our team that they shared with me,” says Steve, “that if you work hard and put forth your best efforts, the company will recognize you for those efforts and will put you in a position that reflects your hard work.” By that same token Steve says the company teaches associates that when they have worked hard and done well, everyone benefits: the individual, the company and most importantly, the customer.
Jenner Ag has changed greatly through the years, but maintains its roots, the culture. “Culture is what means the most to me and our management team. Even though we have grown in number of associates, we have tried to maintain that family atmosphere. That is crucial to us,” says Steve. “In my mind, what has led to 60 years of business is having good people, good leadership and revolutionary products.”