Eastern IA Farmer_Fall23_SOUTH

AG
CAREERS
While growing crops and raising livestock are the
lifeblood of the Eastern Iowa farm community, agriculture
isn’t just for farmers. Many area folks pursue careers
that support the industry in a variety of fields.
‘I don’t sleep well until
I can figure it out’
Agronomist helps farmers
choose the best seeds
and fix problems in the field
BY SARA MILLHOUSE
EASTERN IOWA FARMER
Do you like asking and answering questions,
learning and teaching, juggling
variables and analyzing data? Do you
like being outside and communicating
with farmers and people in ag? Consider agronomy.
Terry Mente graduated from Tipton High School
with plans to become a veterinarian. He never
guessed his path would lead him to agronomy, now
as a technical agronomist for DEKALB Asgrow,
covering a territory that covers southern Iowa from
the Mississippi River to Interstate 35.
Mente grew up in Cedar County on a farrow-to-finish
operation. His family also grew crops
and had cows and chickens.
“I always wanted to be outside, with plants and
animals,” he said. “I was not born to be inside.”
Mente was the youngest of three.
“It was not a large operation by any means, and
the middle child wanted to farm,” Mente said. At
first, he thought he would become a veterinarian.
At Iowa State University, he soon decided he
didn’t want to spend eight years in school to become
a vet. He first took agronomy classes almost
as an “afterthought,” but “it hit home,” he said.
“The more I got into it, the more I liked it,” he said.
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9/19/23 3:34 PM