MCIA Foundation Seed Services Manager Roger Wippler Retires
When I began my tenure at the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association in 1989, I never imagined my time here would span 34 plus years. However, working with good people makes a job much more enjoyable. It did not take very long to realize that I was not just an employee, but I was part of something bigger. It has been a great experience to have been associated with MCIA.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job was visiting foundation seed growers and walking fields. My experience with these growers was remarkable. From the very beginning, they were eager to share information about seed production and their operations. Many times, they personally drove me around their farms, poured me a cup of coffee or offered me a meal. To all the growers I worked with, thank you for your cooperation and kindness.
Traveling around the state during the summer and fall gave me a great appreciation for the diverse geography of our state and the varied scope of Minnesota agriculture. From the rolling hills in southeast Minnesota to the flat prairies of the Red River Valley, I’ve walked shoulder high oats, waving wheat, and fields of soybeans during stunning fall days. All the while weaving my way along a myriad of county and township roads.
Those roads led me to cross paths with a lot of great people, including University of Minnesota plant breeders and their teams, commodity group leaders, and Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff. Thanks also to my fellow foundation seed and certification folks in our neighboring states, you have been great neighbors indeed.
I can’t say enough about my coworkers, through the years they have been tremendous. The people at MCIA in my early years were generous in sharing their time and knowledge. I hope that I was able to do that for my fellow employees and in the process help create an atmosphere of “we can do more by working together.”
Overall, my experience here at MCIA has been very satisfying. I will certainly miss the MCIA members and people I have gotten to know, some only by their voices on the phone, others through visits to their farms or at meetings. I won’t walk away completely, I will still be involved at the Minnesota State Fair, and I will be attending the 2024 MCIA Annual Meeting—I hope to see you there!
Finally, I offer my sincere thanks for the opportunity to serve the MCIA organization for these many years. Best wishes and I hope to see you around.
—Roger Wippler