Pat Breth is an important part of Centra Sota Cooperative's team of experts. The values and work ethic of farm families were instilled in him at a young age. Although Pat was not raised on a farm, he spent many summers growing up working on the farms of relatives. His farm chores ranged from picking rocks and baling hay to milking cows. Pat discovered early on that he enjoyed being outdoors and working hard. 

The most rewarding part of the job is getting positive feedback from the growers on a job well done.

Pat will be the first to tell you that he was enrolled at the “school of life” as he has no formal education in agriculture. Instead, he did his learning in Minnesota farm fields with hands-on experience spraying, spreading fertilizer, crop scouting, and making sound agronomic recommendations. Pat has built relationships of trust with you, the growers, over his many years in the industry. He has studied real farms, fields, and crops over the years to help him as he shares insight to help you succeed in your farming operation. 

In over 30 years in the agronomy business, Pat has seen many changes in the agricultural industry and has adapted to meet the rapidly changing needs of his customers. He is proud to be part of a proactive cooperative. Centra Sota is poised for the future with a vast array of resources, including a great team of experts specializing in agronomy, energy and feed. 
 

Growing up on a small dairy farm in Slayton, Minnesota, Clem began learning all aspects of farming at a very young age. It was hard work, but the experience played an important role in shaping his future. Clem realized early on that he wanted to work with growers to earn their trust and create a business relationship.

For me, being an agronomist is more than selling products; it's selling the right products to grow the most profitable crop for the grower.

Clem earned a two-year Ag Business degree from Willmar Technical College. That degree was the start of a 30-year career in the agronomy business. Over the years, he has worked at five different fertilizer plants. For Clem, these were more than just jobs. He was gaining knowledge and gathering the best ideas and practices on how to operate a plant. He purchased his own plant in January 1988. Clem and his wife Deb owned the plant for 20 years before selling to Centra Sota in December 2008. Clem agreed to stay on and continue to work as a sales agronomist for Centra Sota. 

Today, Clem is continuing his pattern of lifelong learning, always looking for what's new and implementing best practices into our day to day business.  As a Certified Crop Advisor, Clem continues attending seminars to stay up-to-date on the newest technology for farming to better serve Minnesota growers.

Abby grew up on a dairy farm in Waverly, MN. While growing up, Abby was involved in volleyball, 4-H and FFA. Her passion for the agronomy industry stems from working on the farm and checking the fields with her father.

After high school, Abby attended the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities where she majored in Agricultural Industries and Marketing with an emphasis on Crops and Soils. After graduating from the Twin Cities in 2012, Abby became an independent seed salesman. After deciding to return to college for her second undergrad, this time in Agronomy Sciences, Abby attended the University of Minnesota- Crookston. Abby recently graduate in 2015 and is currently working towards obtaining her Master’s Degree in Agronomy from Iowa State University.

Abby began working with Centra Sota as a Sales and Marketing intern in the summer of 2015. Recently, Abby was added to the full time roster as a Crop Advisor in Cokato, MN. Abby is most excited about being back out in the fields and interacting with growers. Outside of work, Abby enjoys playing volleyball and gardening. 

Growers in the Watkins area probably don't need much of an introduction to Mark. He grew up on a farm about a mile outside of Watkins. Aside from a short period going to school and working in St. Cloud, he spent most of his life either farming or working with local farmers. It is that experience that has made him such a key part of the Centra Sota team.

I really enjoy the job that I do. I am out in the country and still farming every day with my customers. I enjoy being able to jump on a tractor or in a pick-up to go look at fields with farmers to help in any way that I can.

After Mark got married in 1987, he worked the family farm raising hogs and milk cows alongside his dad. This helped Mark gain a true understanding of the issues that growers face - what it takes to put a crop in the ground, take it out, and do so profitably given the always-changing commodity prices.

Although Mark rents out most of the land at the family farm these days, he still keeps his hands in farming with some pigs and some steers. He lives in Watkins with his wife of 25 years and his two children. Mark also recently celebrated a 25-year milestone with the Watkins Volunteer Fire Department, where he currently serves as the safety officer.

I grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Maple Plain, MN where I am still actively involved. I attended South Dakota State University, majoring in Agronomy with a minor in Precision Agriculture and Soil Science. My previous experience in the Agriculture industry includes an internship with Centra Sota at the Cokato location as a crop scout, as well as an Agriculture Technology Specialist internship with WinField United in Central Minnesota. Prior to returning to Centra Sota I worked for Syngenta Crop Protection as a Developmental Sales Representative in Kansas as well as Southeast Minnesota. I have been at Centra Sota for 3 years and most recently have taken on the role of Lead Crop Advisor for the Cokato location. I look forward to continuing to work directly with my customer base as well as working with the great team in Cokato! We’re always looking for ways to improve our business and help our growers.
 
I am passionate about helping farmers attain the highest return on investment, and partnering with them to help make the best Agronomic decision for their individual operation.
 

I grew up on a small farm east of Foley where we raised veal calves. Later we switched to Holstein steers and hay. After high school I spent three summers walking fields working with a crop consultant evaluating stands, soil sampling and scouting for weeds, insects and crop disease. 

I received a bachelor's degree in Crop and Soil Science from the University of Minnesota in St. Paul and a master's degree in Weed Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I also had two six-month internships with American Cyanamid chemical company during college. After graduate school, I went to work for a private contract researcher in Wisconsin, and I later joined Centra Sota Cooperative in December of 2003.

I enjoy the seasonality of farming, and the fact that the tasks needed to be done change with the seasons. I like walking fields and I enjoy working with plants. If I wasn't here I would probably be teaching. 

I married my wife, Holly, on November 2, 2002. She grew up on a dairy farm between Lester Prairie and Winsted. We have two children, Hannah and Zachary. My hobbies include fishing, hunting, weightlifting, and gardening (especially giant pumpkins!).

I grew up on a family farm in south-central Iowa raising corn, soybeans, hay, hogs, and beef cattle. Growing up on the farm gave me first-hand experience to see what life is like as a farmer, the day to day ins-and-outs of running a farm. That experience helps me to better understand our customers and what they need. I believe in staying current on the latest trends in agriculture. I’m always watching for new technologies and products we can share to make their business more successful.
 
I attended college at Iowa State University, earning a degree in Agronomy. I made the move to Minnesota when my wife accepted a new job here. We now live in rural Delano with our two daughters. 

I started my career at Centra Sota in 2004. I really enjoy working with the growers. Before I make any recommendation to a customer, I envision myself in their place and consider how that choice will impact their bottom line. I’m invested in helping our growers thrive.

My name is Jason Klein! I live in Watkins with my wife and our three girls. I had the opportunity to work on some farms when I was younger, and that type of work caught my eye. I enjoyed working outdoors, and I thought farming was something that I wanted to do at some time in my life. 

My goal is to build long-term relationships with growers, and to use any and all of the resources I have at Centra Sota to make sure that growers are getting the information and advice they need to make their operations successful and profitable.

My dream came true in April 2006 when I got a job at Centra Sota as a driver/applicator. For the three years that I worked as an applicator I was fortunate to meet many different growers and see first-hand how they made their operations work. In the fall of 2009, I joined the Centra Sota sales team. I enjoy meeting growers and getting to know their businesses. 

I grew up in Clear Lake, MN but – unlike many in the agriculture world – I did not grow up on a farm. However, my grandpa had a farm in Madison, MN and I fell in love with farming there. Once I got my license, I spent nearly every weekend helping my grandpa and my uncle run the family farm. I loved everything about it – learning the farming process, getting my hands dirty, and spending time outside. I knew I wanted to do something related to farming and agriculture.
 
After high school, I attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a degree in Precision Agriculture & Agronomy. I joined the Centra Sota team in January of 2020. The best thing about my job is really getting to know each grower so I can understand their unique situation and help them find the solutions that are the best fit for them.
 
I am engaged to a wonderful woman named Erika and excited to be getting married in August 2022. I also have a black lab named Thor!

Doni was born in St. Cloud and grew up on a farm north of Sartell. He has been involved with agriculture for roughly 50 years, nearly all his life. He's had the opportunity to work with livestock as well as a variety of crops. 

It is really exciting to be part of the agricultural world, working together with producers to find solutions for their challenges and concerns.

Growing up on the farm taught Doni many life lessons. It's where he learned the importance of family and friends working together to get crops in and get them harvested. The experience also gave him a firsthand view of the concerns and issues that farmers face on a daily basis. He uses that knowledge to help producers with the concerns they have in today's market.

Doni has lived in central Minnesota all of his life. He now lives south of Foley with his wife - Sharon, daughter - Katrina, and labs - Zeus and Zena. In his spare time, he works his 1-acre vegetable garden where he grows cucumbers, 400 to 600 tomato plants, and another 400 to 600 pepper plants. Like any good grower, Doni continues to build his “small” garden slowly with a keen focus on getting the most out of production. In 2011 he and his family produced 8,000 pounds of tomatoes that they canned and shared.

Hello, my name is Isaac and I have been with Centra Sota since the spring of 2016. I grew up in Rice, MN and was fortunate enough to return back home after graduating from South Dakota State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Science.
 
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids. We run a small beef operation that occupies a lot of our free time but we love every minute of it.
 
Working for Centra Sota has allowed me to utilize my knowledge and skills to help others maximize profits on their farms. There is never a dull moment with the fast-paced environment and changing seasons. I look forward to partnering with you and helping make your operation successful!

Jack was born and raised on a small farm in southwestern Minnesota. After receiving a two-year degree in business from Willmar Community College, he returned to the family farm and eventually took over running the operation. Jack continued to farm for 20 years, raising corn and soybeans along with hogs and some calves.

Since having run my own farm, I feel I have a better understanding of the challenges farmers face. This is a great time to be involved in agriculture! I look forward to helping our customers get the most of every dollar they spend with us.

Jack joined Centra Sota in 2007. His farming experience has made him a valuable part of the Centra Sota team. He doesn't “shoot from the hip” when answering questions from growers. If he doesn't know the answer, he reviews one of the many resources available through Centra Sota, or consults one of the knowledgeable team members has to get the information that growers want and need today.

Growing up on a family dairy farm in Central Minnesota, nutrient management always intrigued me. After interning for the Benton County NRCS/SWD during high school, I pursued a Bachelor’s  degree in Conservation Planning from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I worked in SE North Dakota for five years, and then decided to move back to Central Minnesota.
While working with Centra Sota, I obtained my NRCS Technical Service Providers license in manure, pest, and irrigation management to help producers see the value in their manure outputs while also helping farmers protect our environment for future generations to come.