Ben Towns Director of Sales and Technology Landmark Services Cooperative Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
What are your new responsibilities?
Landmark Animal Nutrition has a very talented team of dairy nutritionists. I’ll be supporting and coaching this group as they consult with farmers to help make them more profitable. My role will also encompass on-farm technical support and bringing technologies to the farm gate to enhance producer profitability.
What territory will you cover?
I’ll be working with our team and farmers throughout the company’s trade area – most of the southern half of Wisconsin and also in northern Illinois and northeast Iowa.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I was born and raised on a registered Holstein dairy farm near Janesville, Wisconsin, working on the farm and showing dairy cattle with my parents, siblings and extended family while growing up. In 1999, Towns Farms Inc. built a freestall barn and milking parlor designed for about 450 cows. Fifteen years later, my parents and two uncles continue to own and operate that dairy farm on about 500 acres in rural Rock County.
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I have had many valuable education opportunities since entering the dairy nutrition industry in 2003 from a variety of industry resources and university short-courses. As for my formal education, I earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and more recently, an M.B.A. degree in management from the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater.
What previous positions have you held?
Before joining Landmark, I was the channel account manager in the central U.S. for Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition for the last six years. Prior to that I worked for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed at United Cooperative as a dairy nutrition consultant, as well as in a sales and dealer development role with BouMatic.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
I’m most excited about working with the consulting team that the company already has in place. Landmark is an organization that takes their customers safe, effective technologies to help improve the profitability on their farms. They are a positive influence in production agriculture every day.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
My mom, Debi Towns, for teaching me the value of education, both in and out of the classroom. And my dad, Steve Towns, and grandpa, Dick Towns – as I wouldn’t be working in this great industry if I hadn’t seen their commitment to agriculture every day as I was growing up.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I’ll equip our team with the best tools, resources, partners and technologies to utilize with the producers they engage with every day. This is a special team, and when they have these tools, they make a constructive impact with the producers they work with.
Why did you choose this company?
Landmark Services Cooperative has a proud history and great reputation in the agri-business community I have lived in my entire life. Along with the exciting opportunity to work with this Animal Nutrition team, this situation seemed like a great fit.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
Our goals at Landmark need to be established based on the goals of our customers, because our success is predicated on their success. It is also important for us to develop the skills of the capable individuals on our team so they can be a sound resource for our members. PD
