15
Tech’s board of directors.
“Jeff is a great, intelligent, dedicated human
In the spring of 1976, Kugler was finishing his
being,” Burkey said. “Congratulations, and many
master’s degree. He interviewed with several
more years to him.”
companies, but none seemed to be the right fit.
Orvin Bontrager, a technical service agronomist
Meanwhile, Servi-Tech left word with the Kansas
with Servi-Tech based in Aurora, Neb., has worked
State University agronomy department that it was for Servi-Tech 39 years and has known Kugler just
looking for agronomists.
as long.
“Servi-Tech needed people and I needed a job, so
“He’s mentored a lot of agronomists over the
that’s how my career started,” Kugler said.
years, not only in our company, but across the High
In 1976, a Servi-Tech crop service vehicle was
Plains,” Bontrager said. “Seed companies, chemical
a Jeep CJ-7, with no air conditioning and crank
companies, and extension agents have learned a lot
down windows. Agronomists communicated with from him over the years.”
their customers via landline phones or by mail.
Back then clean till was the normal tillage
Search for a replacement
practice and there were no water restrictions.
On behalf of Servi-Tech, Greg Ruehle, President
Things have
& CEO, is
changed in
undertaking
the past 40
a search
years.
for Kugler’s
He started
replacement.
as a crop
The position
- Greg Ruehle, President & CEO of Servi-Tech
specialist in
is modified
Pratt in 1976.
slightly. The
He was then
successful
a division manager in Kansas and Nebraska, and
candidate will serve the dual role of CEO for STEPS
was promoted to regional manager over eastern
and Chief Technology Officer for Servi-Tech.
Nebraska and Iowa in the 1990’s and 2000’s.
“Filling Jeff Kugler’s boots will be a challenge,
Servi-Tech itself is 42 years old and now employs but one that I am looking forward to leading,”
approximately 200 people in six states (Kansas,
Ruehle said. “As Servi-Tech and STEPS continue to
Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Texas).
develop new products that grow market share, I
Tim Burkey, who serves on the Servi-Tech board
am confident that we will receive interest from a
of directors, said Kugler is a friend and was a
number of good internal and external candidates.”
crop consultant on his family’s farm for three
More than 50 people applied for the position, and
generations.
the field has been narrowed to four candidates.
On Wednesday mornings, Burkey and his father
A decision will be made by the end of December
would have the “Hey, Jeff is here” meeting and at
with an announcement to follow.
the end of the crop year, there was a “This will be
For more information, please contact Greg Ruehle
your last irrigation round” meeting with Jeff, and
directly at 800/557-7509 or by email at greg.
they would cheer afterward.
[email protected]
helped shape Servi-Tech into the
“ Jeff
company that it is today.
”
THE COVER CROP