Source: SeedWorld
Michael-Butler, of AgReliant, named a Top 10 Next Gen Leaders by SeedWorld
Clayton Michael-Butler, campus recruiting lead at AgReliant Genetics, grew up on a small row-crop operation in Mulberry, Ind. Like others, he grew up loving agriculture and pursuing it further in 4-H and FFA, then, in 2012, Michael-Butler took a bigger role in the family farm — he became the farm manager after returning home from serving in the Marine Corps.
After attending Purdue University and studying agribusiness, Michael-Butler knew he wanted to go into ag sales to help growers, like his family, find solutions that would have a greater impact on their operation. The seed industry, however, caught his attention because of the quick advancements in technology. He had the opportunity to launch Enogen Feed into the southeastern dairy market while serving as a sales rep with NK, and he says, “Working with these dairies increase feed efficiency and optimize output on their operation by offering them elite seed products with an alpha-amylase enzyme trait was extremely satisfying, and one of the coolest experiences I’ve had.”
Not only that, but Michael-Butler says without seed, there would be no row-crop agriculture. “We are the fundamental industry for every grower,” he says. The seed industry is able to provide growers with unique, successful products, and technology is developing so rapidly, it makes Michael-Butler excited to be a part of it.
If there’s one piece of advice Michael-Butler could give to someone coming into the industry? “Don’t be afraid to fail,” he says. “If everyone was afraid to fail, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
