Company Information

Kim Alberty and Jim Balcom founded Agassiz Seed and Supply in 1985. Initially we were a distributor of agricultural seed, soybean inoculants, lawn seed, seed treatments, seed grains and grain fumigants. The business has grown through the years by expansion of product lines and acquisition of other businesses. In 1990 we purchased Youlden Supply of Grand Forks ND, a distributor of grain testing equipment and grain elevator supplies, we added repair and calibration of electronic testing equipment in 1992 to add to the service side of the testing equipment business. Legume inoculants have been and important part of Agassiz Seed since the company was founded. In 2000 Agassiz Seed and two partners formed Advance Inoculants changing the way soybean inoculants are distributed in the Midwest. We have sold the Advance Inoculants company but continue to expand the distribution of soybean inoculants in the upper Midwest. In 2001 we purchased the wholesale vegetable seed division of Holland’s distributing to diversify our business and better utilize our packaging facility. With the growing interest in home gardening this department of Agassiz Seed has shown steady growth. We added distribution of erosion control products in 2005 for our seeding contractors and landscapers who have been installing these products for several years. In December of 2009 we purchased The Seed Source in Minneapolis, MN and established our first branch location. Our Minneapolis location will distribute seed and supplies primarily to landscapers and seeding contractors in the Minneapolis metro area and southwest Minnesota. As a MNDOT approved seed vendor since 1995 and with sales staff in the Twin Cities since 2003 this is and exciting expansion of our business. As we merged these businesses into Agassiz Seed it has given us the opportunity to expand our customer base, trade area and continue to diversify our product lines. We continue to be a wholesale distributor of all our product lines. Today our core products include forage/native grass seed, lawn/turf seed, legume inoculants, vegetable seed and farm, elevator and environmental supplies.

Trade Area

Our trade area is the upper Midwest including North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Product Commitment

Agassiz Seed and Supply has developed a product line specifically suited for the upper Midwest. Our business is located here, we live here, and we know what it means to have products that will perform in this environment.

Mission Statement

Agassiz Seed and its employees will provide our customers with the quality products they expect, at a competitive price, while delivering service that exceeds expectations.

West Fargo Agassiz Team

Kim Alberty - General Manager
Kim grew up on a small family grain and livestock farm at Sioux Falls SD. He attended the University of South Dakota and has been employed in the seed and grain industry since 1976. Kim started his career in Thief River Falls Mn in a seed and grain business, then with Arrowhead in Fargo ND before co-founding Agassiz in 1985. Kim is active in the agricultural industry as a member of the North Dakota Seed Commission and North Dakota State Crop Show Committee. Kim is past president of the Northern Seed Trade Association, North Dakota Agriculture Association and the Field Seed Institute of North America. Kim is our Corporate President and is responsible for the day to day management of Agassiz Seed.

Dave Vandal - Operations Manager
Dave grew up on a farm in north central North Dakota and attended NDSU. Dave has been employed in the seed industry since 1978 starting with Arrowhead. Dave has been instrumental in the growth of the company, serving in many different capacities since he helped start the company in 1985. Dave is a corporate Vice President, oversees the processing, shipping and receiving of all products at Agassiz Seeds.

Al Holleman - Specialty Products Manager
Al grew up on a farm in west central MN and is a graduate of South Dakota State University. Al has been in the seed business since 1986 starting with the Sexauer Company and has been with Agassiz since 1989 and is our corporate Secretary. Al is active in the agricultural industry serving on the North Dakota Crop Improvement Association Board of directors, Northern Seed Trade Association Board of directors, past President of the North Dakota Agriculture Association and a former board member of the Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council. Al oversees our DOT sales, erosion control products, baler twine, seed treatments and electronic testing equipment.

Lavern Erikson - Turf and Forage Products Manager
Lavern grew up on a farm near Madison SD and has a degree in accounting from Nettleton Business College. Lavern has been involved in the upper Midwest seed industry since 1984 in management, ownership, sales and purchasing and ha an extensive background with native and introduced grasses and turf. Lavern is a past president of both the South Dakota Seed Association and the Northern Seed Trade Association. Lavern manages all of the lawn and turf seed programs and forage seed programs including alfalfa, native grasses and legumes and annual forages for Agassiz Seed.

Tisha Felland - Office Manager
A native of Moorhead MN Tisha has been with Agassiz for more than 15 years working in telephone reception, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and inventory. Tisha oversees all of our accounting and data entry; most of our customers have spoken to her while she has been working in one of these areas. If you have any questions regarding your account Tisha will point you in the right direction.

Dustin Bjugstad - Industrial Supplies Sales
Dustin is a West Fargo native and comes to Agassiz in 2004 with a strong background in retail sales. Dustin graduated from Aakers Business School with an Associate of Business degree and has experience in the automotive industry and with Menards. Dustin oversees all sales and marketing of our electronic testing equipment and industrial supplies throughout North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana.

Chris Alberty - Sales - Southeast North Dakota, West Central Minnesota, and South Dakota
Chris is a West Fargo native but spent most of his time growing up on the families farm in northeastern South Dakota. Chris is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and has been with Agassiz most of his life but started full time with us in 2005. Chris is responsible for sales and marketing of all Agassiz products in the southern red river valley and South Dakota.

Bob Gustafson - Sales - Northwestern Minnesota
Bob grew up on a farm near Hallock MN and attended Moorhead State University. Bob has worked in the seed industry since 1976 with Dahlgren, Cargill, Mustang Seed and Peterson Farms Seed covering eastern ND and northwest MN. Bob has spent his career solving problems for dealers and growers who sell and plant many kinds of seed. Bobs product knowledge, enjoyment of people and service minded attitude are an asset to all Agassiz customers in his territory. Bob is responsible for sales and marketing of all Agassiz products in Northwestern Minnesota.

Brant Peterson - Shipping and Receiving / Electronic Repair
Brant has been with Agassiz on a part time basis since 1998 and became full time with us in 2006. Brant takes care of our daily small package shipping and receiving for all of our package delivery companies. Brant is one of our service technicians for electronic scales and moisture meters.

Herm Holland - Vegetable Seed Specialist
Herm has been in the nursery and vegetable seed industry for over 30 years with Holland Distributing. Herm takes care of our vegetable seed business including customer service, new variety additions, discontinuing old varieties, and pricing.

Twin Cities Agassiz Team

Dennis Gulland - Sales - Minneapolis Metro, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, Northern Iowa
Dennis has been working in the seed industry in the Twin Cities since 2005, first as a partner in the Seed Source and with Agassiz Since 2010.  Dennis grew up in the Twin cities attended the University of Wisconsin. Dennis is responsible for all sales and marketing of Agassiz products in his sales territory and with his service oriented, work ethic and product knowledge he does a great job for all of our customers.

Chris Kappes - Shipping, Receiving, Customer Service
Chris grew up in south central North Dakota and is a graduate of North Dakota State University. Chris trained at our West Fargo location while working for the NDSU athletic department. Chris has a great background for his work with Agassiz Seed.  He worked in the grain and ag supply industry while he was in high school and worked for a community golf course as grounds keeper during this time as well. During college he worked on the grounds crew for the FM Redhawks baseball team in Fargo. Chris takes care of the day to day inside work, including shipping, receiving coordinating mixing and customer service at our Twin Cities location. With his degree in Sports and Urban Turfgrass Management he will be a real asset to Agassiz Seed and our customers.