From Tagging Along with Dad to Driving the Truck

Meghan Freitag answers the phone on the move. She quickly moves through the yard at the DeForest, Wisconsin Nutrien Ag Solutions location to find a safe and quiet spot to have a conversation.

What does my average day look like for Meghan? “Well, to start, there isn’t really an average day. There is always a little bit of variety, and I think that’s the way we all like it. As a team we are fluid with the tasks at hand, I think we really click well together, and it makes work enjoyable.”

Meghan’s role is Operations Support, and on any given day may include inventory management, shipping and receiving, customer pickups and deliveries, processing orders, tending Custom Application Vehicles (commonly known as CAV’s), and assisting with loading and unloading fertilizer trucks. “My friends will message me to say they saw me in the tender truck – they know it’s me because I’m only 5”2’ and I have to sit low enough to reach the pedals. I get teased about if I can even see over the steering wheel a lot!”

A family friend knew the branch manager at the DeForest location was looking for a seed manager and wondered if Meghan would be interested. While she didn’t know much about managing seed, she did know a bit about farming, having spent her childhood days tagging along with her dad as he sold and serviced farm equipment.

“I met with the manager at the time. and the initial job requirements were to be here on time, to be honest, and to be willing to learn. Now, eightyears later, Josh Manthe, our branch manager, and Jeremy Schultz, our operations manager and Safety, Health & Environment advisor, run our team this way. Most importantly, they lead by example.”

She notes they have a strong motivation to do right by their customers because multiple members of the team are locals.Growing up in the area and making friends all throughout school, unknowingly set the foundation for lifelong relationships in life and business.

“I wish more people could experience farming first-hand. Reading and researching or watching videos will only show you so much – it’s truly a lifestyle. Everything you do and every decision you make is based on the farm, and there is no ‘I don’t feel like doing it today’.”

At Nutrien, she sees a shared passion with our customers around making decisions today that will make a difference not only today, but for generations to come. “We talk a lot about what works now and why and how we can build on it. We’re always thinking ahead, not staying stuck in what works today.”