Mike Madsen Celebrates 40 Years with Agtegra
Mar 17, 2021
When it comes to the legacy of the cooperative, Mike Madsen has seen it all. For the past 40 years, Madsen has served the Carpenter location in a variety of capacities, including managing the location for the last 30 years, a feat accomplished by very few.
Starting in 1981 with Carpenter Farmers Union Oil, Madsen held a variety of responsibilities, including fulfilling agronomy services, putting up grain bins, fixing tractor tires, changing oil, and even driving trucks. A decade later, he was promoted to manager, a position he continued to hold after South Dakota Wheat Growers purchased the location in 1999. He has served as manager ever since.
With a passion for being a good steward of the land, Madsen thrives on working with patrons to better their operations. Having started with the location part time as a senior in high school, Madsen soaked up every piece of knowledge he could to pursue excellence in every capacity for both his fellow employees and customers alike.
“I have really enjoyed meeting and working with all the employees within the company, and I really enjoy working with my customers,” Madsen said. “I also have had some really good employees over the years that helped me reach my goals.”
Madsen’s commitment to customers is proven through his location’s success in sales. Madsen built the location from the ground up, increasing sales from $1.4 million to about $17 million and as high as $20 million in sales over the course of his career.
Pursuing a new role with Agtegra, Madsen will continue his passion for service and agriculture as the agronomy/petroleum sales lead. However, he noted that he will miss working with his fellow co-workers every day.
“I have made a lot of friends in this company, and they have all been great to work with,” Madsen said.
Madsen added that he could not have chased his career goals without his wife of 35 years, Taren.
“She put up with a lot of my long hours and not being home much,” Madsen said. “She helped me make this all possible.”
For his years of service, a celebration will be held in his honor on March 18 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Carpenter location, with lunch being served from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Madsen has left much more than a 40-year legacy on the cooperative; his commitment to customers and passion for excellence embody the true spirit of an Agtegra employee.
Starting in 1981 with Carpenter Farmers Union Oil, Madsen held a variety of responsibilities, including fulfilling agronomy services, putting up grain bins, fixing tractor tires, changing oil, and even driving trucks. A decade later, he was promoted to manager, a position he continued to hold after South Dakota Wheat Growers purchased the location in 1999. He has served as manager ever since.
With a passion for being a good steward of the land, Madsen thrives on working with patrons to better their operations. Having started with the location part time as a senior in high school, Madsen soaked up every piece of knowledge he could to pursue excellence in every capacity for both his fellow employees and customers alike.
“I have really enjoyed meeting and working with all the employees within the company, and I really enjoy working with my customers,” Madsen said. “I also have had some really good employees over the years that helped me reach my goals.”
Madsen’s commitment to customers is proven through his location’s success in sales. Madsen built the location from the ground up, increasing sales from $1.4 million to about $17 million and as high as $20 million in sales over the course of his career.
Pursuing a new role with Agtegra, Madsen will continue his passion for service and agriculture as the agronomy/petroleum sales lead. However, he noted that he will miss working with his fellow co-workers every day.
“I have made a lot of friends in this company, and they have all been great to work with,” Madsen said.
Madsen added that he could not have chased his career goals without his wife of 35 years, Taren.
“She put up with a lot of my long hours and not being home much,” Madsen said. “She helped me make this all possible.”
For his years of service, a celebration will be held in his honor on March 18 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Carpenter location, with lunch being served from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Madsen has left much more than a 40-year legacy on the cooperative; his commitment to customers and passion for excellence embody the true spirit of an Agtegra employee.