We are Ag Leader – Mark Barglof
In honor of Ag Leader’s 25th anniversary, we will spend some time focusing on an essential part of our success…. our employees!
Name: Mark Barglof
Title: Manager, Software Engineering
Hometown: Bennett, IA
How long have you been employed by Ag Leader? 5 years in August.
What are the different positions you have held at Ag Leader? Wireless Engineering Manager, Displays Engineering Manager and my current role Manager, Software Engineering.
How have you seen Ag Leader and precision ag as a whole change during your time here?
Internet connectivity and cloud computing technologies have contributed to a significant increase in the pace of innovation within agriculture. My first project here was to provide internet connectivity to the Ag Leader® Integra display, since then we have continuously expanded the Ag Leader connected world and added technologies, such as DisplayCast™ in the InCommand™ display – technology that seemed impossible 5 years ago. As cellular/internet connectivity continues to expand to more of our customers we have been able to migrate our technology strategy from a hardware-centric view to a data-everywhere view. In the Ag Leader connected world, data lives outside of our hardware devices and works for the farmer even when they are not powered on. This shift in mindset and technology allows us to think of precision ag data as something that is alive on the farm and is accessible whenever you need it. The possibilities with this technology are truly unlimited, it is an exciting and pivotal moment in agriculture and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it.
What is your favorite thing about working here?
Ag Leader provides me with an opportunity to work hard on something that really matters. Our farmers feed, fuel and clothe the world; which is a monumental task that is vital to everyone on the planet. Every day we challenge ourselves to find ways to make our farmers lives more enjoyable, efficient and profitable through new product innovation. It is exciting to watch a new idea hammered into a product, but what is most rewarding is watching our customers use our products on their farms. I have an unbelievably talented engineering team that makes all of this possible. They consistently blow me away with innovative and easy to use solutions.
What do you do in your free time?
I don’t know if you would call it “free time”, but when I am not in the building at Ames I am farming in North Central Iowa. Over the last 8 years my wife, Betsy, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with Betsy’s parents on a farm succession plan. As most of our customers understand, farming is not a one person operation, it takes a strong family working together to make it happen. Betsy is the traffic controller in the house and keeps everything running smoothly. When we are not in the tractor we enjoy family time with our three children Jacob, Ryan and Rachel and supporting our church.
