Oregon seed professional Jake Metzger received the 2025 Young Seedsman Award at the Western Seed Association meeting in Kansas City, recognizing his emerging leadership in cool-season grass production and his relationship-driven approach to the industry. Representing Landmark Seed Company, Metzger credits his success to Oregon roots, family influence and a commitment to honest communication while encouraging the next generation to stay humble, confident and eager to learn.
Metzger Steps Up in Oregon Seed Industry
“It’s super humbling,” he says. “For a young guy stepping into this industry, a lot of people have been doing it a long time, and so it’s humbling to be recognized from that aspect. I have a lot of respect for those that have been doing it for so long.”
Oregon Roots and a Family Legacy
Metzger didn’t stumble into seed — he grew up in it.
“I grew up in the production part of the Willamette Valley grass seed industry,” he says. “Grandpa was farming grass seed. My dad’s in the vegetable seed industry.”
He studied agricultural business at Oregon State University before joining his family’s company and working directly with growers. That early hands-on experience set the stage for his move into sales.
“I went to Oregon State, got an ag business degree, and from there stepped into the production side of our company, working locally with growers, contracting acres,” he says. “I stepped into sales at that point about two years ago.”
Today Metzger represents Landmark Seed Company in Tangent, Oregon, specializing in cool-season turf and forage grasses such as turf-type tall fescue, bentgrass, bluegrass and fine fescues for domestic and international markets.
“We’re focused on that higher-end sod material, landscape material, as well,” Metzger says. “Anything from sports fields to parks to golf courses and home lawns; you can find our stuff in a lot of different venues, big venues in the country and around the world.”
A Business Built on Relationships
To Metzger, the real product isn’t just grass seed — it’s trust.
“Just being transparent, open, communication, honest — those are the core values of really any business structure,” he says. “Keeping an open dialog is key in a lot of relationships. It’s a relationship business.”
That relationship-driven culture is what keeps him coming back to the WSA meeting each year.
“There’s a lot of tradition here at the Western in Kansas City,” he says. “Having this award at a young age is an honor. It’s humbling.”
Learning to Lead in a Room Full of Experience
Metzger understands how intimidating the industry can feel for someone starting out.
“It can be daunting,” he says. “You don’t know a lot of people. This is my third or fourth year, and each year you build more relationships. You start recognizing more people, and you can build from there.”
He encourages new leaders to step forward with curiosity and courage.
“Reach out, build relationships, make connections,” he says. “It’s really a relationship business.”
Honesty, Confidence and Hunger to Learn
His advice comes down to integrity and humility.
“It has to go back to honesty,” he says. “If you can’t have an open dialog, it makes it hard to do business. Be bold, confident in what you know, and also humble in what you don’t know. Be hungry to learn.”
“There are a lot of people who’ve been doing it for many years — dig into what they’ve learned, their wisdom, and hope that they share it with you.”
