b'2023 TOP 10 NEXT GEN LEADERSCHER GILLSONWhile farming and agriculture wasnt the industry she expected shed find her passion, Cher Gillson says an opportunity uniquely presented itself. When her mentor, Jack Joyce, founder of Rogue Ales, assigned her to market-ing their hop farm, Gillson says she was thrown outside her comfort zone.Always up for a new challenge, and trusting his mentor-ship, I moved to the ag hub of Oregons Willamette Valley, she says. I fell in love. Thats when I really began to understand the people, terroir, and land that feeds the world. I couldnt wait to tell others about it.She joined the seedGABRIEL FLICKindustry in 2019 after listening to a radio inter- Gabriel Flick has spent moston the ground day-to-day viewee that changed herof his life on the farmhisand, if armed with the most whole career trajectory.father worked for Pioneeraccurate information, they He said that most ofHi-Bred and farmed 20 acrescan make the best decisions the worlds farmers canton the side. From a veryabout that crop. The better afford to feed their own fami- young age, Flick knew all hecrop they raise, the easier it is lies the food they produce. Itwanted to do with his life wasto clean and market; every-really resonated with me, Gillsonfarm, but he wasnt sure of theone is successful. Ninety-nine says. I wasnt sure how at the time,direction to get started.percent of your problems can but I knew that day I wanted to help theAfter paying his waybe solved in the field before farmers that feed the world, to feed their families. Learningthrough college and spend- [the crop] makes it to the about the struggles that farmers face environmentally, eco- ing a stint in the seed industry,warehouse. nomically and with their mental health was the catalyst thathe realized he needed moreAdvocating for farmers is eventually brought me to GO Seed. knowledge to help betterone of the points that drives Now, working in marketing and sales at GO Seed,serve growers. After earningFlicks passion for leadership. Gillsons earned the title of the Farm Whisperer after work- his PhD, meeting his wife andOften, growers get ing with everyone from sixth generation producers operat- moving home, he noticed aoverlooked in the production ing thousands of acres to start up farmers with just a fewneed for small-scale, full-ser- equation even though they acres and a dream.vice production to bridge theare the most important part, They both need someone who will listen to their indi- gap between home gardenershe says. I strive to build and vidual farms problems and help them come up with the rightand medium to large-scalerun a business that really takes seed solution to meet their goals, she says. Helping farm- production companies.care of the growers and the ers understand the advantages of improved seed varieties,And just like that, Flickcommunity. We are blessed to increasing their yields while reducing inputs, and makingfound his direction. Now,be a blessing. their farm more profitable is greatly rewarding. Its an honorworking alongside his fatherHis advice for growing to have a farmer put their trust in you. at Flick Farms LLC as theconnections and becoming a Her advice to find success in the seed sector? Make suremanaging owner, Flick feelsbetter leader? Work on your you never stop learning.he can help cultivate growerslistening skills. This isnt an industry that can rest on its laurels. Whatknowledge in the field. Listen to people, Flick may have worked 50, 25, or even five years ago isnt neces- A grower should have allsays. Never be one on whom sarily going to work today, Gillson says. To succeed youthe knowledge that you cananything is wasted; you never must be able to challenge conventional ideas, research newgive them about their cropknow when youll pick up a solutions, and continue educating yourself and the farmersand everything that affects it,piece of knowledge that is you support. he says. They are the bootsvaluable down the road. 26/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2023'