The people at Helena have one goal – your success. We celebrate your achievements and unwavering commitment to manage the land and produce safe food and fiber for consumers worldwide. Thank you for letting Helena be your business partner.
Rooted in Resilience
Jamie Blythe’s Journey of Legacy and Balance
Nestled among the lush native woodlands and red rolling hills of northern Alabama, Jamie Blythe is carrying on her family’s legacy of holistic farming. A third-generation farmer based in Courtland, Alabama, Jamie manages land originally cultivated by her grandfather in the 1890s. The farm now encompasses a total of three thousand acres, with a crop rotation of corn, soybeans, and wheat, as well as a cattle operation. Jamie took over managing her family’s farm operation in 2011, placing a strong emphasis on rebuilding her soil’s organic matter.
As a single mother of two children—one with special needs—Jamie is familiar with the pressures of balancing the complex workings of a successful farming operation while maintaining a healthy home life. According to Jamie, “having that holistic approach to the entire farming operation, be it family or work. That’s the biggest challenge, maintaining that balancing and staying healthy.” She continues, “Farmers, I think, really struggle with the mental and physical health sometimes.” Jamie knows the many challenges that farmers face in today’s agricultural industry, such as encroaching urban development, skyrocketing land prices, shifting global markets, and high interest and seed rates, which must all be balanced in the final budget for a net profit per acre.
Jamie’s journey as a farmer is a testament to the resilience and adaptability required in modern agriculture. Her commitment to holistic farming practices and soil health not only honors her family's legacy but also sets a strong foundation for future generations. Jamie’s story is an example of how innovation, community support, and a deep connection to the land can create a thriving and sustainable farming operation.
Generations of Farming and Innovation in Iowa
The Tuel Family Farms' Story
The Tuel family lives in Bayard, Iowa, on a fourth-generation family farm. Jim Tuel is joined on the operation by his twin sons, Josh and Justin, and it’s a whole-family affair. Their three spouses participate in their own ways, and the grandkids enjoy riding in the equipment and being part of farm life too. The operation primarily consists of corn and soybeans, and they also own and operate a trucking business. Josh and Justin purchased their first farm when they were seniors in high school and have continued growing and expanding over the decade that followed.
The Tuels work together well when it comes to sharing responsibilities and working with their strengths. Jim brings his experience and perspective from the things he has seen through farming over the years, while Justin and Josh have a better understanding of the technological side of farming and a desire to try some new things that will help them continue to be successful for years to come.
"The thing about farming is, it’s kind of a passion, really. You put seed in the ground and see what it can turn out to be when you feed it. It’s always a challenge with weather problems: you may have a drought situation or you may have wet periods of time, but it’s a challenge to be able to overcome those and still raise a great crop.”
Jim Tuel
The Tuels’ relationship with Helena began over 10 years ago when the Helena location in Guthrie Center, Iowa, provided services for them in the fall. The partnership grew from there, and they have been part of the Helena family since then. As Jim puts it, “Helena really worked with us, and we enjoyed, first of all, the relationship but secondly all of the services and the conveniences and things that really made a difference in our operation. Since then we have done many things with Helena. They seem to fill all of our voids. They have done yield challenge contests and things that actually make it a lot of fun, and also, we learn a lot from it. We’ll work with them for a long time, I imagine.”
One of the things that they all enjoy each year is participating in Helena’s High Yield Challenge Contest. This contest is organized locally with the Guthrie Center branch, and local growers submit their yield results for a chance to win a trip to the Commodity Classic with their sales representative. This competitive family gets fired up over the challenge of pushing their crop yields and takes pride in the results when they take home the top prize! In addition to the excitement of the contest, they also use this opportunity to evaluate the data that they get from the results to help them make management decisions for the following year.
“It’s really cool to see what you’re doing is making bushels and it’s really making a difference. When you see what you’re doing is making some of the best yield around here, it’s fun!”
Josh Tuel
All in all, it’s safe to say this family enjoys the challenge of raising a crop each year. As anyone in the industry knows, it’s not always easy, but when you’re passionate about it, you get to do something you love every day. When asked about the most rewarding part of farming, Justin says, “Probably working with my family all the time. We work together, all three of us, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”