Dealer Emphasizes Sustainability, Sells Stacks of Empty Orange Tubs

What started as a family tour around Dr. Bob Black’s ranch landed as an opportunity and an idea for sustainability. Bob, DVM and cattle rancher, and his wife, Shirley, had “massive stacks” of the empty VitaFerm® and Vita Charge® tubs around their ranch, when family toured last Thanksgiving. At the suggestion of a sister-in-law from Texas who said that someone could surely use these empty tubs, Bob decided to start offering them for sale on the popular Facebook Marketplace starting in spring 2023.

“My goal is to see an orange tub in every yard in Wichita,” chuckled Katie, Black’s daughter, who works full-time at the Elk County Vet Clinic where Dr. Black practices, while she also studies nursing.

Katie said their family lives about an hour from Wichita, and that is where a majority of tubs end up. With her grandmother and an aunt living in Wichita, those driveways often serve as the pick-up point for the tubs that get used for starter gardens, storage bins, water recycling vestibules, cleaning yards of sticks and leaves and more.

“My dad does most of the Facebook postings, listings and monitors all of that,” Katie said. “Some people will come to the clinic or contact him directly because they have heard about all these tubs.”

Dr. Black shared that he enjoys recycling the tubs.

“Having a second or third use for the plastic tubs is great and helps recycle a product that otherwise might not be used,” said Dr. Black.

BioZyme dealer Bob Black is creating sustainable uses for empty tubs and providing new customers a product that they can readily use. That’s care that comes full circle.

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BioZyme® Dealers Grow Animal Health and Supplement Businesses to Earn Achievements

BioZyme® Inc. recognized the following dealers for their outstanding sales, action, years of business and diversification in 2022 at the BioZyme Dealer Retreat June 6-7, 2023, in St. Joseph, Missouri. These awards recognize dealers that are taking action to grow their animal health and supplement businesses. BioZyme was thankful to bring the Dealer Retreat back in-person for 2023 to recognize these “out of this world” dealers on their 2022 achievements.

Central Farm Supply of Kentucky – Kentucky

  • Top Overall Dealer
  • Second Place VitaFerm® Dealer 
  • Second Place Gain Smart® Dealer 
  • Second Place Backyard Boost® Dealer 

K Triangle Feed – Wyoming

  • Second Place Overall 
  • Second Place Action Dealer 
  • Second Place Overall Individual

Basore Cattle Company – Missouri 

  • Top VitaFerm® Dealer 

Twin Rivers Vet Supply – Texas

  • Top Gain Smart Dealer 

Associated Feed & Supply Co – California

  • Top Sure Champ® Dealer
  • Top DuraFerm® Dealer 

Cowell Ag – Illinois 

  • Second Place Sure Champ® Dealer 

Sullivan Supply, Inc – Iowa

  • Top Vita Charge® Dealer 

Stockmen’s Feed Bunk Inc Texas

  • Second Place Vita Charge® Dealer 

FarmVet.com, Inc – Tennessee

  • Top Vitalize® Dealer 

Surrey International – New Jersey

  • Top Backyard Boost® Dealer 
  • Second Place Vitalize® Dealer 

Heritage Cooperative Ohio

  • Second Place DuraFerm® Dealer

Boyce Feed and Grain – Texas

  • Top Action Dealer

Jeff Cluxton & Sons Ohio

  • BioZyme Dealer for 50 years 

Hess Ranch – Louisiana

  • BioZyme Dealer for 52 years

Cottor Farms Wisconsin

  • Family of Brands Diversification Award

Producers Coop Texas

  • Second Place Family of Brands Diversification Award 

The BioZyme network is comprised of more than 2,000 independent dealers from coast-to-coast who provide access to the BioZyme family of brands, including VitaFerm, Gain Smart, DuraFerm, Vita Charge, Sure Champ, Vitalize, and Backyard Boost. To locate a dealer near you, visit: https://biozymeinc.com/find-a-dealer/

Central Farm Supply of Kentucky
K Triangle Feed
Basore Cattle Company
Associated Feed
Heritage Cooperative
Cluxton Family
Missy Hess
Cottor Farms

A Day in the Life of a BioZyme® Employee Mike Wadle

Title: Additive Territory Manager

Number of Years at BioZyme: 14+

Describe a “typical” day in your job: The beauty of the job is that there is no typical day; one day I am flying all day to get to appointments on either coast, the next day driving to meet with prospects/customers, and then the following day being stuck in a hotel room because of the weather working on the computer. 

What is the most interesting thing you have ever done at BioZyme: When starting to work at BioZyme, having to travel without all the technology of today and trying to find ranchers, farmers, customers and business prospects using a plat map and road atlas.

Share a funny story about one of your days at work: Traveling 2 hours to the airport for a 10 am flight and then going through security and realizing it was a 10 pm flight. It pays to double and triple check schedules!!!

What has been one of the biggest challenges: Working the territory because they are usually big and then not getting down when the word “NO” is heard more than “YES” when asking for the order.  There are so many opportunities in a territory and never giving up.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? Understanding what the prospect/customer/distributor wants and needs and helping them fulfil that request. I have always said we help them; they will help us and as we need more boots on the ground it has worked out

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? It has been watching kids compete as that phase of life is moving onto being a Grandpa and working around the family farm with the cattle.

Dealer Spotlight: Cottor Farms Excels in Diversification

“We wish we would have gotten started with BioZyme® products sooner,” said Leo Sanftner, of Cottor Farms, Osceola, Wisconsin.

That’s a pretty strong sentiment from an 11-year veteran dealer who sells everything from VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® for breeding success to Vita Charge® Liquid Boost® to show rabbit customers, and even mixes AO-Biotics® Amaferm® into their own custom layer feed.

Sanftner, long-time employee of Cottor Farms, said he was first introduced to the BioZyme family of brands by former ASM Dorothy Orts at a bull sale when she recommended the Vita Charge tubes to jump start newborn calves. As they say, the rest is history.

According to Sanftner, once they saw how well the calves responded to the Amaferm in the Vita Charge, they started expanding their product offering to other BioZyme brands. Today, he said they have a majority of their customers on the fly control mineral for the summer. Cottor Farms mixes their own feed and serves both Wisconsin and Minnesota, being so close to the state line. They will average three tons of layer feed per week that includes Amaferm.

“We have very few dairy cows up here. Most of our customers have beef cattle, hogs and chickens. We cater to the smaller customers. We are smaller; they trust us,” Sanftner said.

Their mission is to go above and beyond when it comes to customer care. Sanftner said he will deliver feed up to 100 miles away for customers who need it, primarily larger customers and those who have show animals. They have also created signs for their show livestock and show rabbit families with the same statement: “Go above and beyond with Cottor Farms.”

Cottor Farms also supplies Maple Hill Feed & Farm Supply in Maple, Wisconsin, with their BioZyme products, including Backyard Boost® products and layer feed they needed for a recent Chick Days event. He said they will also conduct horse and beef clinics at the store; however, most of the promotion and education comes from him visiting personally with customers or through their social media. A new website is in development to be launched early this summer.

From chickens, rabbits and hogs to cattle and horses, there are no customers too big or small for Cottor Farms when it comes to showing care that comes full circle. Thank you for being leaders in species and brand diversification and hitting the target on one of BioZyme’s core goals!

2023 A Day in the Life of a BioZyme® Employee Samantha Albers

Title: Marketing Brand Manager – DuraFerm® & Backyard Boost®

Number of Years at BioZyme: 1

Describe a “typical” day in your job: A typical day in my job is starting my day by checking my daily to-do’s and emails, then starting in on tasks that are more time-sensitive to marketing projects. I also go through each of the social media accounts for DuraFerm and Backyard Boost, replying to comments, direct messages and then scheduling content either for that day or for later. Along with reviewing social media content, I also look at Facebook and Google campaign ads that are performing well and look at the metrics of those. My typical day is heavily in Asana for managing projects and tasks and looking at timelines of planning upcoming events for both DuraFerm and Backyard Boost.

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme: Organizing and putting together a campaign for the first Chick Days since I started at BioZyme. This was really fun to put together and create the various marketing materials surrounding Chick Days, and then seeing the sales team push these pieces out to our dealer network was really amazing to see all come together.

What has been one of the biggest challenges: One of the biggest challenges has been keeping up with marketing trends, specifically with retail merchandising, and challenging myself to think of the out-of-the-box ideas to implement for Backyard Boost and DuraFerm products through the BioZyme distribution and dealer network.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? I love talking with people about how BioZyme products have helped them succeed in their livestock operations. I showed livestock through 4-H and FFA and we fed Sure Champ® products to our show animals, and now with marketing the BioZyme Family of Brands to livestock producers and being on the other side of that relationship with producers is really amazing to experience the care that comes full circle.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? I love photography, visiting family and friends, going to a good coffee shop or winery and traveling.

2023 A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Jill Vanover

Title: Director of Quality

Number of Years at BioZyme: 5 (10 including time at Cogent)

Describe a “typical” day in your job: My typical day starts at 5:30 a.m., where I open my e-mail and address any urgent issues, review my meeting schedule for the day and roll my kiddos out of bed and off to school. I get to the Lexington office after a hearty dose of caffeine and kick off my day. Each day is a combination of meetings – mostly virtual, managing any urgent issues including product concerns, quality-related supply chain issues, addressing any ingredient and finished product testing challenges and taking daily steps toward continuous improvements from a quality perspective. 

What is the most interesting thing you ever done at BioZyme: One of the most interesting things I get to be a part of in my role is helping to take a product concept on its journey through each stage of the development process to create a finished product that positively impacts the health of animals and people.  

Share a funny story about one of your days at work:  We were trouble shooting a labeler malfunction with a vendor technician over the phone. I explained that the labeler was making a terrible noise when the lock rollers were engaged and the tech asked me if I could describe the noise. Without thinking, instead of using my words to describe it, I made a very pronounced honking noise like a goose. Everyone involved – including myself – got a good chuckle out of that one.

What has been one of the biggest challenges:  One of the biggest challenges in my new role has been working remotely and connecting with my team in the same way that I’m used to doing in person. Working together, communicating well and building trust is vital to an effective team dynamic.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do?  By “living” quality and adhering to a mindset of continuous improvement, we offer products that are safe and accurate. Consistently doing so creates a foundation for upholding care that comes full circle. We help BioZyme take the first step to care and anticipate the return of the boomerang.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? Outside of work, I love to “experience” life with my 3 (not so) little ones – Griffin (13), Jaycie (12), and Emma (8). On any given weekend you may find us enjoying live music, swimming, exploring, fishing or golfing.

Dealer Spotlight: Kentucky Distributor is Family Focused

If there’s one word to describe Central Farm Supply of Kentucky, it’s family. This family owned-and-operated BioZyme® distributor is based in Louisville, Kentucky. However, as a wholesale distributor to more than 700 stores from Kentucky to Virginia and points in between, its family has grown immensely since it was first established.

“We’re family owned, but every one of our dealers is part of our family. Our company was built on service, and that is still our strong suit,” said Larry Manning, Sales Manager, whose brother, Tommy, started the company in 1985.

Central Farm maintains a fleet of 10 tractors and 25 trailers. The fleet of trucks along with their 10 drivers allows them to be in control of the service they provide to their dealers, which has always been one of their strengths, but has become even more evident in the last few years in the midst of all the supply chain and distribution issues everyone experienced due to COVID.

Although Central Farm Supply of Kentucky has a long history in the agricultural industry, it is in its fifth year as a BioZyme dealer. Manning said incorporating the VitaFerm® line, and subsequently other BioZyme products, provided their customers with a premium product to offer their customers. He said with so many dealers that they distribute to, the need exists to have a product for every level of producer.

“We have to be able to offer products that fit every cattleman in our market. The VitaFerm products are premium cattle supplements that fit a lot of our cattle producer customers,” Manning said.

He suggests that every dealer discovers their market and knows who their customer is and what every customer wants in order to find success. Some will be happy with a salt block, some want the cheapest mineral they can buy, but those who truly keep records on their cattle operation will immediately see the results of using the BioZyme products.

Central Farm views their relationship with their dealers as a partnership. In order for Central Farm Supply to continue to be successful that partnership also includes their vendors. Since the early days, Central Farm has fostered the relationship between the dealers and vendors, by offering a buying show each October, so their dealers can come to Louisville to meet with their top vendors, exchange ideas and participate in “trade show specials” offered that day. Manning said it is truly a family event where dealers bring the entire family, including kids and grandkids for food, fun, entertainment and great deals during this one-day event.

The business actively uses BioZyme’s and other companies marketing tools, like Promoboxx and participates in quarterly dealer mailers. They also have four sales reps.

“I’d give BioZyme an A-plus in the marketing of their products when it comes to creating brand awareness and tying those brands to the dealers and distributors. Marketing is their real strength,” Manning said.

Family is important to Central Farm Supply of Kentucky, and it is important to BioZyme, too. We are certainly proud to have you in the BioZyme family, continuing that care that comes full circle!

A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Jamie Miller

Title: Director of Operations

Number of Years at BioZyme: officially 4, contractor for 17

Describe a “typical” day in your job: A typical day at BioZyme for me is probably more of an atypical day for others. Most days consist of checking orders, evaluating any needed production changes for products that are set go negative and planning fermentation runs based on current information.  Mondays and Tuesdays are almost always filled with meetings with operations teams, development staff and tolling fermentation customers.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are used to address any changes to the monthly schedules and get caught up on emails and communications.

I typically like to spend at least two full days per week at each location (Stockyards and Easton); however, meeting requests, daily challenges and priorities sometimes require travel between the two.

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme: Supply Chain Center and Production automation. This part of the Back Office application has really allowed us to utilize all of the data we have from multiple systems to properly plan and manufacture safe, accurate product.

What has been one of the biggest challenges: With the scaling up of toll fermentation at our Easton facility and not having any formal training in the processes that are required, the last year at Easton has been personally challenging. The learning that has been required to understand the in and outs of the equipment, processes and needs for each customer has taken a lot of effort and time. With that, we have been able to make improvements, become more consistent, and our planning is getting better each month.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? When you run into someone outside of work that is wearing BioZyme-branded attire or a jacket of one of our partners and you can strike up a conversation about how they use our products in their operation, it makes you realize why we do things we do at BioZyme.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? Socializing with friends, throwing darts and aspiring to become a member of the “Premiere” “Karaoke” “Air Band” called PRIME with my buddies.

Two Minutes in April

By Shelia Grobosky, Content & PR Manager

The adage April showers bring May flowers might need to be changed, depending on the part of the country you are in. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor and colleagues I’ve spoken to recently, April showers would barely settle the dust in parts of Nebraska, Western Kansas, Oklahoma and the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle. Meanwhile, California is facing devastating flooding. The Dakotas are digging out from yet another April blizzard, which means once all the snow finally melts, they will have some green grass AND flowers.

Mother Nature can be brutal, but dealing with her mood swings is part of the risk those of us in agriculture take every day. Spring is officially here, and in my home state of Illinois, when farmers aren’t cleaning up from the recent tornadoes, they are getting equipment ready to start working ground and planting.

Of course crop production has a direct impact on feed prices for all classes of animals, and we are in the nutrition business. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Prospective Plantings report on the last day of March that summarizes producers’ planting intentions in the U.S. and reflects expected profitability levels for various crops. Most notably, corn acreage was estimated to increase by roughly 4% from last year – to just under 92 million acres. By comparison, soybean acreage was projected to be virtually unchanged from 2022.

Feed prices are currently high, and significant change is not likely before harvest. Additional corn acres would undoubtedly be seen as a positive from the perspective of livestock feed prices. As long as those additional acres are planted, Mother Nature plays nice this Summer, and harvest is good, producers could see feed prices decrease. If not, remember to use the increased digestibility of AO-Biotics® Amaferm® as a marketing tool to help livestock get the most benefit from the feed producers do have available to them.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) introduced legislation the first week of April to repeal the federal estate tax, often referred to as the Death Tax. According to a statement from NCBA, “Ensuring a farm or ranch can be passed to children or grandchildren is a priority for family-owned farms, ranches and agricultural businesses. It is critically important that producers and business owners have permanent relief from the Death Tax. Current Death Tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2025, and it is vital that Congress takes immediate action to provide permanent relief for agricultural families.”

Dealer Spotlight: Oklahoma Dealer Shares Passion for Products

Some might call it fate. Others might say it was destiny. However, it came to fruition, Wood Cattle Company, Vinita, Oklahoma, is sure of one thing – the timing was right, and they are glad to be BioZyme® dealers.

Patti and Chad Wood are long-time users of the VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® products. They had used them for years on their registered Red Angus herd in Wisconsin. When they relocated to Oklahoma, where the feedstuffs and forages were totally different, they were instructed that they would need to switch up their mineral program.

“We didn’t use it for a while, and the Genex rep who breeds our cows for us, told us to go back to the VitaFerm to see if we noticed changes. It was a night and day difference with the Concept•Aid. Not only in our conception rates, but in our feet, in our hide and hair. Down here in the heat and with the fescue, the HEAT mineral makes a world of difference, too,” Patti said.

No one nearby consistently kept the mineral on hand. Patti’s father-in-law was also bringing them commodities to mix their own feed. That is when they discovered an Umbarger dealer close to him. However, once they tried and decided they liked the Umbarger feeds, that dealer decided to quit his business, too. So, the Woods family took matters into their own hands.

They contacted Umbarger and became a dealer and opened a feedstore on their farm. They have been BioZyme dealers since 2018, and according to Patti, were thankful for the timing with the pandemic hitting just two years later.

“We never intended to have a feedstore. We moved from just outside Madison, Wisconsin, where there are lots of people and activities to Big Cabin, Oklahoma, which is very remote. Some of our best friends are the people we have met through our feedstore. We were busy through the pandemic, and this just fell into our lap,” Patti said.

She added that the products sell themselves, and she would never sell anything she doesn’t use or hasn’t tried herself, one of the reasons she feels like her sales have grown. She was hesitant about the Backyard Boost® line until she tried it at first. Now, she carries it and highly recommends it.

“Backyard Boost Defense is simply amazing! I picked up chicks from the post office. They were lethargic, droopy eyes, and I thought I would definitely lose some. I dipped all their beaks in water, and they fought me. I then took the water and added Backyard Boost, I walked out and left them. I came back 15 minutes later, and all the chicks were drinking and had drunk half of the water I put in with the Backyard Boost in it. All my chicks are alive, healthy and happy,” she said on one of her social media posts.

Patti relies on social media and word of mouth as her primary marketing tools. She also offers service and advice whenever needed. If someone comes in asking for Concept•Aid, for example, she will ask specific questions to learn their challenges to discover exactly which mineral they need. She also offers delivery, lives right at the farm so if someone needs “emergency mineral” can get it for them on a weekend, and her customers can see the Vita Charge® Stress Tubs in her kids’ show calves pens so they might ask questions, leading to more education and sales.

Her ”old school mentality” of service helps her gain customers and sales. Since her family does show, she will look for customers at the shows and offer them advice and help, as she wants to see everyone succeed.

“We’ve used the products. We know they work, and we believe in them, both from a seedstock operation and show program perspective. We have a passion for them, and for dealers to be successful, they need to be able to share that passion, too,” Patti encouraged.

Thank you for your passion, Patti. You are an example of care that comes full circle!