Celebrating DLL’s Ag Experts in the Field

March 23 marks National Agriculture Day in the United States, a day to celebrate the contributions of our country’s farms, and farm families, that produce food and fiber. As one of the key industries DLL serves, agriculture is an essential part of the lives of many members of DLL. In honor of this year’s National Agriculture Day, we would like to highlight some Iowa-based members who are also involved in farming outside of DLL.

Outside of the office, DLL’s Regional Asset Manager Dan Bruxvoort manages a crop operation, growing corn and soybeans on their family farm. He grew up learning about farm equipment from his father, who was also a diesel mechanic. He has been involved in farming since he was “old enough to drive a tractor.”

Not only is Bruxvoort familiar with the agriculture equipment DLL finances, he also knows its importance to the customers he serves. “My continuous learning of new technologies and production methods on my farm directly contributes to my current DLL role as an asset manager,” said Bruxvoort. “This additional experience continues to give me an increased understanding of how equipment works, how it’s continually changing, and what the effects are on value.”

Along with her brothers and sister, Business Development Manager Juli Nunnikhoven is the 4th generation in her family to grow up on their farm in rural Northwest Ohio. “As a farm kid, I was engrained with core values that stuck with me my whole life,” said Nunnikhoven. “I remember watching my dad working endlessly to fix the tractor or baler when something went awry. Or delicately tending to a cow calving for her first time and seeing him gently nurture a newly born calf during its first moments of life. From my upbringing, I learned to work hard and never give up, and to always have respect for the land, animals, and people.”

Nunnikhoven now runs a small cattle and row crop operation in Southeast Iowa along with her husband and his parents. That connection helps her to relate to her customers at DLL. “I understand the workload that is often associated with farming, and the importance equipment has in day-to-day duties on the farm,” said Nunnikhoven. “I understand that advancement in equipment and automation helps gain efficiencies and can make the toils that sometimes accompany farm life much more bearable. And even more important, is to have financial solutions that work for the producer.”

Flow Analyst Julia Griffieon works on the family farm in Ankeny, Iowa that her family has lived on for six generations. Together, they now grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats . They also operate a direct-market business in which they raise and sell beef, pork, lamb, chickens and turkeys. With her agriculture background, she feels very strongly about DLL’s unique connection to the field. “We don’t just finance tractors; there is much more to our company,” Griffieon notes. “We have more options than a customer’s normal bank would have and could provide.”

In addition to Bruxvoort, Nunnikhoven and Griffieon, DLL employs many other members who are “agriculturists at their core,” as Nunnikhoven stated. Because of this, DLL shares a deep understanding of its clients and would like to share our appreciation of all the work they do.