2019 Top Producer Summit

Kala Jenkins

K-Coe Isom


Growing up on her family farm raising sheep and with her involvement in 4-H and FFA, Kala’s passion for agriculture grew. As a graduate of Purdue University she studied animal agribusiness and farm management hoping to take that knowledge back to the family operation. After some tough decisions due to stress in the industry, the family farm sold out of a majority of the herd and transitioned into a new sector of the agriculture industry with hydroponics. Kala’s family grows lettuce, basil and other microgreens year round in their hydroponic operation selling directly to consumers and grocery stores working to meet the consumer’s demand for locally grown and fresh produce. As an Agriculture Consultant for K•Coe Isom, Kala brings over 9 years of experience helping growers understand their financial risks and how to prepare for the next year through various risk management tools. Kala works with growers on cash flow strategies that best align with producer goals such as increasing profitability in a tight market and debt optimization. Her experience in grain marketing working directly with producers from Minnesota to Indiana and down to Tennessee with Cargill and her time as an agriculture loan officer working with Farm Credit Mid-America and Co-Alliance has allowed her to help producers in today’s challenging agriculture industry. Her passion helping producers to preserve their legacy for the next generation has also given Kala the opportunity to work alongside these families to develop transition and succession plans and help bridge connections in areas that need strengthening. As some would tell you she has become a “therapist that knows the numbers” for producers. While working to develop those transition and success plans is one part of the process, Kala also recognizes that the other key factor is helping farm families stay accountable with their plans and be a resource when families have unexpected situations.

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