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“As People Change so do the Markets” By James Horton
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part from growing up on a 4th generation family farm that included cotton, soybeans, cattle, horses and later catfish farming, Steve Sanderson’s first real involvement in our industry was a couple of summers interning with manufacturers scouting cotton through the North Alabama area. After two years at University of North Alabama, he transferred to Athens State College where he graduated in 1981 with a B. S. in Business Administration — Marketing, while still farming full time with his father. It was at that time Steve realized that he needed a different degree to stay connected with the Ag Industry. Steve’s great uncle, Will Sanderson introduced him to Dr. Lowell Wilson in the Ag Economics Department at Auburn University. During their first meeting, Dr. Wilson offered Steve a research assistant position with two options. Steve was given the chance to study and conduct research in either poultry production or Christmas tree production. It took Steve only 5
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Su mmer 201 9
ProProducts group at Pinehurst #2
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seconds to answer that Christmas trees would be great. Completing his second B. S. in Ag Economics in 1985, Steve thought the manufacturing side of agriculture would be wide open. However, he remembers prices along with production being down and hiring on that side of the business was also down. By this time Steve’s father had retired from farming and started a real estate and construction business. So, Steve returned home and for the next 10 years worked again for the family business. Reminiscing, Steve said it was another good learning experience being involved with a different industry and developing new relationships. Then another mentor stepped back into Steve’s life. Johnny LeCroix, who was known to Steve from his farming and scouting days and as a former sales rep for Helena Chemical, was now the Director of Crop Protection Products at Alabama Farmers Co-op. With LeCroix’s encouragement, Steve was hired as a sales rep for local co-op stores. This proved to be a very good
Steve with his wife Rhonda, daughter Reid Erin, and grandson Carson Ray
