The SFG Difference
Smith Fertilizer & Grain strives to provide top of the line service and quality products at competitive prices, while keeping our customers profitable. We work diligently to embrace new technology and strive to stay committed to developing relationships with our customers, employees, and suppliers.
At SFG, success isn't measured in tons, gallons or bushels. It all comes down to what will make each producer stronger and more profitable. We realize that an impressive array of locations and equipment doesn't guarantee farmers will receive what they need to prosper. To provide outstanding service, we begin by listening.
SFG is poised for the future and will continue to focus on the demands of today’s rapidly changing agriculture market to better serve our producers. SFG provides our valued producers with the added benefit of another level of service; the old fashion personal kind of respect and determination to meet all your needs.
Our Story
In 1972, with hard work, sacrifice, determination, and a goal to provide better customer service, Lyman and Jeanne Smith, along with their two sons John and Max, formed Smith Fertilizer and Grain. With addition of the Pleasantville facility twenty years later, SFG doubled in size. The deicing business began in 2000 and has since grown into a market with several distribution locations in North America with the Pleasantville location being the main hub for deicing and dust control distribution. 2006 brought the purchase of the Albia location followed a year later with the Centerville location.
In 2019, SFG expanded yet again to better serve our customers and the surrounding area by adding locations at Milo, Melcher-Dallas, Columbia, and Knoxville. Many long hours were spent modernizing and updating the facilities and equipment in a very short amount of time.
Back Row: Kyle Smith, Kristin Smith.
Front Row: Jason Smith, Max Smith, Sharon Smith, Charles Smith
About Us
SFG is a full service fertilizer, feed supplier, and grain receiving company, specializing in customer service at the retail level in south central Iowa. SFG provides a wide variety of agricultural and road maintenance services to all sizes of operations. Our large fleet of semis and equipment allows us to service the needs of our customers with SFG marketed products.
The SFG agronomy department strives to build strong working relationships with our producers. SFG offers the latest in products, technology, and services to form a working relationship that turns into a profitable relationship improving your bottom line. In the agronomy world, service is what sets businesses apart. SFG and our CCA agronomists pride ourselves on providing producers with the best agronomic products and services in South Central Iowa.
In conjunction with Hubbard® and Kent®, SFG nutritionists work to develop a variety of feed blends that meet your livestock demands and deliver top of the line results in every bag or mix. We know the importance of high quality feed and work to deliver products that will optimize your animal’s performance as well as increase your profitability. SFG takes pride in providing cutting edge milling operations along with many other services. Experienced employees provide outstanding service and current information about industry advances to help you make the best decisions possible for your operation.
Our grain marketers help you effectively market your grain. We understand the challenges producers face when it comes to storing and marketing your crop each year. The SFG staff utilizes many years of experience to help you make these important decisions while providing friendly, quality service. We continually upgrade our receiving and loading equipment as our business expands to meet your needs.
At SFG, service is our specialty. We strive to provide producers with a variety of agronomy, feed, and grain services to meet their needs. SFG provides reliable service and professionalism to assist all producers in their pathway to success.
Giving Back
SFG isn't just an employer and retailer. We're an integral part of the communities we exist in and serve. SFG is proud to give back to South Central Iowa through donations and sponsorships.
SFG Leadership
Max grew up at the Knoxville location. Along with his parents and his brother John, they started Smith Fertilizer & Grain in 1972. Max and his wife, Sharon, raised three boys and three girls. Max has been involved in many organizations locally and at the state and national level. Most recently he served as Chairman of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. Max & Sharon enjoy their 17 grandchildren and boating in Florida.
Kyle, son of Max & Sharon Smith is the youngest of 6, who make up the 3rd generation of SFG. He grew up within the family business assisting in the day to day work. Some of his favorite memories growing up as a kid, was unloading trucks at the elevator and riding on the back of the terra-gator checking nozzles while his dad sprayed. (Although this might be frowned upon today)!
After high school Kyle continued to run pre and post applicators, haul grain and assist in the shop before attending Vatterott College in Des Moines where he acquired his Associates Degree in Computer Technology.
Outside of work, Kyle enjoys most anything that is competitive. Basketball and volleyball at the local Recreational Center and most recently weightlifting, are some of his favorite. He and his wife Kristin, who is the SFG Office Controller, have 4 children they try to keep actively involved in the family business.
Sharon Smith is the Chief Operating Officer of SFG. She grew up in Nebraska and later moved to Iowa, where she completed her Bachelors Degree from Grand View College. Her husband, Max, convinced her to switch careers and work beside him at SFG in 1989, allowing them to raise and work along side their children at SFG. Sharon is responsible for all aspects of the office personnel and business administration. Sharon enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with their children, grandchildren, and friends.
Ashley has been around farming and agriculture her entire life and grew up on a large farm in southern Marion County. After high school, Ashley went to college to earn a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master’s in Business and started her first full time accounting job with the Iowa Corn Growers Association. She then transitioned and spent the next ten years in the healthcare industry starting as a staff accountant and working her way up to the Controller of the hospital.
After figuring out that her desire really lies in her roots, where she came from, she decided she wanted to be back in the agriculture and farming industry for her career. Ashley joined Smith Fertilizer and Grain in 2019 as the Financial Controller, where she handles all the accounting and finances for the business. She is enjoying seeing all the familiar faces again and looking forward to helping this business continue to succeed.
When not working, Ashley enjoys spending time with her kids, family and friends. She also enjoys spending as much time as she can outside doing things like camping, riding, racing, and so much more.
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Amber grew up and lived in the Lynnville-Sully area most of her life. She and her husband, Jason, raised their three children in Lynnville. In November 2021, after their last child finished high school, they relocated to Knoxville.
Amber’s work experiences started right out of high school in various office positions which then gave her the opportunity to own her own businesses. In 2011, Amber decided to return to the workforce and gained extensive office experience while working for companies in the West Des Moines and Newton areas. Amber has many years of accounting, human resources, and office management experience and plans to earn her Professional in Human Resources certificate.
Amber joined SFG in 2022 as the Human Resources Director.
When not working, you will find Amber and her husband enjoying ranger rides, the Knoxville races, traveling and relaxing at home with their dogs.
Kristin started working for SFG in 2013 in front counter sales, later progressing to the Senior Office Manager position in Knoxville. Her favorite time of the year is harvest, working with grain customers to best help them with extended hours and to grow the grain business.
Kristin grew up in Knoxville, IA. She enjoyed playing volleyball throughout high school as well as playing for William Penn College.
In 2018, she joined the Smith family, marrying Kyle Smith. They have 4 children that keep them busy when they aren't at work. They enjoy getting them into as many sports as possible as well as taking their annual trips to Florida.
Mark White has been involved in agriculture his entire life. He was born and raised on a farm in Lucas County. He began farming right out of high school and farmed full time for 20 years until he took a sales job for the Chariton Farmers Coop.
In 2005 he came to work for Smith Fertilizer and Grain as an agronomist. Two years later he was moved into the home office and began working in administration. This included managing the Knoxville location and being the primary truck dispatcher. A year later he also became the grain merchandiser for SFG. Mark attends annual marketing seminars and reads several daily grain articles to keep informed on the grain markets.
He enjoys the opportunity to work with our many grain customers. He continues to farm part time which allows him to experience the same ups and downs that our customers feel. Mark and his wife Rhonda have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Derrick grew up on a row crop and cattle farm in Prairie City, Iowa. Growing up he was very involved in 4H/FFA. He spent most of his time in FFA competing in various Ag competitions. He went to continue his education at Iowa State University for Agronomy. During college he spent time on the Crops Team traveling around the Midwest participating in agronomy competitions. This taught him many useful skills that he uses daily.
During the fall of 2019, Derrick started with SFG working in Melcher, focusing on area sales and helping promote seed throughout the SFG territory. During spring of 2021 he transferred to the main location and spends most of his time working with other salesmen on seed and precision ag capabilities.
Derrick lives in Carlisle and during his free time he likes to work on projects around the house or spending time with family.
Charles grew up in the family business. He has worked in all departments at SFG, from a laborer, to the Pleasantville location manager for 15 years, and currently oversees agronomy operations and product procurement. Charles is away from the office he enjoys his family, gardening, sports and woodworking.
Brandon grew up in Oskaloosa, Iowa where he currently resides with his wife of almost 20 years and their three children. Brandon has been working in the agriculture industry since 2009 working at multiple facilities managing feed, grain, agronomy, fuel, and propane operations. Brandon spent over 11 years as a grain buyer before transitioning into co-op management for the last 4 years. Prior to working in the ag industry, Brandon lived in Kansas where he worked as a Procurement Expeditor for Black & Veatch, an engineering firm that designs, builds and constructs nuclear power plants. Brandon has a degree in Business Administration, a CDL w/tanker and hazmat and is a certified PCQI for animal feed.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and attending his kids’ activities. He enjoys coaching, playing golf and working out. He’s coached several youth teams over the years including softball, volleyball, baseball, football and basketball. Brandon is very involved in his church and his community. He’s been on the little league board for many years and has been the President for the past 7 years. He loves volunteering his time for the youth, community and playing music for his church.
Paul was born and raised in Holland where he got his education and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Ships Engineering. In 2000, Paul moved from Holland to Knoxville and started working for SFG right away as a mechanic. A year later he assumed the position of Shop Manager and has filled that position ever since. Paul is married, has three children and two grandsons that he enjoys very much.
Jason grew up on the farm at the Knoxville location with two brothers and three sisters. He has been in application equipment since before he could walk. When he's not at work he enjoys spending time with his family as well as staying active. He enjoys running, and has completed a few marathons as well as several obstacle course events. He hopes to someday complete a triathlon.