Jill (Steiner) Zeller (A’09) knows that running a profitable farming operation is a lot of hard work. Both she and her husband, Casey (A’10), come from farming families and still occasionally lend a helping hand during planting and harvest seasons. Agriculture is a part of her DNA, and she empathizes with the plight of the farmer to produce more crops with fewer acres. It’s Zeller’s passion and understanding that inspires her work as a US brand manager for Dow AgroSciences.

“My most rewarding days are when I visit a farm and sit down with a farmer to talk about his or her operation,” she says. “Through listening to the challenges they face, I can then focus my efforts and communications on profit-generating strategies.”

By knowing their situation, Zeller can provide farmers with the information they need about the brand she represents — Enlist weed control system. The system is designed to address the growing problem of herbicide-resistant and hard-to-control weeds. The weeds attack in the form of stealing water and nutrients from developing crops. This can decimate a farmer’s yield and then jeopardize the success of the operation. 

“When I have an understanding of the challenges farmers face on their operations, I can work with the team at Dow AgroSciences to share a solution. Then the best part comes when I can highlight a successful grower experience. I never get tired of telling those stories.”

Sharing experiences is also exactly what Zeller did during a recent visit to Purdue as a Rising Professional. Built as part of the Old Masters program, Rising Professionals was developed to inspire current students and give them the opportunity to interact with some recent graduates. Zeller was able to share insights on her profession and career path at Dow AgroSciences. 

“I love to interact with students and was able to make a lot of connections in a short amount of time. Students are the next generation of our workforce, and there is a bond among Boilermakers.”

A bond that is even stronger within the agriculture industry. Dow AgroSciences employs a lot of Purdue grads, so there is no lack of Purdue pride in the office.

“It is a lot of fun to go back and forth with colleagues about our Purdue experiences,” says Zeller. “We definitely bring our school spirit to the workplace.”