Carlos has spent his life in agriculture and considers himself a forage consultant, and we don’t think any of his clients would argue!
- How did you get into ag?
I was born into it. My dad was a farmer, so I farmed. Then, when I got an agricultural business degree in 1988, I quit farming but kept working with agriculture.
- What’s your specific area of expertise?
Consulting and servicing dairy producers.
- How long have you been with BONSILAGE/PROVITA?
I started 2016 as an agent and by the end of the same year, I got hired full time.
- What are your specific duties BONSILAGE?
I’m a sales representative but I like to think of myself as a forage consultant. Providing service to the farmer, like servicing equipment before harvest to make sure that the product is applied correctly and efficiently. I also monitor the forage after ensiling, and troubleshoot problems to keep improving in the coming years.
- What’s the best part of your job?
My office is on farms. That is the best part of my job! I really enjoy being directly connected to our producers or clients.
- What are the questions you’re asked most by customers?
Oh, that is a hard question to answer! One question that sticks out for me is “What other dairy producers are doing.” Which is a good question, I think!
- How do you know when a customer is satisfied?
When they keep coming back to BONSILAGE, it’s an indicator that they’re happy. But also when they ask me what changes they can make. That tells me that they trust me, that they want to hear what I have to say and also that they trust our product.
My dog’s vet one time told me, I want to see you happy but never satisfied. I want to see my producers happy but never satisfied. There is always something to improve in forage production and on a dairy operation as a whole.
- What are you doing this time of the year?
We just got done with harvest here in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Right now, we are wrapping up some loose ends from the corn silage season and starting to service the silage we made this year. Now is a good time to sit with my customers and kind of score how we have done and discuss what we can improve next year.
- What do you do for fun?
I enjoy working with bird dogs and pheasant hunting.
- The Final Word from Carlos
I’ve worked with a lot of different companies, but this one is the best company I ever worked with and the happiest I’ve ever been in my professional career.
