Mitch Merz is learning how to apply his agricultural education directly as the third generation to work in the family business, Merz Farm Equipment, Inc. Merz, a native of Falls City, is currently a senior agribusiness major in UNL's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CASNR).
During summers, Mitch works in the business his grandfather started 54 years ago. Nelson Merz purchased the Ferguson dealership in 1953. When Nelson was elected as a senator to the Nebraska Legislature, he gave ownership and management of the farm business to his three sons, one of whom is Mitch’s father.
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“I am planning on taking over the business upon graduation and my father's retirement, as my uncles have no sons to take over. I will obviously be third generation and would like nothing better than retire, with a son of my own taking over,” Mitch said about his aspirations.
Over the summers Mitch has learned about the family business from the inventory room on up.
“I do just about everything, I help anyone who needs help, I assemble equipment, I do some mechanics, fill-in at the parts counter, help in the office and maintain everything from the front yard to our Web site.”
Being home over the summer to work in the family business also allowed him to share a hobby and get some hands-on mechanical experience with his father.
“… my father and I have a tractor we like to consider our ‘Play Toy.’ We go around to local tractor pulls and pull with it. We take time after work to tinker with it and go to pulls on the weekends whenever possible. It is our hobby. It started as a stock Massey Ferguson 2805 and now we have taken the cab off and such to get it to a lower weight class.”
On campus, Mitch is an AEAC (Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Club) Officer. He chose to attend UNL because “it was close to my home, offered great programs, and the people (instructors and students) were very friendly and outgoing.”
“UNL has helped me understand how to thrive in the business world of agriculture. When I return home I am sure that I can improve our current business. Following graduation, I plan to go off and do my own thing for a few years and then return home to take over the family business.
Merz said he is planning to work for AGCO after graduation in December and then return to the family Massey Ferguson dealership when his father retires.
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| Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. | ||
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