Ryan Mueller Wins 2025 Tom Strachota Agricultural Leadership Award
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By Dairyland Seed Marketing Team
After reviewing the nominations, the Dairyland Seed Leadership Team is proud to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Tom Strachota Agricultural Leadership Award is Ryan Mueller, Dairyland Seed's Product Portfolio and Agronomy Leader.
Figure 1: Ryan Mueller accepts the 2025 Tom Strachota Agricultural Leadership Award from General Manager Joe Houser
The Tom Strachota Agricultural Leadership Award began in 2018 to annually highlight an exemplary leader in agriculture who demonstrates a legacy of outstanding performance over a career. This award, which honors Tom’s life and legacy, seeks to award and encourage individuals who embody the same qualities Tom lived by: leadership, community service, integrity and agriculture.
Much like Tom, Ryan has dedicated more than 30 years of his career to helping farmers succeed. His passion for agriculture is evident in his work advancing top-performing genetics that help producers be profitable, as well as in the many systems he developed to train employees, dealers, and farmers to maximize productivity through strong products and practices. Ryan’s career has taken him from research and plant breeding (where he helped develop inbreds used in successful commercial hybrids) to the commercial side of Dairyland Seed, where he played a key role in launching innovations like the HiDF silage concept and supporting critical business systems. Throughout it all, Ryan’s ability to identify and deliver solutions that truly meet producers’ needs has set him apart.
Beyond his professional impact, Ryan is known for something even more meaningful: the genuine care he has for people. Ryan has always focused on doing what is right for farmers and those we serve, believing that success naturally follows. He brings that same mindset to leadership, prioritizing the growth and development of others over personal recognition.
Alongside his family, Ryan has volunteered for local 4H and FFA programs and recently helped launch a nonprofit focused on farmer safety and mental health by fostering connections within agricultural communities.
Tom Strachota was the third-generation family member to lead Dairyland Seed. He served as CEO for over 20 years, and his leadership helped Dairyland Seed become a world-class plant-breeding organization. Tom passed away on November 21, 2016. His fiery passion and unwavering energy will forever remain at the heart of our legacy. The Tom Strachota Agricultural Leadership Award is a tribute to a man who left a mark on not just a company, but an entire industry.
Congratulations Ryan!