Our Team
Tim Bratland
President
Tim Bratland is the President of YieldMaster Solutions in De Smet, South Dakota. Tim attended Dakota State University where he studied business management. In 1989, Tim and his father built a seed processing plant and started Bratland Seed, a seed cleaning business. Since then, Tim has amassed over 30 years of experience in the seed industry, including leadership roles in several areas such as product selection, production, and sales in the United States and Canada. Today, agriculture is still an integral part of his life as he leads the YMS team. Tim focuses on building customer relationships and identifying key technologies on the cutting edge of ag, targeted to meet the demands of an evolving industry, enhance crop performance, and ultimately boost grower ROI.
Amber Kauk
Marketing Director
Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Amber developed a passion for agriculture and the people who dedicate their lives to the industry at a young age. She attended the University of Minnesota where she attained her Bachelor of Science degree and then went on to attend South Dakota State University where she obtained her Master of Science. After 7 years with SDSU Extension, Amber transitioned into her role as Marketing Manager for YieldMaster Solutions. Committing her career to innovation and assisting others, Amber works to elevate the great work our partners, distributors, dealers, and growers conduct in order to advance agriculture.
Brock Lidy
Account Manager
Brock grew up in south central Illinois on a corn and soybean operation. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Blackburn College, he moved to St. Louis to work with a global vegetable seed company. He spent two years within global supply chain and five years in commercial seed sales throughout the eastern United States. In 2020 Brock became an independent seed dealer as well as working with biologicals & biofumigants across a vast array of crops throughout the US. The knowledge acquired and impact biologicals can have led him to his current Account Manager position with Yield Master Solutions. Brock’s passion for learning about all types of farming operations and finding the right solutions for each grower is what drives him day in and day out.
Geno Brueggen
Account Manager
Geno Brueggen serves as a YMS Account Manager for Wisconsin where he assists growers and ag retailers interested in biologicals. Growing up in ag industry he understands the many challenges and hurdles growers face. Geno walks alongside his clients in order to help educate and place products strategically to meet the goals of the operation. When asked what makes YMS unique, Geno responded, “YMS is an independently owned company that does research on products before introducing them to the commercial market. This ensures they are providing proven, successful products that have a great ROI for the end user.”
Luke Orth
Account Manager
Luke Orth is a graduate of Michigan State University and has been involved in the seed industry for several years. Based out of Ludington, Michigan, Luke serves as an Account Manager for Michigan, focusing on cultivating a retail network and steward dealer relationships in order to further support and promote the high quality YMS product line.
Mark Christensen
Account Manager
From a young age, Mark has actively been involved in the agriculture industry. He grew up on a crop and livestock farm near Laurel, NE and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mark continued farming and then worked in the financial planning sector. Mark and his wife currently reside near Elkhorn, NE. Since joining the Yield Master Solutions team in July of 2022 as an account manager, Mark services Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, and Iowa. His passion for the agriculture industry combined with his financial planning background allows him to operate with our dealers and growers’ success in mind.
Rusty Drew
Account Manager
Rusty Drew’s roots run deep in agriculture. Growing up on a farm in Southwest Georgia, he learned the value of hard work, dedication, and the intricacies of nurturing the land from an early age. Rusty attended the University of Georgia. Upon graduation, he has spent the last 20 years in Ag sales. As an Account Manager for YieldMaster Solutions, Rusty is proud to be at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge solutions to farmers, helping them optimize their yields and maximize their potential. With his deep understanding of the agricultural industry and unwavering commitment to customer success, Rusty Drew is not just a salesperson but a trusted partner to farmers everywhere, ensuring that they have the tools and support they need to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.
Warren Cobb
Account Manager
Warren Cobb was raised on a tobacco farm in eastern North Carolina. He received his bachelor’s degree and pursued post graduate studies at East Carolina University. Warren has spent his entire career in ag-business, working in retail sales and management, field sales and eventually spent several years selling corn and soybean seed in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Warren is passionate about helping farmers succeed by providing them with the best products in the industry. He says with the growth and innovations in biologicals combined with the potential impact for farmers, he is proud to be a part of the Yieldmaster Solutions team.
Shane Head
Account Manager and Sustainability Strategy Advisor
Shane Head is a YMS Account Manager and Sustainability Strategy Advisor, servicing Missouri, Northern Arkansas, Eastern Kansas, and Southern Iowa. He brings years of expertise in the crop production industry to the team, with a focus on biologicals and sustainability programs. His extensive background and first-hand experience equips him to provide strategic guidance delivering value to his customers.