Introduction
Not every business leader starts their journey in a boardroom. Some start in a field, at sunrise, learning what hard work really means. Matt Carstens is one of those people.
Growing up on a family farm in central Iowa, Matt did not just watch agriculture from a distance. He lived it. He felt the weight of the responsibility that comes with feeding people. He understood, from a very young age, that farming is not just a job. It is a way of life. And that understanding would go on to shape every decision he made throughout his impressive career.
Today, Matt Carstens is a well-known and respected leader in agriculture and business. With nearly 30 years of hands-on experience, he has helped some of the biggest names in agriculture grow, change, and succeed. His story is one that many people in rural America can connect with, because it starts exactly where theirs does: on a farm.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matt Carstens |
| Hometown | Panora, Iowa (Central Iowa) |
| Education | B.A.Sc. in Agricultural Business and Management, Iowa State University (1992-1996) |
| Career Span | Nearly 30 years in food and agriculture |
| Key Employers | Helena Chemical Company, United Suppliers, Land O’Lakes, Landus Cooperative |
| Current/Recent Role | President and CEO, Landus Cooperative (March 2020) |
| Spouse | Shanda Carstens |
| Children | Claire, Camden, Carolyne |
| Foundation | The Matt and Shanda Carstens Family Foundation |
| Board Memberships | Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Principal Charity Classic, Central Ag Solutions, The Fertilizer Institute (past), Agren (past), Newtrient (past) |
| Specialty Areas | Sales growth, M&A, AgTech, sustainability, supply chain, marketing |
Early Life: Growing Up on a Family Farm
Matt Carstens was raised in central Iowa, where farm life was not something he just read about in school. It was his everyday reality. From a young age, he helped with the work that comes with running a farm. He saw how the land needed care. He watched how farmers made decisions every single day that affected their families and their communities.
This experience left a deep mark on him. As he later said, “Getting agriculture into my blood at a young age hooked me immediately.” For Matt, it was not just about growing crops or raising animals. It was about understanding how food reaches people’s tables, how farmers can make a good living, and how agriculture connects to the rest of the world.
Many people who grow up on farms leave and never look back. Matt did the opposite. He carried his roots with him and let them guide his future.
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Education: Building on a Strong Foundation
When it came time to choose a path in higher education, Matt did not hesitate. He enrolled at Iowa State University, one of the top agricultural schools in the United States. There, he studied Agricultural Business and Management, earning his degree between 1992 and 1996.
His time at Iowa State was more than just getting a diploma. It gave him the tools to take what he already knew from the farm and apply it at a much bigger scale. He learned how agriculture works as a business. He studied markets, supply chains, and how decisions made in one place can affect farmers across the country and even around the world.
That combination of practical farm knowledge and formal business education became the solid base on which he would build his entire career.
Career Journey: Step by Step to the Top
Starting Out: Helena Chemical Company (2004 to 2008)
Matt began his professional career at Helena Chemical Company, where he worked as a Sales Manager. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing retail and wholesale activities across several states. This was where he first learned how to manage people, handle real business challenges, and build relationships with farmers and industry partners.
It was a strong starting point. He learned quickly, worked hard, and showed that he had the kind of mindset needed to grow in this industry.
Moving Up: United Suppliers (2008 to 2016)
After his time at Helena, Matt moved on to United Suppliers, Inc., where he served as Vice President of Crop Nutrients for about eight years. This was a major step forward in his career.
In this role, he was responsible for a wide range of duties, including sales, marketing, supply chain logistics, financial performance, and commodity procurement. He became deeply involved in the world of fertilizer and crop nutrients, which gave him a very clear picture of how global markets work.
One of the most important lessons he learned during this time was how a globally traded commodity like fertilizer connects local farmers to international forces. As he recalled, “Having the opportunity to learn about the global fertilizer markets and how a globally traded commodity works was an experience I have never forgotten.” This knowledge would become one of the key tools in his leadership toolkit for years to come.
During his time at United Suppliers, he was also a participating board member with The Fertilizer Institute from 2010 to 2016, which further expanded his industry network and knowledge.
Rising Higher: Land O’Lakes (2016 to 2020)
In August 2016, Matt joined Land O’Lakes, Inc. as Senior Vice President. This was one of the biggest moves of his career, putting him at the top level of one of America’s most recognized agricultural cooperatives.
At Land O’Lakes, he led the Truterra division, which focused on farmer-driven sustainability. This was a forward-thinking role. The team used technology, data, and precision agriculture tools to help farmers adopt sustainable practices while working closely with food manufacturers and consumers. It was a role that showed Matt’s ability to see the bigger picture: agriculture is not just about production. It is also about responsibility to the land, the environment, and future generations.
This position also added to his growing list of board involvements. He was a board member of Agren from 2016 to 2018 and Newtrient from 2016 to 2019, both organizations closely connected to agriculture and sustainability.
The Top Role: President and CEO of Landus Cooperative (2020 to Present)
In March 2020, Matt Carstens took on the role of President and CEO of Landus Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Iowa. This was the peak of his career journey, and it came with a big mission.
Landus serves over 7,000 farmer-members and works to support the full circle of the food chain, from seed to commodity, from product to feed, and from farm to table. As CEO, Matt has been a strong voice for farmers, working to make sure they have the tools, support, and market access they need to succeed.
His passion covers every step of the supply chain: from agronomy retail to grain customers, food manufacturers, grocery stores, and ultimately consumers. He sees the full picture, and that is what makes him such an effective leader in this space.
Leadership Philosophy: People First, Results Always
What makes Matt Carstens stand out as a leader is not just his business knowledge. It is the way he treats people.
He believes strongly in building cultures where people feel valued and empowered. For Matt, a strong team culture is not just good for morale. It is the engine that drives real business results. He has spoken often about the importance of collaboration and finding solutions that work well for everyone involved.
His personal definition of success is finding “the point of a win for all parties involved with the desired outcome everyone can be proud of.” That philosophy has shaped how he approaches every negotiation, every partnership, and every business challenge.
He also gives clear advice to younger professionals: do not rush. Every step of your career has something valuable to teach you. “Everything has a lifecycle and more can be learned every day,” he says. It is a reminder that wisdom comes from experience, and experience takes time.
Community Impact: Giving Back to Rural America
For Matt Carstens, success was never meant to stay inside the office. He and his wife Shanda have made it a point to give back to the communities that shaped them.
Together, they established The Matt and Shanda Carstens Family Foundation, which focuses on supporting rural communities across the Midwest. The foundation champions small businesses, supports local traditions, and works to make rural life better for millions of people.
Their three children, Claire, Camden, and Carolyne, are also part of this mission. The whole family shares a belief that strong rural communities are important not just for the people who live there, but for the entire country.
Matt has also served on the National Board of Directors for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, organizations focused on wildlife habitat conservation. His connection to these groups goes back to his work with Truterra at Land O’Lakes, where sustainability and land stewardship were at the center of his work.
AgTech and Innovation: Looking Toward the Future
Matt Carstens is not someone who stays stuck in the past. Even as he honors the traditions of agriculture, he is always looking ahead at how technology can make farming better.
Throughout his career, he has been involved in building agtech startups focused on areas like client financing, data monetization, and e-commerce for farmers. He has worked to transform traditional agricultural retail into modern, digitally enabled businesses that can serve farmers better and more efficiently.
He has led organizations ranging from 100 million dollars to over 2 billion dollars in revenue, and in each case, he has worked to bring innovation into the heart of the business. His work reflects a clear understanding that the future of agriculture depends on embracing smart technology while staying grounded in the real needs of farmers.
Fractional Leadership and Consulting: Sharing His Expertise
Beyond his full-time roles, Matt has also worked with SOLVE, a consulting and fractional leadership firm. Through this work, he has served as a strategic advisor to startups in agriculture, food, beverage, and pharma sectors. He has helped companies scale their operations, secure funding, and build strong customer strategies.
This consulting work shows that his value is not tied to one company or one role. His experience and thinking are useful across many industries, and he is generous in sharing what he has learned.
Conclusion
The story of Matt Carstens is a story about staying true to your roots while always working to grow. He started on a farm, learned what hard work and purpose look like from an early age, and used that foundation to build a career that has touched the lives of thousands of farmers, employees, and community members.
His journey from a rural Iowa farm to the CEO chair of a major agricultural cooperative is not just impressive. It is inspiring. It shows that the values learned in small towns and farm fields, values like hard work, honesty, teamwork, and care for others, are exactly the kind of values that create great leaders.
Matt Carstens continues to lead with purpose, support rural communities, and push agriculture forward into a smarter, more sustainable future. And through it all, he has never forgotten where he came from.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Matt Carstens
1. Who is Matt Carstens? Matt Carstens is an agricultural business executive with nearly 30 years of experience in food and agriculture. He is best known as the President and CEO of Landus Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative in Iowa.
2. Where did Matt Carstens grow up? He grew up on a family farm in central Iowa, near Panora. His early life on the farm gave him a deep love for agriculture and a practical understanding of farming.
3. Where did Matt Carstens go to college? Matt attended Iowa State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Agricultural Business and Management between 1992 and 1996.
4. What companies has Matt Carstens worked for? His career has included roles at Helena Chemical Company, United Suppliers, Inc., Land O’Lakes, Inc., and Landus Cooperative.
5. What is Landus Cooperative? Landus is a farmer-owned cooperative based in Iowa that supports more than 7,000 farmer-members. It works across the full food chain, from seeds and agronomy to grain, feed, and consumer food products.
6. What is the Matt and Shanda Carstens Family Foundation? It is a charitable foundation started by Matt and his wife Shanda. The foundation focuses on supporting rural communities, small businesses, and local traditions across the Midwest.
7. What is Matt Carstens’ leadership style? Matt believes in building collaborative, empowered teams. He focuses on finding solutions that benefit everyone involved and encourages people to take time to learn from every experience rather than rushing ahead.
8. Has Matt Carstens been involved in sustainability work? Yes. He led the Truterra division at Land O’Lakes, which focused on farmer-driven sustainability using technology and data. He also served on the boards of Agren and Newtrient, both related to environmental practices in agriculture.
9. Is Matt Carstens involved in conservation? Yes. He serves on the National Board of Directors for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, organizations dedicated to wildlife habitat conservation in the United States.
10. What advice does Matt Carstens give to young professionals? He encourages young people to take advantage of every opportunity and not rush their career growth. He believes every role has something to teach, and that real wisdom comes from lived experience over time.
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