Meet A Seedcorn Saleslady

Meet A Seedcorn Saleslady AG WORLD Ag World 7-1-20 Farmers around Galva, Ill., don't call their seed corn salesman when it's time to buy. They call their saleslady. She's Shirley (Mrs. Willard) Crisco, who started selling 0's Gold seed corn four years ago. Shirley lives on a small farm where she and her husband keep a few cattle. How do farm wives react when she asks, "Can I talk to your husband?" "That's never been any problem," she says. "I've lived around the neighborhood all my life and I know everybody, so it isn't any shock. Besides, women are into more things these days." Shirley doesn't think that she gets any orders just because she's a woman. "Farmers buy to get the bestproduct available. The corn I sell speaks for itself," she explains. "I field the usual questions about yield and price, but the best selling point is our company's data on yield performance in local field plots." Apparently her sales technique is a good one, as she's received a plaque for record sales and is a member of 0's Gold's dealer advisory council. Would selling seed corn be a good sideline for other farm women? "I'm sure most woman could do it. In fact, more and more women are getting into seed corn sales. The important thing is to know your product. And you gotta know the territory," she quips.

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