As I walk through my great-grandparents’ house, my mom points out the spot where I used to play with blocks on the floor, I look across the Vermeer Mile and reflect on how it all humbly began right here in this home.   

Although both Gary and Matilda Vermeer passed away when I was younger, my family has always made an intentional effort to keep me connected to their legacy. A legacy of putting people first in business, always trying to find a better way and the values that guide the way we work.   

Growing up, I knew that my great-grandfather invented the large round hay baler. Because of that, it has always brought a smile to my face to pass by a field of round hay bales, but I did not understand the depth of his innovation until I had the opportunity to intern with the forage group this summer.   

Throughout high school, I worked in various parts of the business. From internal communications, to audio and visual, they had me help wherever I could. Once I went off to college, I was allowed to apply for internships through Vermeer.    

I will be honest, when I received my offer to be a product marketing intern with the forage department, I was both excited and nervous. As a fourth-generation Vermeer family member, I knew I would need to work twice as hard. Forage carries forward the legacy, relationships and family values Gary built his business around. That felt like a lot to live up to.   

How do you prove your place in a business built on people?   

By building relationships.   

Learning through conversations 

My summer project focused on brand identity, insight and strategy. A company’s brand is one of the most valuable assets. My job was to find out how people viewed the Vermeer Forage brand and brainstorm ways we could market to our forage customers better. I had the opportunity to call various dealers to talk through who Vermeer is as a company. More importantly, I got to hear firsthand how their relationship with Vermeer started, is currently going and how they would like to see it grow in the future.    

Through these calls, my appreciation for the values that guided my great-grandfather and continue to guide Vermeer today, grew immensely. Vermeer genuinely cares about the dealers they support and strives to provide them with the best equipment possible to make a real difference in the forage industry.   

A common theme showed with each call I made. From acting on customer feedback, to innovating solutions, to picking up the phone and talking to a real person, Vermeer is a trusted partner with expertise in forage and constantly innovating to better equip forage customers.   

Carrying the legacy forward 

I wanted to hear what perspective my dad, Jason Andringa, had on my findings through my project, so earlier this summer, I interviewed him too. We talked about Vermeer Forage, and the launch of the 605 S-series balers, a continuation of one of the most iconic lines Vermeer builds.   

He is proud that products like the 605S not only carry forward the legacy of Gary Vermeer’s most famous invention but also demonstrate the Vermeer commitment to continued innovation in the forage industry based on the customer.  

For him, the future of Vermeer Forage remains bright. We continue to develop industry leading solutions, such as the round baler, while also investing in research and development products like the autonomous bale mover, known as the “Balehawk”, to continue to revolutionize the way important work is done.   

This internship allowed me to experience firsthand the values and relationships that built this company. More than anything, it showed me that the true legacy of Vermeer is found in its people, whose lasting impact on customers, dealers and one another has shaped where we came from and will continue to guide where we go next.   

Until next time,  

Mia Andringa