Garst Seed Company recently named two new regional sales managers.

“Garst is pleased to announce the addition of two new regional sales managers to the company,” says Gene Kassmeyer, sales manager of eastern division sales for Garst. “Both individuals bring a wealth of knowledge of the seed industry to their new positions.”

Warren Hinkle is the new regional sales manager for the north central region that encompasses Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Most recently, Hinkle was a district sales manager for Garst, covering central South Dakota. Prior to this, Hinkle owned and managed Quality Ag Services in central Minnesota. Earlier in his career, Hinkle served as a district and then a regional sales manager for Garst from 1984 to 1993. Hinkle will be based in Owatonna, Minn.

Joe Napier, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the ag industry, joined the company as a regional sales manager for the southeastern United States. Napier will be based in Kathleen, Georgia and has responsibility for Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Florida and eastern Missouri. Prior to joining Garst, Napier held various sales management positions in the southern United States for the Monsanto Company. Previously, Napier spent 20 years in the seed business in a number of sales and sales management roles with DeKalb Genetics Corporation.

Napier received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Garst Seed Company, with headquarters in Slater, Iowa, provides seed solutions for growers across North America with high yielding corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa and sunflower products.

Garst Seed Company is affiliated with Syngenta, a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Syngenta is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).