CAFNR Connections Mentor

CAFNR Connections

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Publications

Dec. 2007: Vol. 2, No. 3
June 2007: Vol. 2, No. 2
April 2007: Vol. 2, No. 1
Dec. 2006: Vol. 1, No. 4
Aug. 2006: Vol. 1, No. 3
June 2006: Vol. 1, No. 2
Feb. 2006: Vol. 1, No. 1

Derrick Deneke

By Sara Muri, AgJ '07

"I'm still a farm kid," says Derrick Deneke. Although, his typical work outfit – a suit, collared shirt and tie – may not lead one to think so. But, it is his agricultural background and experiences that led him to his current job as a territory manager for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Deneke grew up on a hog, cattle and row crop farm in Jackson, Mo. After graduating high school, he moved the few hours north to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri. Originally an animal sciences major, he switched to plant sciences during his second semester.

"It seemed like there was more of a shift to the plant side of agriculture," Deneke recalls. He also had developed an interest in agricultural chemical sales, prompting the switch.

During his time at CAFNR, Deneke felt like part of a big family. "I always felt like CAFNR was a ‘how can we help you?' sort of environment," he says.

While a CAFNR student, Deneke found work as a laboratory technician assistant in the MU Agronomy Department. He primarily was involved with turf breeding. "I mowed a lot of grass and planted a lot of grass seed out at Bradford Farms," he says. "I was a worker bee."

Deneke also found time for extracurricular activities. While in college, he was involved with the Alumni Student Advisory Board and the Agronomy Club. Yet, it was his relationship with the CAFNR Career Service Office that aided his career journey the most.

"It was all because of Carol Magruder," says Deneke, with a huge smile, of the former Career Service Center employee. "I had signed up to interview with Novartis and she wouldn't let me out of it." He says he told her he didn't want to interview, but she said, "No, you are going to interview." Deneke recalls, "So, I said OK."

Magruder, who has now retired and resides in Columbia, doesn't regret her persistence. "Sometimes you just have to encourage students," she says. She knew he would be a strong candidate for the position. "He was very outgoing, had a good personality and was easy to talk to."

Deneke received the internship and worked for Novartis in Levasy, Mo., during the summer of 1997. "I sprayed a lot of chemical plots that summer," he says. His work also included evaluating different chemicals.

His first internship with Novartis earned him a second internship in 1998. This time he experienced the sales side of agricultural chemicals. He spent the summer in Atlantic, Iowa, developing his sales skills.

A few months before he was set to graduate, Deneke was hired on fulltime by Syngenta, a merged company product of Novartis. In 1999, he officially became a sales representative with the company. He returned to Iowa; however, this time his home was in Knoxville.

Leon Hunter was able to watch Deneke grow professionally with Syngenta. He assisted in the hiring process, knowing Deneke had the skill set that would match with the company. "He had excellent relationship skills," Hunter says. "He also had a good agronomy background, learned quickly and was always very professional."

While Deneke was promoting Syngenta's crop protection herbicide line, he was also experiencing the culture of Iowa. "There is nowhere to short-term rent in a small town," he says. "I got stuck above the town square in the Chamber of Commerce building. It was miserable, the top floor, with no air conditioning and a black roof."

However, Deneke wasn't experiencing all of this on his own. He married his high school sweetheart, Kristi. The two moved to Des Moines, but after having children realized they wanted to be closer to home. "Des Moines was a seven-and-a-half-hour drive to Jackson," he says. "It was too far of a drive with little kids."

As a result, Deneke, his wife and two children, Cooper and Campbell, returned to Columbia in 2003. He then began working for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Even though selling agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals are two different fields, Deneke says there are many similarities in his two career paths. "It is really the same sort of thing." He says most of the selling techniques are the same.

His sales territory runs from the Iowa border to the Lebanon and Rolla areas. He says he has learned to enjoy driving, as he puts around 50,000 miles on his vehicle a year. Regardless, Deneke says he likes the flexibility of his job and his ability to try new things.

Deneke's job is mostly an 8-to-5 position, so he finds time for hobbies. Although he doesn't live on a farm anymore, Deneke still loves to be outdoors. He spends his leisure time hunting and fishing, although he says his kids are his No. 1 hobby.

He knows his career path is not the result of accidents. He attributes his success to staying flexible and focused, the same advice he hopes to give current college students through the CAFNR Connections Mentor program.

"It is not a bad thing to be set on one career, but keep your options open," he says. "You know the dream job is out there, but it will take baby steps to get you to where you want to be. Know you may have to do something else before you get your dream job."

Deneke also says it is important to complete internships and get to know the staff in the Career Services Office. He does not underestimate the importance of his first internship. "It is amazing," he says "because, without the first internship, I would have never got the second. And, without those internships, I would have never got my first job and my first job got me my second job."

He simply calls it the "domino effect."