Pictured : Jamie Duininck, CEO of Prinsco, presents Joe Larkins with 2024 award.
A dairy farm experience inspired the Five Buckle Boot Award. Kent Rodelius, Prinsco’s Ag Relationship Manager, was the first recipient of this prestigious Prinsco award and shared the story behind that inspiration. “When we’d visit my grandpa’s farm, we’d learn everything we could. Often, we’d go into the milking parlor, and there’d be a set of big five buckle boots, and eventually we asked grandpa about those boots. “Those are for five buckle days. That means there’s gonna be a super hard job to do – a challenge, something where you need a good attitude, and you need to dig down and get that job finished so you can get on to the next one.” Kent went on to say, “[In business], sometimes it’s the same. It’s not [always] going to be an easy day. Maybe there’s a customer that needs some special attention. Maybe there’s a project you’re working on…and you have to dig down and stay some extra hours and use all your intelligence to get that fixed.” Five Buckle days happen in every company.
Click the clip to hear what work peers and family share about Joe.
Three years ago, Prinsco leadership wanted to create an award to annually acknowledge one employee who embodies the company’s values, demonstrates strong leadership, and is deeply committed to Prinsco’s vision and mission. Past recipients include Kent Rodelius (2022) and Stan Swierenga (2023).
This September, Prinsco’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and the Five-Buckle Boot Committee proudly announced Joe Larkins, Director of Process Technology, as the 2024 recipient.
Joe has been part of the Prinsco team since 2003 when he began as the Quality Control Manager in Chatsworth, Illinois. He’s contributed in significant ways over the course of his time thus far at Prinsco, and his action speak volumes to the way he undoubtedly qualifies for this year’s award. Congratulations, Joe, we are grateful for you! Your story encourages and spurs us on as employees across the portfolio.
