Jerry Johnson Retires After Leading Smart Apply’s Integration with Deere & Company

Oct 30, 2024

On November 1, 2024, I will have fulfilled my duties to assist in the transition of Smart Apply to Deere and Company following the July 14, 2023, acquisition. I am announcing that I will be retiring from the full-time workforce on that date after more than 40 years of professional life. I will continue to serve on corporate boards of directors and welcome opportunities to support the agriculture industry in any way that I can.

The last nearly four years with Smart Apply have been an incredible ride. Leading a startup company through fundraising, commercialization, dealer network development, and ultimately the sale of the company to the most respected name in agricultural equipment has been an extremely rewarding and sometimes challenging process. I have enjoyed every minute of it.

I thank all of our dealers for placing their faith in the Smart Apply System, which is a game changer for growers of high-value crops and for the sustainability of farmlands. I understand the risk that you take with new suppliers, especially startups with brand-new technology, but you embraced our product, people and processes. It has been exciting to see how various crop sectors and growers large and small are realizing the benefits of the Smart Apply System. This is only the beginning of what can be! I greatly appreciate your support, and particularly those of you who were early adopters.

A company is no greater than its team members. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of our employees for your commitment and dedication to the business. Through the ups-and-downs and adversities of a startup, you have stood strong to bring the business to this point in time. I will miss working with you all and wish you the best!

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm