Jamie Mertz joined the INEDA team as Director of Dealer and Government Relations for the state of Iowa.
My name is Jamie Mertz, and I hail from the small town of West Bend, Iowa, located in the northwest part of the state. Growing up, I was the second oldest among five children, with an older brother and three younger sisters (including identical twins).
My mother, originally from Scranton, IA, dedicated her career to music and vocal teaching, working in schools in LuVerne, West Bend, Spencer, and Algona. She grew up on a farm and met my father while attending college in Dubuque, IA—she was at Clarke, and he attended Loras.
They eventually married and settled in West Bend, where my family owned a John Deere dealership. Initially intended as a temporary stop, they ended up spending much longer there. My father worked for his father, eventually taking ownership of the dealership and dedicating 45 years to it before selling it in 2018.
The History of J.B. Mertz & Son, Inc.
Let’s delve into the history of J.B. Mertz & Son, Inc. My great-great-grandfather, John Mertz, grew up as an only child in Holtz, Luxembourg. When he was a teenager, he tragically lost both of his parents while attending a private school in France. After completing his schooling, he returned to Luxembourg, where he met and married his wife Margaret. They had three children before making the life-altering decision to immigrate to the United States.
They settled in Ottosen, Iowa, attracted by the presence of other Luxembourgers and the fertile soil situated between the east and west forks of the Des Moines River. Acquiring a section of land, my great-great-grandfather and his wife added a handful of more children to their family during their time in Iowa.
With many sons among them, the farmground was divided accordingly. My great-grandfather, John B. Mertz, sold his portion to his brothers and instead ventured into various enterprises such as livery stables, a farm equipment dealership, stockyards in three different towns, and a local elevator. All of this transpired in the late 1800s.
Pictured at the J.B. Mertz and Son, Inc. dealership in its early days in West Bend, IA are (left to right) Paul Besch, Vic Besch, Marvin Zeman, Harvey Mertz, John Goldtrap, J.B. Mertz Sr., and Jack Mertz.
Family Roots and Early Ventures
J.B. Mertz and his wife went on to have nine children, with the oldest sibling being 22 years older than the youngest—my grandfather, Jack. My great-grandfather established the John Deere business in Ottosen in 1917. My grandfather was born in 1929, when his father was 50 and his mother was 48.
In 1935, the dealership was relocated to West Bend, around 8 miles northwest. At some point during this period, my grandfather not only became a John Deere dealer but also an International Harvester (IH) dealer. The story passed down from my grandfather explained that when IH began promoting deep freezers for my great-grandfather to sell, he declined, emphasizing that he was an agricultural implement dealer rather than an appliance dealer. Consequently, he dropped the IH line and remained dedicated to John Deere—a decision that, in hindsight, proved wise. It was also in Dubuque where my grandfather met his wife, Mary Helen Greener.
Tragically, my great-uncle Harvey Mertz passed away at a young age, in his mid-forties. In the wake of this loss, my grandfather purchased the business from Harvey’s widow and subsequently sold the stockyards.
Transition and Expansion
He ran the business alone until my father returned in 1973 to join him. In the early 1980s, my father seized an opportunity to buy into the business. What was supposed to be a short-term stay turned into a full life and career in West Bend for my parents. My father remained the dealership’s owner until 2018 when he sold it to KC Nieslen in Humboldt.
After completing high school, I attended community college and later enrolled at Iowa State University until my junior year. Although I didn’t graduate, I moved to Omaha and began working for UPS. In 2002, I joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Cheyenne, WY, where I served in the missile field.
Following my departure from the military in 2005, I met my first wife, who received orders for Belgium in 2006. I followed her there and resided in Belgium for two years. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as planned, leading me to return to Iowa in 2008.
Return to Iowa
It was then that I started working for my father. During my middle and high school years, I had already gained some experience at the dealership, undertaking tasks such as mowing the grounds, conducting annual parts inventory, washing equipment, and assisting with setup and delivery.
Interestingly, I had vowed never to return to Iowa or engage in the agricultural business with my father. Yet, for the past 15 years, I have found myself living in Iowa and working in the ag industry.
Initially, in 2008, I began as a salesperson for my father. However, two years into the role, my father was diagnosed with kidney cancer—his second encounter with the disease, having had one kidney removed about 13 years prior. This time, they managed to remove only a portion of the kidney.
While he was recovering, I assumed a greater responsibility at the dealership, taking on management duties while still selling equipment. I fulfilled the responsibilities typically associated with a dealer principal—ordering equipment, setting prices, determining trade-in values, negotiating deals with salesmen, handling customer and employee issues, managing insurance matters for the business, attending Deere dealer meetings, making decisions regarding fleet vehicles, and even driving a semi-truck for the business when our regular driver was unavailable.
During this time, I acquired extensive knowledge about the industry, business management, working with people, inventory management, market fluctuations, and the seasonal nature of agriculture that often resembles a roller coaster with its market highs and lows, as well as yield variations.
Opportunity with Van Wall Equipment
In 2017, I received an opportunity to work for Van Wall Equipment in Indianola. Back in 2012, I had aspired to become a part-owner of the dealership, but John Deere had envisioned multi-store dealerships for Iowa while we had only a single store. However, I embraced the chance to join Van Wall Equipment in June 2017, where I managed two locations and handled large agricultural equipment sales. J.B. Mertz & Son Inc. thrived for an impressive 101 years, and I take great pride in having been part of that legacy. Growing up, my parents taught me the importance of treating and respecting people. I learned a great deal about the implement business from my father—how to work with and manage people—and I carried those lessons with me throughout my six-year tenure at Van Wall Equipment.
Van Wall Equipment allowed me to foster the same culture I grew up with at their locations. I believe that life presents us with opportune moments, and in 2017, a door opened for me at Van Wall Equipment when I needed it the most.
Embracing New Opportunities
More recently, in March, I encountered Mark Hennessey of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association—a group I had already been acquainted with during my time in West Bend but had lesser interaction with during my tenure at Van Wall.
Over the past 15 years, I have been deeply involved in the equipment side of the business, as it has been an integral part of my life since childhood. Drawing from the lessons passed down by my family, my military experience, my father, and the individuals at J.B. Mertz & Son, as well as my time with Van Wall Equipment, I hope to excel in my new role. I eagerly look forward to getting acquainted with all our members.