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Alumni Spotlight: Steven Brockshus


From club president to entrepreneur, our next alum used his experiences in 4-H to create opportunities.

Steven Brockshus was an Ocheyedan Indian 4-H’er from Osceola county. Some of his projects included; showing dairy, chickens, food & nutrition, home garden, sewing, and much more. He also participated in the Share-the-Fun with his club and made it to the State Fair. He recalls showing chickens and cows at the county fair were among his favorite 4-H memories. 

“Growing up in the country, I always loved going to the county fair. My older brother was in 4-H and I remember helping my dad lead and clipping calves with my brother,” says Brockshus. “Once I was old enough to join, I signed up right away and participated in every club activity I could. Our club was big on community service, fair projects and showing animals at the county fair – so that is a lot of what I did.”
Looking back, Brockshus shares how 4-H taught him how to create a plan and stick to a project. It also taught him to access growth, a valuable asset to an entrepreneur. He points out the 4-H program is vital and in a unique position to instill essential values in youth. 

Brockshus is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education and Entrepreneurial Studies. He credits 4-H to leading him to his first internship experience while pursuing higher education. 

“4-H introduced me to the county extension system,” says Brockshus. “That experience taught me that it’s okay to pick up the phone and talk to strangers, which was immensely valuable – as that’s what I do every week when trying to learn how to solve new problems.”

Today, Brockshus lives in Des, Moines, Iowa. He continues to grow FarmlandFinder, his tech startup he launched in 2017 where he serves as the CEO and founder. The company provides an information network for farmland professionals and is focused on solving the data transparency and liquidity issues facing landowners across the US. 

Brockshus got the idea for the business while at a farmland auction with his dad in college.  “Looking around the room, it struck me as odd that we live in a world where you can find information about virtually anything online, except for farmland. That problem is simply the tip of the iceberg for what we’re working to solve at FarmlandFinder,” says Brockshus.
His advice for 4-Hers who are passionate about their projects is, “If you’re thinking about doing something new, make some goals, share them with someone you trust, and ask them to help you.” Brockshus states, “Keep your head up, write down what you’re learning, and set a clear goal of what to tackle next. Over time, you’ll learn to enjoy the process and will find success!”

Learn more about FarmlandFinder here. 

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