Area farmers are invited to learn how to get the most from their crops in 2026 at the “Better advice. Better seed. Bigger yield.” event from Gutwein Seed Services (GSS) Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST at Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks, Ind.
“The event will be a lot of fun but also include valuable information on how our customers can focus on profitability for 2026,” said Brock Gutwein, owner of Gutwein Seed Services. “It will be well worth the time to attend.”
Attendees will hear from an engaging lineup of speakers: Rob Sharkey, better known as the SharkFarmer Podcast host; Andrew Penney, Bayer Technical Agronomist for Preceon Smart Corn; and Peter Rousonelos with Meristem Crop Performance. The event will offer a first look at how GSS is partnering elite corn and soybean genetics with innovative microbial planter box treatments powered by patented Bio-Capsule Technology™.
Sharkey, an Illinois grain farmer and media personality, is known for his authentic, humorous approach to telling the stories of agriculture through his popular SharkFarmer Podcast and television shows on RFD-TV and PBS. Drawing from his own on-farm experience, Sharkey connects with audiences on the realities of modern farming — production challenges, profitability, and the ever-changing ag landscape. His straight talk, humor, and storytelling have made him one of the most recognized voices in American agriculture.
Penney will present “Maximizing ROI and Yield Using the Preceon Smart Corn System,” focusing on ways to improve nutrient use efficiency across all corn acres and how short corn can serve as a catalyst for increasing yield and profitability. Penney brings a strong academic and agronomic background — growing up around agriculture in Iowa, conducting research and teaching agronomy at Iowa State University, and earning both his master’s and Ph.D. in plant pathology and crop physiology. Today, he combines science and field-level insights to help farmers make smarter, data-driven decisions.
“Andrew has a deep understanding of how agronomy and management intersect to drive yield,” Gutwein said. “We’re excited for our customers to hear his perspective on using new systems and hybrids to increase both ROI and efficiency.”
The event will also give attendees a first look at GSS’s new 2026 corn pail lineup, which for the first time includes Prephyte™ ST* — a broad-spectrum, EPA-registered biofungicide for prevention, control or suppression of many soil-borne diseases.
“We’re excited to offer Prephyte in our corn pail this year,” Gutwein said. “It’s a proven technology that supports stronger plant growth from the start and aligns perfectly with our focus on bringing better seed and better results to our growers.”
Attendees will also hear from Rousonelos with Meristem Crop Performance, who will share how Meristem’s biologicals and crop performance tools continue to evolve to help farmers get more from every acre.
“We are tailoring planter box treatments and other biological products specifically for our geography and customer base,” Gutwein said. “We have done the research and seen the results, and the Bio-Capsule delivers the emergence, the EPA-registered Biocontrols and the performance we’re looking for at harvest.”
The Bio-Capsule is the global leader in the delivery of live biologicals through seed fluency to promote growth, nutrient uptake and improved protection from pests and diseases. At the planter, the sealed Bio-Capsules containing living microbes are deployed into the pail filled with a mixture of talc/graphite and IonLink™ Zinc that adheres the microbial active ingredients to the seeds as they flow through the planter.
Lunch will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to network with other growers and industry professionals.