Deep roots: BNSF employees bring agricultural upbringings to the railroad
By PAIGE ROMANOWSKI
Staff Writer
Agriculture sustains America's food supply and energy needs. This industry and railroading have been closely linked since the 1800s, and the connection between the two remains strong. Many BNSF employees hail from rural areas or have strong ties to agriculture, which sparked their interest in joining the railroad.
Jeff Davis
Executive Director, Public Affairs
Jeff Davis is a fifth-generation farmer who grew up on a 1,000-acre row crop farm in southeast Missouri near Braggadocio, where his family has been farming the same land for more than 130 years.
Braggadocio was originally called “Hard Bargain,” but the town got its name when the community began bragging about getting a stop on the Cotton Belt Railroad (formally known as the St. Louis Southwestern Railway). Surrounding towns referred to the community as being “Braggadocio,” and the name stuck.
When Davis isn’t working as a public affairs director for BNSF, he can be found continuing his family’s farming legacy. This year, Davis and his family are growing 150 acres of soybeans and 40 acres of cotton.
Between preparation, hard work and devotion, Davis says farming and railroading have a lot in common.
“Getting the fields ready to plant in the spring, preparing the equipment and seed for the field, then working day and night until the planting, spraying, or harvesting is finished is just like railroading,” said Davis.
With his background in farming, Davis was naturally drawn to the transportation industry.
“Farming has helped me gain understanding and intuition to the [transportation] needs of both our customers and neighbors,” said Davis.
Tim Fanning
Engineering manager
Tim Fanning was raised on a family farm in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. After he graduated high school, Fanning spent 15 years working for a company that processed dry peas, lentils, feed barley and wheat. The packaged products were loaded onto railcars and moved across the nation.
According to Fanning, the greatest similarities between railroading and agriculture include hard work and having to contend with Mother Nature.
“I now build large bridges for BNSF,” said Fanning. “As a child, mother always said, ‘Quit playing in the creek.’ Now, that’s what I do for BNSF – I help make our infrastructure safe and reliable.”
Elizabeth Bollin-Kerr
Bridge operator
When Elizabeth Bollin-Kerr isn’t working as a BNSF bridge operator on the Fort Madison, Iowa, bridge, she’s farming. Bollin-Kerr grew up on a multi-generational farm outside Nauvoo, Illinois, with livestock and row crops, which inspired her to pursue a degree in agriculture business.
Today, Bollin-Kerr stays in touch with her agricultural roots by helping to operate a small nursery with flowers and vegetables as well as an agriculture construction company that specializes in farm drainage and conservation systems.
“One of the main reasons I chose to work for BNSF was the flexibility to be a part of our family operations while also working full time on the Fort Madison bridge,” said Bollin-Kerr.
Brandon Mortensen
Agriculture marketing manager
Brandon Mortensen works as a marketing manager for BNSF’s agriculture business unit and shares a deep connection to the agriculture industry as a North Dakota native.
Mortensen’s parents both grew up on family farms in Iowa, where he and his sister frequently spent summers working, gaining hands-on experience with corn and soybean operations. Mortensen’s father managed multiple grain elevators (BNSF-served locations, we might add!) in North Dakota, where he was exposed to the harvest rush and frequently spent Saturday mornings alongside his dad.
“I remember seeing the inside of a locomotive cab when I was young, probably before age 10,” said Mortensen. “I have fond memories of hearing the trains on summer nights while on the farm.”
Mortensen went on to get a degree in agriculture before becoming a commodity merchandiser, trading agricultural commodities in the U.S. and into Asian markets as well.
“I joined the BNSF’s ag marketing group 12 years ago when I learned they hire people from the trade,” explained Mortensen.
Our customers trust us to move their freight – not just because we’re committed to moving freight safely and efficiently, but because we care for their business at every step of our journey with them. Thank you to our employees who bring their varied backgrounds and life experiences to the railroad every day!
