Bryan Wooten
Bryan Wooten is from Grantham, NC. Bryan attended the University of Mount Olive and earned a Bachelors degree in Agriculture Production Systems. Having grown up in a small town, Bryan has always been around agriculture and has always been a part of his schools FFA chapter. He found out about Protech through a Crop Science class. The summer of 2018 was his first year working for Protech as a field tech/crop scout.
Over the years since Bryan has increased his knowledge and recognizes economic issues in row crops. After graduating summer of 2020 Bryan decided to come to work at Protech full time as a Senior Field Technician. He has learned many new skills over the past years. Bryan says “I’ve always wanted to help people and make the world a better place. Working here and helping farmers maximize their yield while trying to stay below the economic threshold is what we do best here at Protech.”
Brooke Knudsen
Brooke is from Stedman, NC where she grew up helping her grandparents in the garden and working on hobby farms. She’s always had a passion for agriculture but in high school she began competing in agronomy competitions through FFA and quickly realized she wanted to pursue a career in the crop science industry. Brooke attended the University of Mount Olive and received a BS in Plant Science in April of 2022. Brooke graduated with honors: Summa Cum Laude. During college, Brooke participated in Collegiate FFA where she competed in the national agronomy competition in 2019 and received her American degree in 2020. She was also a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers program where she served as an officer. In 2021 she had the opportunity to compete in the NC Farm Bureau State Discussion Meet.
Brooke furthered her education and experience in the agronomy industry through multiple internships involving crop production, pest management, and research and development. Her internships included working with companies such as Corteva Agriscience, Pivot Bio, and Clifton Seed Company. While working with Corteva and Pivot, Brooke realized she had a growing interest in the research side of the industry. She hopes to continue to work in research and development as her career progresses.
Brooke completed an internship with Protech as a field scout in the Summer of 2020. After graduation she decided to come back to Protech to become a full-time employee. After getting married, Brooke started full-time in October of 2022. Brooke’s position at Protech involves working with the primary goals of nutrient management including pulling soil samples and managing full-time and summer interns during the IPM (scouting) season. Brooke will also be in the lead developing and expanding Protech’s research programs. As Protech’s research program expands, Brooke will devote more of her time to research.
Brooke spends her free time either in the deer and turkey woods or at the coast fishing for big reds and sheepshead. She is passionate about all things hunting and fishing, including managing properties, establishing food plots, and habitat restoration for wildlife. Brooke also helps her uncle manage a small fruit and vegetable farm where they grow muscadines, blackberries, and summer and fall vegetables. She hopes to one day take over the business and continue to expand the diversity on the farm.
We are very pleased that Brooke considered coming back to work full-time at Protech and we are certain that Brooke will become a very knowledgeable member of the team.
Jennifer Fruehling
Jenn has a wide variety of computing systems experience including most of the software we use at Protech. Jenn is quickly learning SMS Advanced and helping Al generate nutrient prescriptions for the 2021 season. We are happy to welcome Jenn on our team.
Jenn joined Protech Advisory Services in January 2021. She brings satellite and information technology skills learned in the military with years of experience and interest in agriculture to our team.
She grew up in rural southern Illinois with corn fields and dairy cattle before moving to the crossroads region of Texas where she worked on several large ranches training horses, working cattle, and assisting with breeding programs. She also helped people with disabilities learn to ride horses.
During her transition from the military, she participated in the Soldier to Agriculture curriculum sponsored by NC State, which ultimately led her to our organization. She continues to serve the veteran population as an equine specialist for a local therapy program.
Her and her husband own property in Hoke County where they are actively pursuing small scale sustainable and regenerative practices with the intent of educating others on nature’s ability to nurture and the value of North Carolina agriculture.