After multiple moves across the country, Todd Frazier found career opportunities with a global agricultural leader and the right fit for his family in Iowa.
Frazier is the vice president of U.S. Marketing for Corteva Agriscience, leading the team responsible for marketing for the U.S. seed and crop protection businesses. He is based out of the company’s Johnston, Iowa, Global Seed Business Center. Iowa is the heart of Corteva’s global seed business that drives its global brands Pioneer and Brevant, as well as U.S. focused brands including PhytoGen, Hoegemeyer, Dairyland, Seed Consultants Inc, AgVenture and NuTech.
Frazier grew up in Cozad, a small town in south central Nebraska, and earned an agronomy degree from the University of Nebraska. He joined Corteva (then DuPont Pioneer) in 2001 after spending the first 10 years of his career focused on crop protection with a chemical company at locations in South Dakota, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Jersey and North Carolina.
1. What brought you to Iowa, and why have you stayed?
A couple of simple things brought my wife Kim, our two daughters and me to Iowa back in 2001 – a desire to get back to the Midwest and be closer to our family that lives in Nebraska, and an interesting job with a great company. Pioneer, which will celebrate 100 years next year and is Corteva’s global flagship seed brand, is the leader in the seed business so when I had the chance to join it was an easy decision! Being part of a great company is the main reason we have stayed in Iowa. Corteva continues to trailblaze in the seed industry and our Global Seed Business Center, which is home for our largest business facility and Research & Development efforts, is based right in Johnston, Iowa, serving farmers around the world.
2. What innovations from Corteva are helping farmers improve productivity and sustainability?
Seed is important. It's the first decision every farmer makes each growing season and provides us with food, feed, fuel, and fiber, so farmers need innovation. Therefore, at Corteva innovation is at the heart of our company and has been for over a century. We have a proven track record of innovation excellence. Some highlights within the past five years include: 1,500+ seed products launched, biotech trait launches, and 5%+ improvement in genetic yield potential. One example is Vorceed® Enlist® corn which launched in 2023 and provides additional yield potential, insect protection, and flexibility management for farmers facing corn rootworm pressures. Our farmer customers continue to seek products that help them improve yields and grow crops in a sustainable manner.
Many of these innovations are driven from the company’s Iowa locations. We have approximately 3,000 employees in Iowa; more than 2,000 of those employees are located in the Global Seed Business Center, where they are leading cutting-edge research, seed production technologies, and U.S.-wide commercial support for our farmer customers. We also have 10 Seed Research & Development and Production facilities in the state. Iowa is one of the world’s agricultural hubs and a leading producer of corn, soybeans, hogs and other feed and food products, so having our largest global footprint in the state keeps Corteva uniquely connected to what customers need for innovation.
3. You recently joined the board of directors for America’s Cultivation Corridor. What role does the Corridor play in advancing agriculture and biosciences in the state?
I’m very excited and honored to be elected to the America’s Cultivation Corridor Board of Directors and representing Corteva. The Corridor has been instrumental in bringing key leaders of Iowa agriculture together to help promote Iowa as a hub of agriculture and innovation, as well as attract more leading businesses and startups to Iowa.
We need to continue to innovate in agriculture. The world continues to grow and demand a plentiful and reliable food chain and therefore counts on agriculture for an ever-growing demand for sustainable energy sources. It is key for Corteva to have access to businesses and scientists that lead the innovation that we can bring to farmers.
4. What advice do you have for someone considering a move or return to Iowa?
Great question. When my family moved here more than 20 years ago, we planned to be here for two or three years, and we are still here! We really just fell in love with Iowa and the Des Moines area — it has great schools, great neighborhoods, and a large friend network of great people. That all made us change our minds on moving and made us say “this is where we want to raise our family.”
In addition, the job market and business environment is outstanding so we were able to stay here and build a very successful career. In agriculture specifically, there is a very strong presence of industry leaders – Corteva, John Deere, Sukup, Kent Feeds, and the list goes on. It is very key to have that knowledge, know-how, and fantastic jobs, all of which make Iowa a leader in agriculture to support our Iowa farmers in feeding the world.
5. Please share three recommendations of things to do or places to go in Iowa.
There are so many choices, but some of my family’s favorite must-dos include:
The Iowa State Fair. For an ag guy, this is a great chance to see the livestock, but the food and concerts are the fun that draws us in multiple times each year and I think all Iowans enjoy those festivities.
Bike trails. If you like riding bicycles like I do, we have an amazing trail system in the Des Moines metro area and across the state that allows you to see some beautiful parts of Iowa, and some well-placed pubs add to the fun!
Restaurants with patios. Nothing beats enjoying the outdoors and some great Iowa cuisine all in one, and options have greatly increased in the past several years. Check out a great list compiled by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
published May 2025