Behind the Scenes at Mogren: The People, Purpose, and Pride
Mogren is our primary container tree farm in Minnesota. At Mogren, a dedicated team plays a part in the success of Bailey Nurseries by managing one of our key and labor-intensive components of the business: inventory, production, and shipping. This 454-acre farm thrives because of the collective effort and passion of its team members. From meticulous planning and planting to final product readiness and shipment.
The Year in Review: The Mogren Inventory Team
Led by Joan Kellerman with key team members Melissa Campbell and Katie Mechelke, the Mogren Inventory team consists of three full-time employees supported by seasonal help during peak periods. Their year begins around mid-March with preparations for spring shipping. This involves setting up picture tag inventory and adding variety signage to above-ground blocks that were protected through winter.
By late March and into April, the team inspects both field and above-ground crops for winter damage. As shipping ramps up, inventory works closely with order pullers, resolving location and product issues, while also updating plant status and imagery for the Bailey Nurseries website.
Spring planting marks a key transition. The team grades and locates trees for upshifting and monitors future allocations. As trees are planted, the inventory team tracks counts, put out variety name signs, and observes crop quality. All this work is done while maintaining up-to-date digital records that keep production, sales, and logistics aligned.
During summer, attention shifts to monitoring incoming West Coast shipments and ensuring accurate computer transfers. Monthly updates on tree condition such as bud break, blooming, and beyond are crucial. As trees become saleable, they are graded and tagged with identifying strip tags to alert order pullers.
By fall, a final crop evaluation is completed. Trees are tagged, projected readiness dates are noted, and all data is uploaded to ensure company-wide awareness of inventory status. Winter ushers in a shift to indoor duties including updating data systems and assisting grading crews in cold storage.
Orchestrating Production: Riley Flatten’s Vision
New to his role as Production Foreperson, Riley Flatten brings a decade of Mogren experience and a fresh perspective to production planning. Each season begins with pruning and prepping bare root trees in coolers, followed by designing the planting schedule, which dictates both root pruning and field preparation.
Spring is a whirlwind of shipping, planting, and prepping. Once crops are in the ground, attention turns to maintenance. Staking, pruning, and tying leaders to shape strong, healthy trees. This phase continues throughout the summer and leads seamlessly into fall planting. In addition to planting, West Coast materials are stored and protected for overwintering using poly covers and Sudan grass.
Riley emphasizes the importance of interdepartmental communication and team empowerment, fostering an environment where employees contribute ideas, promote safety, and help increase efficiency. His pride in the farm’s achievements, and in the team’s collaborative spirit, is evident: “Even with all the hustle and bustle, it’s important to remember that there’s always time to stop and smell the flowers.”
On the Move: Shipping Led by Saul Arteaga
As Mogren’s Shipping Foreperson, Saul Arteaga manages the dock during the bustling shipping season. With the team pulling between 3,000 to 5,000 trees per day during its peak, organization and efficiency are crucial. Order pullers, divided between small and large pot duties, gather trees from the field and transport them to the dock.
Forklift operators then load the trees by stop, and final quality touches are made like wrapping, twining, or bamboo staking before they head out to customers. Saul’s leadership is defined not just by operational excellence, but by the positivity and motivation he brings to the team daily. His uplifting messages and consistent support create a strong sense of unity and morale.
Culture of Collaboration: The Mogren Way
According to Fernando Villafan, Department Head of Midwest Containers, teamwork is the backbone of everything done at Mogren. Whether it’s planting, pruning, or shipping, team members regularly step into roles outside their usual duties to ensure collective success. A great example is Saul’s willingness to help initiate planting processes even though it’s outside his usual purview.
Fernando also highlights the invaluable contributions of both Saul and Riley. From Saul’s energizing leadership to Riley’s biological insight and organizational excellence. The emphasis on shared responsibility, open communication, and practical efficiency empowers every team member to take ownership of their work.
One charming detail that speaks volumes: every Mogren employee carries a pruner. It’s a small but telling reflection of the pride and precision that define their day-to-day work. Reliable tools, reliable people make an unbeatable combination.
More Than a Job: The People Behind the Plants
What ties this all together is a shared commitment to quality, excellence, and purpose. From the initial planning stages to the final grade-outs and dockside preparations, every member of the Mogren team plays a vital role in producing the top-tier plant material Bailey Nurseries is known for.
And while the tasks may vary from season to season, the core remains the same: take pride in your work, respect for the product, embrace comradery, and have a team-driven culture that turns challenges into achievements.
