For Adam Wirt, General Manager at POET Bioprocessing – Hudson, a day’s work doesn’t end when he leaves the plant. After more than 22 years with POET, Adam spends his evenings and weekends in the fields near Parker, South Dakota, tending to his farm on the same land his family has owned since the 1950s.
That deep connection to agriculture runs in his blood, shaping not only his family’s operation but his leadership at POET. “I grew up farming,” Adam said. “When I started at POET, the family farm was just nine miles down the road. What began as a front-line role turned into a career that challenged and inspired me in ways I didn’t expect.”
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From plant technician to current general manager role, Adam’s journey mirrors POET’s spirit of growth and innovation. He credits his ag systems technology degree from SDSU and his farm upbringing for helping him see both sides of agriculture, from production to processing. “I love that POET is always pushing the envelope,” he said. “We’re leaders in innovation, but we do it in a way that’s still rooted in our communities and in agriculture.”
That same drive carries into his family’s farm, now entering its third generation. Alongside his wife, mom, sister and her husband, Adam helps raise crops and livestock while also mentoring the next generation through 4-H and FFA projects.
Even with a full schedule managing operations at POET and a busy family farm, Adam wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s a lifestyle,” he said. “You get done what needs to get done. And if there’s a football game on while you’re in the combine, that just makes it more enjoyable.”
This fall, that dedication was recognized beyond his own community. Adam and his family were honored as the 2025 Farm Family of the Year by the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, a testament to their commitment to agriculture, family, and the future of rural America.
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For Adam, both his work at POET and his family operation come down to the same goal: ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to build a life in agriculture. “I want young people to have the chance to find a career in ag and keep our communities strong,” he said.
In the fields or at POET Bioprocessing – Hudson, Adam Wirt is proving that innovation and tradition can grow side by side, both essential for changing the world.
