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Awards & Recognition

At Peoples Company, we have a great story to tell. We uphold our mission by working hard every day to create value and opportunities for our clients. Working with the highest ethical standards, our team of cohesive land professionals is focused on building lasting relationships and delivering industry-best outcomes. When we are recognized for our work by esteemed organizations, it reconfirms the fact that we are doing the right things and continuing to be driven by our core values.

The distinguished RLI APEX Awards, held in conjunction with The Land Report, is a top annual awards program designed to recognize excellence and performance of land sale professionals.
2024 Broker of the Year, Auction Land Sales: Matt Adams
2024 Region 3 Broker of the Year, Ag Land Sales Crops and Auction Land Sales: Adam Crist
2024 Region 7 Broker of the Year, Agribusiness Land Sales: Andrew Zellmer
2024 Region 9 Broker of the Year, Ag Land Sales Crops: George Baird
2024 Top 20 National Producers: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist
2024 Producers Club: Matt Adams, George Baird, Doug Bear, Daran Becker, Bryan Bergdale, Brandon Bergquist, Lindsey Brown, Ray Brownfield, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist, Adam Curran, Chase Duesenberg, Kenny Herring, Matt Hoenig, Kolt Kiburz, Joel King, Eric Lonnevik, Alan McNeil, Jesse Meyer, Dillon Muth, John Reburn, Jake Sickels, Riley Sieren, Nicholas Z. Smith, Travis Smock, Doug Yegge, and Andrew Zellmer

Peoples Company has won the coveted Campaign of the Year Award from the National Auction Association Marketing Competition, presented by Blue River Digital. The award was given for Peoples Company's work on the C&W Farm Auction, a portfolio comprised of 6,693 acres m/l in Wichita County, Kansas. Entries to the marketing competition come from across the country and are judged by a panel of marketing professionals according to standards of excellence. This is the fifth time in recent years that Peoples Company has earned the prestigious award.

Kyle Walker, Director of Land Management at Peoples Company, was named the 2021 Professional Farm Manager of the Year. The award, co-sponsored by Syngenta, Farm Journal’s The Scoop magazine, and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), recognizes farm managers who display excellence in client service and a commitment to agriculture. Walker earned the award because of his ability to work well with clients of all agricultural backgrounds, his pioneering of many conservation efforts, and his passion for improving his clients’ farm operations.

Since 2011, Peoples Company has been recognized as one of America’s Best Brokerages by The Land Report, an industry-leading publication targeted toward the American landowner. The magazine's annual survey of U.S. land brokerages is based on the total value of self-reported domestic land sales through traditional brokerage from the year prior.

For the past several years, Peoples Company has been named a Top Auction House by The Land Report magazine. This annual survey is a ranking of U.S. auction houses based on the total value of self-reported domestic land sales by auction the year prior. Auctions considered for ranking purposes excluded commercial, industrial, and residential properties.

Peoples Company is proud to have been named a Top Workplace for eight years in a row by the Des Moines Register! Top Workplace is based on employee feedback results and is the nation's leading employer recognition program. Ranking as high as #6 out of 75 small businesses, Peoples Company believes creating a top workplace isn't just about offering great benefits, it's about creating a culture of collaboration and putting employees first.

Peoples Company has made the Inc. 5000 list several times in recent years. The Inc. Magazine list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies and represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.

Award-Winning Marketing

Peoples Company's in-house marketing department and graphic designers create professional, customized marketing collateral with a fresh, unique look specifically tailored to each property. Peoples Company is honored to have won several marketing awards for their work including the prestigious Auction Marketing Campaign of the Year by the National Auction Association.

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2024 Notable Achievements

Brokerage

  • 2023 RLI Apex Awards (awarded in March 2024)

  • Broker of the Year, Auction Land Sales: Matt Adams

  • Region 3 Broker of the Year, Ag Land Sales Crops: Adam Crist

  • Top 20 National Producers: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist, Chase Duesenberg

  • Apex Producer’s Club: Matt Adams, Doug Bear, Daran Becker, Lindsey Brown, Steve Bruere, Curtis Buono, Adam Crist, Adam Curran, Chase Duesenberg, Kenny Herring, Joel King, Alan McNeil, Jesse Meyer, Doran "Jeff" Post, John Reburn, Jake Sickels, Nicholas Z. Smith, Travis Smock, Chase Steggall, Doug Yegge, and Andrew Zellmer

  • The Land Report 2024 Best Brokerage and Top Auction House

  • Land Star Top Performer Award, Midwest Region: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist, and Travis Smock

  • Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation: Andrew Zellmer

Marketing

  • National Auction Association 2024 Auction Marketing Campaign of the Year Award: Steve Bruere, C&W Farms

  • Iowa Auctioneers Association Annual Convention, 1st Place in Real Estate Advertising Contest: Andrew Zellmer and Riley Sieren

2023 Notable Achievements

Peoples Company

  • Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies: 3,147

  • Des Moines Register 2023 Top Workplace (eighth consecutive year)

Brokerage

  • 2022 RLI Apex Awards (awarded in March 2023)

  • Broker of the Year, Ag Land Crop Sales: Steve Bruere

  • Top 20 National Producers: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist

  • Apex Producer’s Club: George Baird, Daran Becker, Lindsey Brown, Jared Chambers, Chase Duesenberg, Kenny Herring, Joel King, Eric Lonnevik, Alan McNeil, Jesse Meyer, Jake Sickels, Riley Sieren, Nic Smith, Travis Smock, Douglas Yegge, and Andrew Zellmer

  • The Land Report 2023 Best Brokerage and Top Auction House

  • Northeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS®, Triple Diamond Award: Joel King

  • REALTORS® Land Institute Iowa Chapter, Vice President: Doug Bear

  • Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation: Adam Crist

Land Management

  • Leader in Conservation Award Presented by Iowa Secretary of Ag: Mollie Aronowitz

  • Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) Designation: Julie Boggs

Agricultural Appraisal

  • ASFMRA Iowa Chapter 2023 Early Career Award: Emily Oberbroeckling

Marketing

  • Wisconsin Auctioneers Association Annual Conference, 1st Place in Print and 1st Place in Promotional Categories: Adam Crist

  • Iowa Auctioneers Association Annual Convention, 1st Place in Real Estate Advertising Contest: Andrew Zellmer and Riley Sieren

2022 Notable Achievements

Peoples Company

  • Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies: 3,912

  • Des Moines Register 2022 Top Workplace (seventh consecutive year)

Brokerage

  • 2021 RLI Apex Awards (awarded in March 2022)

  • Broker of the Year, Auction Land Sales: Steve Bruere (fourth consecutive year)

  • Top 20 National Producers: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist

  • Apex Producer’s Club: Daran Becker, Jared Chambers, Chase Duesenberg, Kenny Herring, Joel King, Eric Lonnevik, Alan McNeil, Jake Sickels, Riley Sieren, Nic Smith, Travis Smock, Andrew Westlake, Douglas Yegge, and Andrew Zellmer

  • The Land Report 2022 Best Brokerage and Top Auction House

  • REALTORS® Land Institute National Board, At-Large Director: Joel King

Land Management

  • ASFMRA Iowa Chapter 2022 Early Career Award: Mollie Aronowitz

  • Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC) Designations: Peter Isaacson, Eric Geiger, and George Baird

Marketing

  • National Auction Association 2022 Auction Marketing Campaign of the Year Award: Matt Adams and Steve Bruere, Garst Farmland Auction

  • Arkansas Auctioneers Association 2022 Advertising Contest for Best Sale Bill, Brochure, and Website: Joel King and Steve Bruere, Arkansas Absolute Auction

2021 Notable Achievements

Peoples Company

  • Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies: 4,163

  • Des Moines Register 2021 Top Workplace (sixth consecutive year)

Brokerage

  • 2020 Apex Awards (awarded in March 2021)

  • Broker of the Year, Auction Land Sales: Steve Bruere (third consecutive year)

  • Top 20 National Producers: Matt Adams, Steve Bruere, Andrew Zellmer

  • Apex Producer’s Club: Daran Becker, Jared Chambers, Kenny Herring, Eric Lonnevik, Jake Sickels, Travis Smock, Douglas Yegge

  • The Land Report 2021 Best Brokerage and Top Auction House

  • REALTORS® Land Institute Iowa Chapter, Volume & Acres Sold 2021: Steve Bruere

  • REALTORS® Land Institute Iowa Chapter, New President: Andrew Zellmer

  • REALTORS® Land Institute Arkansas Chapter, New President: Joel King

  • ESGR Patriotic Employer Award: Andrew Zellmer, nominated by Sgt. John Reburn for his continued encouragement and support of John’s Guard career and of the Iowa National Guard’s mission.

  • 2021 DMAAR REALTOR® of the Year: Kalen Ludwig

  • 2021 DMAAR Circle of Excellence: Matt Adams, Daran Becker, Steve Bruere, Keaton Dreher, Kalen Ludwig, Andrew Zellmer

  • 2021 DMAAR Rookie Award, Land: Chase Duesenberg, Jake Sickels, Riley Sieren

  • 2021 Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Builder of the Year: Ground Breaker Homes, Kalen Ludwig

  • 2021 Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Member of the Year: Kalen Ludwig

Land Management

  • ASFMRA 2021 Professional Farm Manager of the Year: Kyle Walker

  • Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) Designations: Eric Geiger, Peter Isaacson

  • American Society of Agricultural Consultants, New President: Kyle Walker, AFM, AAC, CAC

  • Leading Harvest: Peoples Company achieved sustainability certification for its entire managed lands portfolio through Leading Harvest’s Farmland Management Standard. In achieving certification, Peoples Company becomes the first private farm management firm in the country to enroll its entire portfolio of managed lands in Leading Harvest and achieve certification.

Marketing

  • Tennessee Auctioneers Association Marketing Award for Best Brochure, Video, Postcard: Joel King, Tennessee Valley Farmland Auction