Meet the Board: Robby Gieseke

Robby Gieseke isn’t just the chair of 40 Square Cooperative Solutions. Since Day 1, he’s been a member and client.

40 Square is set apart from other health plans, Gieseke says, because he and family feel invested in their health plan and can tailor it to best fit their needs.

“The difference with 40 Square is we can take ownership in our plan,” says Gieseke, who oversees his family farm in south central Minnesota. “We can provide an affordable, competitive price for our employees. We have great coverage for our employees and within the plan, what’s great about 40 Square is we can sculpt the plan that we see benefits us the most.”

Gieseke has served on the 40 Square board since its inception in 2018 – he was elected chair the same year – and says he’s excited about the co-op’s upcoming administrative move to Aetna.

“With my involvement (on other boards), I wanted to help out as much as I can to get something started,” he says. “Partnering with Aetna is a great move.”

Gieseke grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and raises 250-cow herd on his operation alongside his parents, uncle and four brothers. He also grows barley for Schell’s, the New Ulm beermaker home to the country’s second-oldest family-owned brewery. This year has had its share of ups and downs for the Giesekes. On the bright side, the growing season has been a pleasant surprise. By late August, Gieseke predicted he was about two weeks ahead of schedule compared to the past two years.

“It’s been a good season,” he says. “The summer hasn’t felt as compressed as previous years.”

But, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated matters for Gieseke, both as a farmer and father of two girls.
“You definitely feel the effects of the thing,” Gieseke says. “Keeping things moving with the farm operation, and even finding parts for equipment, can be hard to find and sets you back a couple days.”

Still, Gieseke is looking forward to – fingers crossed – a bountiful and safe harvest. And he’s glad 40 Square is there for them.

“We just started silage and chopping and hauling,” he says. “If we can start harvest two weeks ahead of schedule the way things are looking, hopefully we won’t have a big rush.”

Country man

As a father, husband, farmer and volunteer board member, Robby’s leisure time is at a premium.

“Free time is few and far between,” he says, laughing.

Still, Robby, his wife, Melissa, and kids, Evalyn and Elizabeth, are able to steal away to his in-law’s cabin north of Nisswa. A road trip would be nice, too, he muses. While working on the farm, Robby often listens to music – “lots of country” – follows Twins baseball and enjoys watching movies for relaxation.