Blayze Byers

Blayze Byers, a 2025 Grow Good finalist, is a soy extractor operator who has been with Riceland for three years. He began his career in meal loadout, always knowing he wanted to move into operations. Within just three months, he transitioned to soy, and three months after that, earned his current operator role. Starting young, Blayze saw long-term potential at Riceland and was eager to grow with the company.

For Blayze, no two days are ever the same. Working both day and night shifts, he explains, “That plant can throw anything at you.” He thrives on those challenges, especially the troubleshooting side of operations. “It makes me feel good if I can handle a situation myself, before my bosses have to step in,” he says, adding that his role gives him a strong sense of accomplishment. To him, growing good means continuously learning and advancing—not just as an employee, but as a person.

Blayze takes pride in many milestones during his time at Riceland—from training new team members to mastering the loops in his department and solving problems independently. He notes that it’s been a long time since he’s had to call a supervisor in the middle of the night, a point of pride that reminds him how much he has grown in his role.

Recently, Blayze was both surprised and humbled to be nominated for The Sprout Award, which recognizes outstanding newcomers. “I feel like I’ve worked hard, but I also know there are plenty of others who have too. I’m glad these guys nominated me—it makes me feel very proud,” he shares. For him, the recognition is not just an honor but also reassurance that he is making a positive impact. “I want to tell my peers, thank you for nominating me.”

Blayze also credits his managers for helping him find his footing. “If I needed to, I could call them at three in the morning to ask a question, and they’d be there for me,” he explains. He appreciates how much they’ve already taught him and how willing they are to share their knowledge.

We are incredibly proud of Blayze for all he has accomplished so far at Riceland, and we look forward to seeing him continue to excel and grow in his career.