Our Values
- Exceptional Honesty
- Valuable Expertise
- Serving Farmers-not Selling at Them
- Relentless Curiosity
- Whatever-it-takes attitude
In 1998, driven by relentless curiosity and a deep, in-field understanding of the land, Matt Hagny founded Exapta Solutions to transform no-till seeding with innovations born from everyday challenges. Starting with the Hagny Closing System and evolving to products like the Thompson Closing Wheel, Mojo Wires, Valions, Ninja Seed Flaps, and later UniForce, Matt’s vision was always clear: solving real field problems instead of selling gimmicks. While his passing in 2019 was a profound loss, his legacy endures in every tool we develop. Embracing the concept of exaptation—where nature repurposes existing functions in novel ways. We deliver tools designed to enhance performance, boost emergence, increase yield, and ultimately, improve your profitability. This blend of expertise in both agronomy and engineering ensures that every solution is as insightful as it is practical, serving farmers rather than simply selling to them.
Designed by Farmers Who Never Settle
Consistent performance is no accident. Exapta stacks the odds in your favor. We build & supply farmers with top-shelf seeding tools for no-till conditions. At Exapta our products build by farmers and perfected by engineers. Read More >>
Matt Hagny, raised on a grain and cattle farm in South Dakota, moved to Kansas in 1993 to work as a consulting agronomist specializing in no-till systems. From 1994 to 2001, he also ran a custom no-till seeding service, gaining valuable insights into improving seeding methods. A global traveler and lifelong learner, Matt shared his expertise through annual Seeding Schools and was deeply respected in the no-till community. He passed away on August 24, 2019, leaving a lasting legacy at Exapta and among producers worldwide. Learn more about the Matt Hagny No-Till Scholarship Foundation.
CEO & President
Emilie Hagny Downs grew up on a grain and cattle operation with her brother, Matt. She has been with Exapta since the inception, tackling the the marketing and branding for the company.
Emilie has since taken on the role of President & CEO after her brother’s passing in 2019. Emilie is passionate about helping no-tillers find success in their operations with better seeding equipment and tools.
General Manager
Kim grew up in a small town in central Kansas on a family farm, growing milo and wheat. She joined the Exapta team in 2022. Kim firmly believes every client deserves excellent customer service! She is a strong believer in the importance and benefits of No-Till farming.
kim.stute@exapta.com
Derek is Kansas native who grew up in a 100% no-till farming operation. From an early age the benefits of no-till were made known to Derek by his father and by attending no-till conferences. From there he furthered his passion for soils while at Kansas State University getting his agronomy degree. He has had the experience of working in various roles and sectors of agriculture from sales and consulting to management, which have all been within production agriculture. Derek has also worked in specialty ag markets such as turf and ornamentals.
R&D Manager
After 23 years at AGCO Engineering in roles from field testing to prototype design, Chris Sauerwein joined Exapta, drawn by its mission to support producers. A native of south-central Kansas with hands-on farming experience, Chris implemented no-till practices on his family farm and now focuses on developing innovative products to boost customer profitability.
Current Product Engineer
He brings hands-on experience in no-till planting equipment, agricultural research, and design engineering. With a background in farming in NE Kansas and an engineering degree, he spent seven years at Kansas State University and three at Landoll Company. He’s passionate about solving engineering challenges and developing durable, user-friendly products.
Installation Crew Chief
Tony Downs heads up the installation crew for Exapta’s UniForce downforce monitoring systems. No stranger to the open road, his work took him to 20 states last year alone. He enjoys visiting the farms and farmers and seeing their operations.
Warehouse Associate
Noah grew up on his family farm just outside of McPherson, KS and brings that know-how and strong work ethic to everything he touches.
Warehouse Associate
As our newest warehouse member, Tayln brings integrity and enthusiasm to everything he does in the warehouse. Tayln works diligently to prep orders and get them out with speed and accuracy.
Administrative Assistant
Pauline, a Kansas native, has recently settled in Moundridge. She is currently on track to earn her marketing degree at Wichita State University. Pauline helps with running Exapta’s social media pages and increasing brand awareness. She also helps the warehouse and sales teams with various tasks. Her knowledge of photography, social media, and organizational skills makes her a valuable member of the team.
Sales & Service Rep
Ethan Begle has been no-till farming in Indiana on his own since he started farming in 2013. When buying his first planter, he immediately installed the full Exapta system of products. After farming a couple of years and seeing the perfect no-till stands he was achieving, Ethan became a strong believer in Exapta products and joined the team in 2017. He continues to experiment and gain experience to help improve no-till planting.
Sales & Service Representative
Prior to joining Exapta, Bob Pagel was an Agricultural Territory Sales Manager for Ritchie Brothers, serving parts of MN, WI and IA. He continues to support his family farm in SE Minnesota.
Sales & Service Rep
Levi Metzger, raised in Northwest Iowa, has been passionate about farming since childhood. After graduating from South Dakota State, he joined Exapta Solutions. Outside of work, he helps his uncle on their row crop and cow-calf farm and enjoys learning from other farmers about both agronomic practices and farm management