Our Team
Looking for a Long-Term Role with Real Impact?
Nick Bamert - Chairman
Austin Bamert - President
Austin’s passion for farming was born on his family’s farm in Muleshoe, Texas, where he worked in all aspects of the family business from production to shipping. This experience lead him to pursue a B.S. in Agricultural Systems Management from Texas A&M University. While he was there, he worked at the A&M Energy Sorghum Research Farm, where they harvested and evaluated multiple forages for biofuels.
Upon graduation in 2014, he returned home to pursue a career in the native seed business, where he now serves as President of Bamert Seed and oversees the day-to-day operations of the company. His role involves working closely with Bamert’s team to evaluate goals and objectives, compliance with the overall mission and vision, and strategies to continue bringing clients the best native seed possible. He is passionate about creating the highest quality native seeds that will help meet customers’ needs and restore the land.
Outside of work, Austin loves to be with his family. He and his wife, Avery, have two beautiful daughters, Willow and Sawyer.
Rob Cook - Chief Executive Officer
Rob Cook is the Chief Executive Officer at Bamert Seed Company, a leading provider of high-quality native grass, forb, and legume seeds to the agriculture and reclamation industries. With almost 20 years of experience in consulting land managers on improving ecological function on grazing lands across the Southern Great Plains, Rob brings extensive knowledge and expertise to his role at Bamert Seed.
Rob received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Range and Wildlife Management from Angelo State University. After graduation, he worked as a Rangeland Specialist and District Conservationist with the NRCS, and later as the Planned Consultation Manager with the Noble Research Institute. In his current role, Rob is responsible for developing the strategic plan to deliver the best possible products and services to Bamert Seed’s clients.
In addition to his work at Bamert Seed, Rob serves as the Chairman of the National Grazing Lands Coalition Board of Directors. He is also a member and current Secretary of the Board of Directors for the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative Foundation. Rob has been recognized for his contributions to the field with awards such as the National and Texas Young Range Professional of the Year from the Society for Range Management, as well as the Outstanding Achievement Award for the Texas Section Society for Range Management.
Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife, Landri, and their two children. Together, they enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring the outdoors. Rob’s passion for nature and agriculture is evident in both his personal and professional life, and he remains committed to making a positive impact on the world around him.
Jeff King - Chief Operating Officer
Just like our company, Jeff is a Muleshoe, Texas native. Growing up on his family’s farm fueled Jeff’s passion for agriculture, which led him to receive a B.S. in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University before moving on to gain experience in the production of conventional agricultural commodities, fertilization, pest management, and irrigation conservation practices.
Jeff joined our team in 2017. As our Chief Operating Officer, Jeff leads company-wide operations with a focus on production, logistics, and team performance. He works closely with department leaders to ensure our processes are efficient, our standards remain high, and our customers receive reliable, timely service. Jeff also continues to bring a production-first mindset to his role, helping guide decisions that impact everything from seed sourcing to delivery.
As a diligent student of his work, Jeff regularly reads agricultural literature to stay aware of trends and technologies and brings innovative production techniques to our company.
When he’s not working, Jeff is spending time with his wife, Suzanne, his kids, Isla and Rex, and their dog, Hope. Jeff is also active within the Muleshoe community, serving on the Muleshoe ISD School Board, leading a Bible study for coaches and educators, and running Cross & Barbell Training Club.
Nicholas Demel - Director of Sales
Nicholas Demel grew up on a farm in Pep, Texas, and went on to attend West Texas A&M University, where he received both his BBA and MBA in Marketing. After graduating, he worked for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for five years in several offices throughout the Texas Panhandle. While at the NRCS, aspects of his work dealt with grass-seeding programs, which proved to be a helpful experience for his next career.
Nicholas joined our team in 2014 as a Reclamation Specialist and has since worked his way up to Director of Sales. In this role, Nicholas leads our sales team and works closely with clients to ensure they receive the right seed solutions for their projects. He plays a key role in shaping our sales strategy, supporting our team in the field, and maintaining strong relationships across the industries we serve. His background in conservation and reclamation continues to inform how he approaches each project, with a focus on long-term success in the field.
His role also involves staying current on what changes are taking place in the market, as well as opportunities to attend shows, conferences, and other gatherings to both learn and share his knowledge.
Nicholas and his wife, Chasity, have a daughter named Poppy. When Nicholas isn’t working, they enjoy spending time together watching movies, playing outside, and taking the occasional trip to Main Event for laser tag and arcade games.
Brian Hays - Reclamation Specialist
Reclamation Specialist Brian Hays was born in Abilene and raised in Brownwood, Texas. After receiving both his B.S. and M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University (in 1992 and 2003, respectively), Brian has spent the past 25+ years consulting with producers in the southern great plains to improve grazing practices, build effective rangeland management plans, and native range enhancement. During this time, Brian served as an Extension Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and a Range and Pasture Consultant with Noble Research Institute.
As one of our Reclamation Specialists, Brian works with clients to help them achieve success in their restoration and reclamation projects. In this role, he provides insight and guidance to help customers clearly identify their desired outcome, specific needs, and which native seeds will be best for their project. His role also takes him on the road to conferences, tradeshows, and sales trips.
It’s not just our team and customers who benefit from Brian’s experience, work ethic, and insights. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Section of the Society for Range Management and is a Past President and Board member of the Texas Section Society for Range Management. He is a Certified Professional in Range Management and currently is a member of the grazing sub-committee of Texas NRCS-STAC.
Outside of work and these roles, Brian and his wife, Amy, are busy traveling with their family, watching their youngest son play basketball and golf, and caring for the four dogs and herd of goats. As often as time allows, Brian likes to hunt, fish, and golf with his kids.
James Locke - Reclamation Specialist
Raised in Lubbock, Texas, James received his B.S. in Crop Science from Texas Tech University and his M.S. in Agronomy-Weed Science from Texas A&M University. After his graduation, he spent 15 years conducting contract research on a wide variety of agronomic and horticultural crops grown in west Texas and eastern New Mexico. He then spent almost 17 years as a consultant providing soil fertility and weed and brush management guidance to forage producers in southern Oklahoma and north Texas.
James’s experience and background contribute greatly to his work at Bamert. He holds Certified Crop Advisor and Resistance Management Specialist certifications from the American Society of Agronomy. He is also a long-time member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, the Weed Science Society of America, and the Southern Weed Science Society.
As a Reclamation Specialist, James works with our clients to help select the seed or seed blend that will best achieve their objectives. He also spends time in our fields with our production team, helping to identify any issues in seed production.
James and his wife, Ruth Ann, love to spend time with their two Corgis, Bryn and Gus, and travel to see their children and experience new places. James is also an avid college football fan and loves to hunt and fish whenever he is able.
Diane Moore - Inventory & Logistics Coordinator
Diane has been with Bamert Seed Company since 2000. Prior to her role at Bamert, she was the Office Manager for Alco in Muleshoe. As our Inventory & Logistics Coordinator, Diane manages seed inventory and testing, order fulfillment, and shipping. She works closely with each of our departments to ensure customers receive the highest quality native seed as quickly as possible.
Diane grew up in Clovis, New Mexico, and has two children, Heather and Brittany, and five grandchildren: Cameron, Logan, Spencer, Lilah, and Elijah. When she isn’t working or spending time with family, she loves playing softball, fishing and camping, and caring for her many animals.
Manuel Cardenas - Warehouse/Processing Manager
Before joining our team at Bamert Seed Company in 2017, Manuel spent over a decade as a welder and millwright, along with another five years in industrial maintenance. His role at Bamert involves overseeing our seed cleaning process, which ensures our customers receive the purest native seed possible, as well as ensuring order fulfillment.
Part of Manuel’s decision to join our team at Bamert was that it would allow him to spend more time with his family: his wife Carla, daughter Idaly, and Goldendoodle Lola. Idaly is active in athletics at her school and Manuel and Carla support her at every event.
When Manuel isn’t at work or his daughter’s school sports, he enjoys restoring old vehicles. While the goal is to revive each car for resale, the resale doesn’t always go according to plan. He now has a pretty amazing collection of restored cars.
Haleigh Glasscock – Administrative Specialist
As our Administration Specialist, Haleigh plays a key role in keeping day-to-day operations organized and on track. She supports communication across teams, manages internal coordination, and helps ensure that projects and processes run smoothly from start to finish.
Haleigh’s background in account management with Forza Site Services, paired with her deep roots in agriculture, gives her a strong understanding of both the operational demands of large-scale projects and the land stewardship goals behind them. Her passion for conservation and sustainable land management makes her a natural fit at Bamert.
In addition to her organizational skills and practical mindset, Haleigh brings a creative eye to Bamert’s outreach and communications — drawing on marketing experience she’s gained as a volunteer for a local music festival.
Outside of work, you’ll find Haleigh with her boyfriend, Cory, and his two kids, Easton and Emerson, camping, kayaking, catching live music, or cheering at baseball games. Their two dogs, Dakota and Kennah, are usually along for the ride. At home, she enjoys tending to her houseplants and trying new recipes in the kitchen.
Pablo Peralez - Production Manager
Pablo Peralez was born and raised in Spade, Texas, and brings a lifelong passion for agriculture and farming to his role as Assistant Farm Manager at Bamert Seed Company. After an early career at American Cotton Grower and experience operating complex farming equipment, Pablo was drawn to Bamert through a friend’s recommendation. At Bamert, he appreciates the supportive and family-like work environment and plays an important role in our farm’s operations. He enjoys the daily challenges and learning opportunities that each day brings.
Outside of work, Pablo is devoted to his family, including his wife Karina, daughter Aubree, son Kayden, and their dog, Kitty. He actively supports his children’s involvement in FFA and sports, sharing his love for agriculture as they participate in livestock shows across the state. Pablo’s commitment to his family and community, alongside his agricultural expertise, makes him a valued member of the Bamert team.