By No-Till Farmer Editors

Matt Hagny, owner and CEO of Exapta Solutions and a prominent no-till educator and influencer, passed away last Saturday. Hagny, 50, died while doing what he loved most — rock climbing in Colorado.

“Matt was the life and blood of Exapta and will be tremendously missed,” the company said in a statement. “His knowledge and expertise immensely impacted many producers worldwide. He built a company from the ground up and Exapta will move forward in honor of his legacy. We ask for your understanding and patience through this time of transition to keep Exapta thriving.”

Matthew Hagny

“Matt was extremely dedicated to helping growers find solutions to their no-till challenges, and his willingness to share his knowledge left an impact on so many,” says John Dobberstein, senior editor at No-Till Farmer magazine. “His timely vision to create a company centered around no-till seeding equipment was instrumental in aiding the growth of no-till practices. Matt's industry knowledge will be sorely missed.”

A funeral service for Matt will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 601 E. Logan Ave. in Gettysburg, S.D. 

Matthew Philip Hagny was born May 31, 1969, son of Philip and Gladys (Walde) Hagny. Matthew grew up on a grain and cattle farm outside Gettysburg, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Agar, SD.

After receiving his bachelor of science and law degrees, he moved to Kansas in 1993 and founded Pinnacle Crop Technologies, as a consulting agronomist for no-till systems, eventually settling in Wichita, Kan.

Hagny served on the board of directors for No-till on the Plains and founded Exapta Solutions in 1998 to fulfill the need for better no-till seeding technology.

Matthew traveled the globe both as a consultant and for enjoyment. Matthew was passionate for his love of rock climbing and hang gliding, and was a trusted friend to many. He spent a lot of time in Joshua Tree, Calif., where he resided for part of the year. He also had an avid love for reading and learning.

He is survived by parents, Philip and Gladys Hagny, of Gettysburg; sisters Sara French (Eric); and Emilie Downs (Tony); two nephews and one niece (Edward, Jillian and Miles French).