Jimmy Juergens (‘12) Understands Growth in Both Life and Career

July 15, 2025
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Jimmy Juergens, Sales Manager at Bentley Ridge Tree Farm and Nursery, knows something about the importance of deep roots and good foundations. 

Juergens is a 2012 graduate of Des Moines Christian School, and he readily acknowledges the ways his time at the school helped build a foundation for the rest of his life. He notes a key moment during his senior year of high school when his Bible teacher, Mr. Don Caves, observed some potential for growth in his life. 

“He called me out for not living up to my potential, both academically and spiritually,” Juergens remembers. “At the time, I was upset about it, but within a week or two, the realization that he was right and that I needed to be a better leader was apparent. I took the advice and direction from Mr. Caves to help develop my faith beyond the classroom and continue to build on it through my college years and beyond.”

Juergens’s faith continues to be the foundation of everything he does. His dad, Brad Juergens, is the General Manager of Bentley Ridge, so Jimmy began working there during high school and continued throughout college. During that time, he developed a passion for the industry as well as a respect for plants and the ways they can shape an entire landscape or offer beauty throughout different seasons. 

“Working in an environment surrounded by God’s creation allows me to witness His glory in a tangible way,” he says. “In the spring, we get the opportunity to see life pop up and flowers bloom. In the fall, as the trees change color, I see more than just seasonal change. I see the hand of the Creator painting a masterpiece. There are multiple examples that can be seen daily of God’s presence, His attention to detail, and His love for beauty. Every day spent at the tree farm is a reminder that God's glory isn’t just in the miraculous, but it's in the ‘ordinary’ every day.”

Juergens is taking this foundation and passing it on to the next generation. He and his wife, Lindsey, have three children and their oldest son, Wyatt, will start kindergarten at DMC in the fall. 

“At DMC, faith isn’t just another subject,” he says. “It is woven into every subject and is evident in almost all daily interactions. We wanted our children to be surrounded by teachers and peers who not only care about their academic success but also their walk with the Lord. Our hope for our kids is that they come to truly know God for themselves through experiences at DMC similar to those that I had.”

The growth metaphor is never far from his reach: “We chose to send our kids to Des Moines Christian School because we want their education to be rooted in the same foundation that shapes our home and our lives: a relationship with Jesus Christ.”