Beck’s Superior
Hybrids is celebrating 70 years of providing quality
seed products as an independent, family-owned business
headquartered in Atlanta, IN. Beck’s market area
includes Indiana, Eastern Illinois, Western Ohio,
Southern Michigan and Western Kentucky. The Beck family
farm has been owned and operated by the same family for
over 100 years.
In 1901, Lawrence Beck
purchased the 80 acre farm in Hamilton County which is
the current location of Beck’s Hybrids facilities. Then
in 1937, he and his son, Francis, each planted a
three-acre allotment of hybrid parent seed corn offered
by the Purdue Botany Department. They planted the crop
with a two-row, horse-drawn planter and harvested it by
hand. This six-acre plot became the first crop of
Beck’s Superior Hybrids.
In 1964, Sonny and his
wife, Glendia, joined Francis and Pauline in the
established Beck family business. Today, their children
and spouses actively participate in the company. Scott
Beck serves the company as Vice President, Tony Beck
serves as the Production Manager, and Todd Marschand
(brother-in-law) serves as the Facility Manager.
Sonny Beck, President, has
continued the Beck’s legacy using two principles of
operation which will not be compromised. Sonny
explains, “The first is that Beck’s will remain a
family-owned, independent seed company. The second is
that Beck’s will provide their customers with the best
in seed quality, field performance, and service”.
Scott Beck, Vice
President, describes Beck’s future with enthusiasm. “I
am very excited about Beck’s future. Our family and
employees are dedicated to continuing to provide the
best in seed technology and genetics for growers in our
marketing area. We work hard at this everyday. We
believe that our regional research focus allows us to
select unique products that work best in the areas where
our customers farm. We are not limited to having to
select a product because it is more adapted to a broader
geography to meet larger corporate needs.
In addition, we can
provide our customers the best in technology and
genetics when we access them from numerous sources.
Companies who have sold their brands may be limiting
their customers from long-term access to some really
good technologies and genetics coming in the future.
The biotech revolution is still in its infancy, and we
believe it is a very positive thing for our customers
that we continue to give them access to the broad
diversity of traits and genetics like we have done in
the past. We are passionate about remaining a
family-owned, independent company.”
Becks will celebrate their
70th Anniversary at their Becknology Days
held August 24th, 25th, and 26th
at their central Indiana location.
