|
|
|
History of Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc 04/30/09 11:29:49 AM
 |
You are probably wondering who is Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc. and where did they come from. Well as you keep reading you will find out where we are located, what we stand for, and what we are currently doing. So sit back and relax and enjoy a brief look at how our company was created.
In 1903 George Bayard Wyckoff came to the Valparaiso, Indiana area from Illinois and purchased 200 acres of farm land on our present day location. Bayard farmed his land for 14 years then retired and began renting out his ground to a nearby neighbor. In the meantime, Bayard's son Louis Kenyon (LK) Wyckoff was at Purdue University studying Livestock Husbandry in which he later graduated in 1921. After graduation LK Wyckoff became a truck salesman in attempt to save up money to begin farming his dad's ground. LK Wyckoff began farming his dad's land in 1927.
A few years past and LK began showing an interest in plant genetics when scientists developed the first corn hybrids. Shortly after, LK went to a Purdue University extension agent and asked him about the possibility of getting into hybridizing seed corn. The agent's reply, "It's too complex for an ordinary person to handle," made him determined enough to successfully produce this areas first hybrid seed corn. As a result, Wyckoff Hybrids was established.
LK had built a solid foundation for his two sons James Louis Wyckoff and John H. Wyckoff to eventually take over. As Jim and John Wyckoff grew up in the seed industry, they eventually went to Purdue University to further their eduacation. Jim Wyckoff and John Wyckoff both majored in Agronomy and took several genetics classes along the way. After graduation both brothers came back to the farm to help their dad in seed corn breeding and to practice their love for farming. Soon after Jim and John graduated from college, Wyckoff Hybrids became Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc. corporation was formed.
|  |
On October 26, 1963 a tragic blow came upon The Wyckoff family; LK Wyckoff died by flying his Cessna 182 airplane into low lying clouds and smashing into Cloud Peak, part of the Big Horn Mountains, in Wyoming. LK and a friend never made it back form a hunting trip in Wyoming. His growing business was left behind to his two young sons fresh out of college.
Despite LK's tragic death, Jim and John pressed on to help the company grow and prosper for many more years. They still crossed their own hybrids and did their own research with the help of many employees. In 1969 a young man named Christian L. Goetz began working on the farm at age 15 . He did odd jobs for Jim and John trying to learn the tricks of the trade. From then on, Chris worked after school, weekends, and summers until he later graduated from Purdue University majoring in Agricultural Economics and married Jim's middle daughter, Christine L. Wyckoff. Chris then came back to Wyckoff's to help out the family seed company. Soon after, Jim's only son, James Kenyon Wyckoff, went to Purdue University, majored in Agronomy, and then came back to the farm in attempt to help the seed company.
Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc. kept growing seed corn for their retail business and for wholesale contracts. For many years sales fluctuated and the farming operation began to grow. Things seemed to be going well for The Wyckoff's, but by 1992 Jim Wyckoff was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and in a few weeks he had surgury to remove one of his cancerous lungs. Within a year cancer took Jim's life; sadly he died on August 3, 1993.
After the death of Jim, things seemed to have plat-formed for Wyckoff Hybrids, Inc. Sales stayed at a steady plane in their retail and wholesale markets. But things soon changed in 1999 when Chris Goetz's oldest son Matthew L. Goetz, graduated form Purdue University with a major in Agricultural Economics. Once Matt came back to the farm the work load at Wyckoff's got a little easier and sales began to rise. Matt took on the challenge of sales and production manager and had pretty good success. After a few years and lots of research, Matt had Wyckoff's Seed Corn lineup the best it has ever been. Our product began to speak for itself. Sales further soared once Matt put our seed corn into the Purdue Yield Trials and we faired very well in 2001. |
 |
By the fall of 2001 talk began for Chris's second son, Luke E. Goetz, to come back to the farm and head up the Sales Manager position. At the end of the 2001 fall semester, the decision was made to hire Luke for the Sales Manager position. The following Spring Luke graduated from Purdue University with a major in Agricultural Economics. He began working hard to make Wyckoff's name known through advertising by several means, including the Purdue Yield Trials. Two years after Luke started sales grew 60%. In 2008, Chris's 4th son Nathaniel graduated from Purdue also with an Ag Econ degree and will work along side Luke in sales. "Our product speaks for itself, but it also helps to finally have a sales force to help back it up," says Luke Goetz, Sales Manager, "We have excellent Hybrids and Excellent customers making a perfect situation for the both of us!" Our future looks bright, with the fifth generation on its way and still family owned, we plan on being around for many more years to come! We have a rich history here at Wyckoff's and we plan on an even richer future to help our customers grow.
"The Goal when we first produced hybrid seed corn in 1932, was the production of Better Corn For Better Farmers....continued successful operation, is certain to be based on Superior and careful breeding and continued improvements....that is the established goal of Today and Tomorrow," - "LK" Wyckoff. |
|
