In 1901, Lawrence Beck purchased an 80 acre farm in Hamilton County, which is the headquarters of Beck`s Hybrids. 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 became the first crop of Beck`s Superior Hybrids.

Although a lot has changed since 1937, a few things have remained the same. At Beck`s, our family and family of employees remain dedicated to developing and growing the best performing seed products in our marketing area. We understand what it takes to be successful. That`s why we`re dedicated to remaining family-owned and providing our customers with access to a diverse range of genetics and traits, backed by our 100% Replant Policy.

The Beck`s Experience

Beck`s Hybrids is proud to present a 160-page history book titled, The Beck`s Experience: 75 Years of a Remarkable Way to do Business. In the book, author Jerry Steadham explains the spirited growth and experiences that have helped mold Beck`s Hybrids into the successful company that it is today.

Excerpt

Once Upon a Very Real Time...

Many books begin with a statement insisting that all of the characters, places, and situations portrayed in them are purely fictitious.

This is a completely opposite kind of book.

The characters, places, and situations are all real... and they really did happen... even the parts that seem too good to be true.

An Era Far Away

The story traces its way back to just after the turn of the 20th century. And to a world very different form the one we occupy.

In 1901, in the heart of Indiana, Indianapolis ranked as the nation`s 21st most populated city. It served as a bustling home to just under 170,000 citizens.

One county, and about a half a day`s ride to the north (depending on how you traveled), a mere thousand souls or so made up the farm town of Atlanta.

So, the area a few miles southwest of Atlanta was, to use a phrase from the time, "way out in the country."

But, Lawrence Beck knew it well. His grandfather and great uncle had settled on large parcels of land just north of there in 1836, shortly after first coming to America from Germany in 1833.

Becks - Model M6119 - Grain Sorghum Hybrid

Hybrid Characteristics