Stan and Patricia Schisler of Browning, Illinois are winners in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program. This program is available through the Monsanto Fund and gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. Dave Dimmick, a District Sales Manager with The Stone Seed Group assisted in presenting the check to the chosen organization.

Stan and Patricia have decided to donate the $2,500 award to Schuyler County Humane Society, located in Rushville, Illinois. Patricia commented, “Oh my goodness, what a wonderful program!” She was very excited to have been selected as the winner for Schuyler County. Angie Langer, Schuyler County Humane Society President, says, “A big thanks to the Monsanto Fund and the Schisler family for the donation. The money is certainly going to good use in the community.”

The Monsanto Fund expects to invest more than $3 million in local communities. In total, more than $200,000 has been donated to nonprofits in Illinois. It is part of a broad commitment to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day by helping them grow their communities.  If you would like to register, apply at www.growcommunities.com from August 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

Sam & Rosemary Brandenburg from Piatt County, Illinois are winners in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program. The program is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and gives farmers an opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite community non-profit organizations.  Sam and Rosemary chose the Cerro Gordo Preschool to receive the $2,500 award. Dennis Opperman of Tuscola, a District Sales Manager with The Stone Seed Group assisted in presenting the check to the school on March 31st.

Sam and Rosemary have been farming for thirty-five years near Cerro Gordo. They have five children and ten grandchildren. When free-time is available, they enjoy camping and are involved in several community service organizations. Rosemary said she was very excited to have been selected as the winner for Piatt County. “We are thrilled to donate this money to the Cerro Gordo Preschool. Most of my children went there at one point or another, so I am happy to have the opportunity to help them when they need it most.”

Dawn Mann, Co-President of the Cerro Gordo Community Preschool says, “We have been in the community for over thirty years. The preschool is run by the community, and donations such as this one from the Monsanto Fund are what make it all possible.”

To date, more than 60,000 farmers have participated in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities℠ Program. If you would like to register, apply at www.growcommunities.com from August 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

Rich George from Roodhouse, Illinois is one of our winners in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program. The program is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and gives farmers an opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite community non-profit organization. George chose the North Greene High School FFA to receive the $2,500 and Jim Esarey of White Hall, Illinois presented the award on his behalf.

Jim Esarey is a Stone Seed Group customer. He and his wife, Emily live on the farm owned by her family since 1821. Their grandchildren are the 7th generation to farm the 1100 acres. Jim and his wife have been life-long supporters of the FFA and spoke highly of the North Greene High School FFA, which is headed by Josh Lawson, Agricultural Education Teacher. “The FFA is the largest organization in the high school with two-thirds of the student body enrolled in agricultural classes,” said Josh. The membership in FFA has grown from 20 to 160 students since Josh took over as the FFA Advisor six years ago. He and his students are extremely appreciative that their chapter was chosen for this award.  The funds are going to be used for their annual Agricultural Education Day. This annual event is opened to the community with a petting zoo, games, tractor display, and fire safety demonstrations with Smokey the Bear. Grain bin safety will be one of the main focuses of the event.

To date, more than 60,000 farmers have participated in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program. If you would like to register, apply at www.growcommunities.com from August 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

Dear all,
The Stone Seed Group had a great day at SIU on Saturday 9/18/2010! We had a special tailgate to kick off our Corporate sponsorship of this great Ag School. We had a lot of customers and a lot of the SIU faculty including the head of the Ag. Dept., head of the Weed Science Dept and the head of the Plant Path. Dept. show up at our event.  Our folks got to meet, network and show that the SSG is here to stay in Southern Il. When Roe and I set the course that we would be “the Illinois Seed Co” we meant it! Events like this demonstrate to our customers and future customers that we will be the Relationship local company for every corner of Illinois.
We also heard from several customers that were at the Illini game in Champaign that they were really impressed to see the Stone Seed Group on the stadium scoreboard. It’s events like these that give us the credibility with the general Farming population that we are serious about Illinois and that we are “the Illinois Seed Co”.
Thanks to everyone for their hard work and their dedication to making events like these a huge success!!!!!!

PS- please note in the first picture that even though I’m wearing Orange, it does say Southern Illinois….

Andy  & Roe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~The Rushville Times Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Stone Seed Group Head Forecasts Bright Future for Ag Students

It's common for today's college students to be concerned about job prospects upon graduation. Stone Seed Group Lead Andy Stone contends that, while we may be experiencing a bump in the road, the future is bright for ag students.

"To keep up with population growth, as much food will have to be produced in the next 50 years as in the  past 10,000 years combined," Stone said in remarks before. the Western Illinois University Agronomy Club meeting on Feb. 25, and added, "There is a huge amount of work to do to feed the planet."

While many people equate the science of agriculture solely with farming, there will be many additional ag-centric careers to be filled in the coming years.

"Right now, farmers are a direct lifeline to more than 24 million US jobs in all kinds of industries," Stone told the group.

Stone listed horticulture, aquaculture, shipping, merchandising, education, communication, research, and marketing as a few of the potentially limitless, agriculturally-based needs in the near future. He pointed to many exciting Genuity trait advances, 'including nitrogen utilization and drought tolerance, that parent company Monsanto is working on to help american farmers increase yields.

In concluding his presentation, Mr. Stone predicted, "In your 30 or 40 year career you will use many technologies that have not been thought of yet.”  

Andy Stone, along with his wife, Stone Marketing Director Roe Stone, spoke to the club at the invitation of sponsor Dr. Gordon Roskamp. They also discussed career opportunities with Stone Seed Group and Monsanto.

"We met a terrific group of students Roe Stone commented, at Stone we say we’re 'Focused On Your Future!' and I am certainly encouraged about the future of agriculture with this generation ready to enter the ranks." Stone Seed Group representatives were at Western exhibiting in the student-run Ag Mech Show (Feb. 26-27).

In addition to the presentation at the Agronomy Club, Stone agronomist Jeff Brown discussed customized hybrid selection, plant populations and other agronomic issues with  Dr. Roskamp's Field and Forage Crops class. Specifically, Mr. Brown dedicated a large part of his presentation to the many factors that will aid in increasing Illinois yields to better serve the future needs of the planet.

Stone Seed Group is an Illinois company focused on Illinois farmers. Stone strives to focus on the customer’s future by building and strengthening relationships, and providing excellence in people, products and service always with an eye on being, better tomorrow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March  2010

Oneida Farmer is Stone Seed Group "Picture Your Success" Winner
Rodney Main Directs Donation to FFA

PLEASANT PLAINS, IL -- A farmer from Oneida, Ill., was recently chosen the winner in Stone Seed Group's "Picture Your Success" drawing.  Rodney Main received $1,000, and chose the ROWVA High School FFA in Oneida to receive an additional $1,000 donation from Stone.  Main is also the agriculture education instructor at ROWVA High School.

"The students who take agriculture classes at ROWVA take them as electives.  They are interested in not only preparing themselves for possible careers in agriculture, they want to help improve the agriculture industry for the future," says Main.  "Providing the extra funds to the program will help us enhance our efforts to meet those goals."

The "Picture Your Success" promotion that began last August also provided a way for farmers to focus on yield goals.  Stone district sales managers (DSMs) walked fields and rode combines with farmers to help them establish soybean yield goals and talk about how to achieve those goals through a total system approach.  "This program was a great success for us because it got us in the fields.  Farmers appreciated that we came to their farms and spent some time looking at their soybeans and talking about their agronomic concerns," says Tony Strom, Stone Seed Group DSM who works with Main. 

"My relationship with Stone Seed Group has been phenomenal," says Main.  "My DSM Tony Strom knows my soils well, and always makes great recommendations for the seed that will match my conditions.  He has never let me down and my soybean yields have continued to improve."

"I believe it strengthened our relationships with customers,” says Strom.  In addition, farmers had the chance to be financially rewarded through the drawing and see that we were giving back to their local community through a non-profit group donation.  Everyone was talking about the program."

Stone Seed Group officials presented the checks to both parties on March 7th, 2010.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 506,199 student members – all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture – as part of 7,429 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st Congress of the United States, and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

Stone Seed Group is an Illinois company focused on Illinois farmers. Stone strives to focus on the customer’s future by building and strengthening relationships, and providing excellence in people, products and service; always with an eye on being better tomorrow.