🫘 Harry Stine & Stine Seed

Good morning. Welcome to your 3 minute history lesson. Where we brief you on an important topic that helped to shape modern agriculture.

Thank you all who have supported the new venture, The Agri-Business Braintrust!

Now for today’s topic…

From Iowa Farm Boy to Billionaire: The Inspiring Story of Harry Stine and Stine Seed

Harry Stine, the Iowa farm boy turned billionaire, is an inspiring example of how hard work, determination, and a passion for innovation can lead to incredible success.

Humble Beginnings

The founder of Stine Seeds, Harry Stine's childhood was spent on his family's farm in Adel, Iowa. He was born on March 26, 1943, and was the second of three children. Growing up on a farm, Harry learned the value of hard work and the importance of perseverance from a young age.

As a child, Harry was always interested in science and technology. He spent countless hours tinkering with gadgets and conducting experiments. His parents encouraged his curiosity, and they bought him books on science and chemistry to foster his interest.

His curiosity led him to study chemistry at Iowa State University, where he met his future wife, Norma. They married in 1960 and had four children together.

Stine Seed

After graduating, Harry began working at a chemical company, but he quickly realized that he wanted more autonomy and control over his research. In 1970, he founded his own company, Stine Seed, with the goal of creating the world's best hybrid corn.

At the time, hybrid corn was a relatively new concept, and most farmers were still using traditional open-pollinated corn.

Harry believed that hybrid corn had the potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry by producing higher yields and better quality crops. He spent years researching and experimenting with different hybrid combinations until he developed his own proprietary corn hybrids.

In the early years, Stine Seed was a small operation run out of Harry's garage, but the company quickly grew. By the mid-1970s, Stine Seed had become the largest private seed company in the United States.

Over the years, Stine Seed continued to expand and innovate. In the 1980s, the company began producing soybean seeds, and by the 1990s, it had become a major player in the seed industry.

Under Harry's leadership, Stine Seed also began investing heavily in biotechnology research. Harry believed that genetically modified seeds had the potential to revolutionize agriculture and improve crop yields.

Innovation

Despite controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Harry was determined to pursue this area of research, and his work paid off. Today, Stine Seed is one of the leading producers of genetically modified seeds, and Harry's pioneering work in this area has had a profound impact on the agricultural industry.

Stine Seed has licensed its traits to several major seed companies, including Dow AgroSciences (now part of Corteva Agriscience), Monsanto (now part of Bayer), and Syngenta. These companies have incorporated Stine's traits into their own seed products, which has helped to increase the availability of Stine's technology to farmers around the world.

Despite his massive success, Harry hasn't forgotten his roots. He still lives in Adel, Iowa, where he grew up, and he remains dedicated to supporting the community.

He has donated millions of dollars to local schools and organizations, and he continues to be an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.

So if you're feeling stuck in a dead-end job or unsure of your path in life, remember Harry Stine. He started out as a farm boy from Iowa, but with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, he became one of the most successful businessmen in the world. And who knows? Maybe you could be the next Harry Stine.

Appreciate you reading today's edition - please share with 5 friends!

Brought to you by:

The Agri-Business Braintrust is committed to providing farmers, ranchers, and agri-business owners with the knowledge, tools, and resources to grow a financially successful ag operation.

For only $49/month ($29/month through June) you gain exclusive access to all the Braintrust has to offer.

Join today to take advantage of this incredible value!

Was this shared with you? Click 'Subscribe' to add a bit of daily history knowledge to your inbox.

Email [email protected] to let us know topics we should cover or to become a supporter.

View past issues here.