Independent Professional Seed Association - IPSA

Legacy Agripartners was built on one belief: independent seed companies, rooted in the communities they serve, do right by farmers in ways that large corporations simply can't.

Founded in 1999 as Legacy Seeds in Wisconsin, the company has grown into a family of brands — including TriCal Superior Forage, acquired in 2022 — serving livestock producers across North America with alfalfa, triticale, and forage genetics developed for soils and climates of the Upper Midwest and around the world.

Colin Steen shares, "Independence isn't a business strategy for us - it's a commitment to the grower, the cattle farmer, the dairy farmer and the ag industry overall. Independence allows us to keep these things, these people as our north star. It allows us to make breeding decisions for the long term, decisions that help a farmer get a fourth year out of their stand of alfalfa, as opposed to focusing on a quarterly earnings call."

Legacy Agripartners is part of SEED 250 — IPSA's national campaign honoring the independent seed companies rooted in American agriculture as our nation turns 250.

Mark your calendar, IPSA members. 📅

On June 18 at 12pm CST, we're hosting Marketing in Ag: The 2027 Playbook, a practical webinar built for independent seed companies whose teams are wearing about six hats on any given day.

We're talking digital communication, trade show strategy, dealer outreach, and content creation. No fluff, no theory. Just the tools you can put to work the next morning.

RSVP at ipseed.org/webinars 🌱

Since 1934, the Renk family has been doing things the independent way — and four generations later, they're not stopping.

Renk Seed out of Wisconsin has grown from a family farm operation into a seed company covering more than 250,000 acres across eight states. They raise a significant portion of the seed they sell on their own farm, now operating for 180 years. They fund agricultural scholarships at the University of Wisconsin. And they're already preparing the next generation to carry it forward.

That's the story of American independent seed. That's SEED 250.

There's something different about a room full of independent seedsmen.

Shared challenges, shared wins, and the kind of straight talk you only get from people who've actually been in your shoes.

That's IPSA 🌱

Learning shouldn't stop at the office door. IPSA hosts webinars and educational content built for the real questions independent seed companies are asking.

Catch what's coming up at ipseed.org.

In 1776, America declared its independence.

About 150 years later, a quiet revolution was happening in the cornfields.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the commercial hybrid corn seed was introduced — a breakthrough that would transform American agriculture forever.

And the companies who brought it to farmers? Not corporate giants.

Small, independent seed operations run by families who understood their local soils and trusted their neighbors enough to sell them something new.

One hundred independent corn seed companies were operating in the U.S. by the 1930s. They didn't just sell seed. They built an industry.

This coming July 4, IPSA is honoring that legacy through SEED 250 — because the story of American agriculture is, in large part, the story of independent seed.

Many of our member companies have been in the same family for generations.

That kind of staying power doesn't happen by accident. It takes grit, vision, and a network of peers who get it. IPSA is proud to stand with independent seed businesses building something that lasts!

IPSA Webinar this Thursday at 12pm CST!

Here' the details:

Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working: The Sales Problem Behind Most Marketing Failure

In today’s ag economy, every dollar matters. Seed companies are under pressure to make smarter decisions, maximize every investment, and create growth without wasting time or money.

So where does marketing fit? Do you really need it? How do you get more value from the dollars you’re already spending? Can you really measure the ROI of a marketing campaign?

In this webinar, Epiphium will unpack the sales problem behind most marketing failure – and why marketing only works when it reinforces a clear growth strategy. You’ll learn why volume goals are not a strategy, why most ag messaging gets ignored, and how growth companies align sales and marketing to create clearer messaging, stronger sales conversations, and more measurable growth.

🔗 Register here: https://riverside.com/webinar/registration/eyJldmVudElkIjoiNjk4NGY3MTczYTY1OTI1MWMzYWIzNTYzIiwic2x1ZyI6ImNhdC1mcmFuc3Mtc3R1ZGlvIn0=

We’re excited to welcome our very first intern, Candace Lippe, to the Ohlde Seed Farm team!

This summer, Candace will gain hands-on experience and learn more about the seed industry while working alongside our team. We’re thrilled to have her with us and look forward to a great summer.

Welcome to the team, Candace!

Being independent doesn't mean going it alone.

IPSA members gain access to industry advocacy, networking, and resources built specifically for independent seed businesses.

See what membership looks like at ipseed.org.