In 1945, after World War II, I joined my family’s seed business, the L. Teweles Seed Co. in Milwaukee. My great grandfather, Ludwig Teweles, had founded the company in 1865 and I was the fourth generation. At that time, Teweles was considered the second largest forage seed company in North America, right after Northrup King & Co.

Since those early days, not a year has passed when I haven’t heard industry executives say, "The seed industry is changing." One of the early changes led by our firm was the branding of seed in the 1920’s. Previously, forage seeds were sold as a grade - prime, choice and fancy. My grandfather, Hugo Teweles, was a zoo buff and he branded our top quality Badger brand, with two lesser qualities to be known as Buffalo brand and Elk brand. Shortly after I joined the company, forage seed began to be sold in smaller bags, 60 pounds for alfalfa, clovers, etc. and 45 pounds for timothy, with orchard and brome grass in 50-pound bags. Previously, the legumes had been in 150-pound grain bags, timothy in 125 pounders, with orchard and brome grass in 100’s. Believe me, these packaging changes pretty nearly blew the whole company apart.