Pekin, Illinois
May 21, 2009
Historical milestone reflects
Syngenta principles and founders’ original vision
The
Syngenta seed processing
facility at 18356 Route 9 in Pekin, Illinois today received a
Centenarian Award from the Peoria Historical Society for more
than 100 years of continual operation. The facility attributes
its long-term success to the vision established by its founders,
Arthur and O.J. Sommer, and its expansion in processing
capability due to the investment Syngenta has made in recent
years.
The two Sommer brothers began operating the facility in 1909,
fresh off a year of high yields. Sales began with the brothers’
10 best ears of corn, and have grown significantly since that
time, reinforced by the founders’ belief that success arises
from a commitment to quality and service.
“It’s been 100 years and four generations of hard work and
commitment. We’ve come a long way since those first ten ears of
corn,” said Mark Sommer, the great-grandson of O.J. Sommer and
the current plant operations manager for Syngenta. Mark’s
father, uncle and grandfather have also worked at the site.
Syngenta estimates that over the last hundred years, in excess
of 20 million bushels of a wide variety of seeds have been
processed at this facility. In recent years, Pekin’s soybean
seed production has increased from 250,000 bags to 1.5 million
bags, and the efficiency of seed corn production has improved,
with Pekin achieving highest yield-per-acre in 2006 and 2007 in
Syngenta.
“Arthur and O.J. Sommer believed that productivity couldn’t be
separated from quality and service,” said Tim Hufnagel, the
current plant manager. “We have more than 30 terrific workers at
the facility, and we all make those principles part of
everything we do. That was the Sommers’ way and that is the
Syngenta way.”
Among other recent milestones, the Pekin site has not
experienced a workplace accident in 15 months, and the site
achieved ISO certification* in 2008. Another key aspect of the
facility’s success is that site managers continually meet with
growers, soliciting their input and building ever stronger
relationships.
Amy Kelly, Executive Director of the Peoria Historical Society,
concurred. “Too often we forget that history is all around us.
I’m thrilled to say that after 100 years in which much has
changed, we can have a significant part of our area’s history
still growing and thriving in Pekin,” she said.
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SYNGENTA SEEDS, INC. – PEKIN FACILITY AT A GLANCE |
Location
Former Sommer
Brothers Seed Company
18356 Route 9
Pekin, IL 61554
Company
Personnel
- Tim Hufnagel,
Plant Manager
- Mark Sommer,
Plant Operations Manager
Facility
Features
- Corn and
soybean seed processing
- Capacity of
more than 1.5 million bags annually (corn and
soybeans)
- Approximately
30 employees
- Began
operations in 1909
- Acquired by
Syngenta in 2004
Accomplishments
- 100 years of
continual operation
- Four
generations of the founding Sommer family have
worked at the facility
- The ongoing
culture ties production success to quality and
service.
- Increased
capacity in soybean production from 250,000 bags
to more than 1.5 million bags.
- Improved the
efficiency of seed corn production and achieved
the highest yield-per-acre in Syngenta in 2006
and 2007.
- Estimated to
have processed in excess of 20 million bushels
of a wide variety of seeds over the last hundred
years
- The facility
works with the Pekin fire department to provide
onsite fire training
- With its
continuing growth the site has remained
accident-free for the past 15 months
Historical Notes
- After a year
of great yields, the brothers O.J. and Arthur
Sommer founded the facility with their ten best
ears of corn.
- Mark Sommer,
the great-grandson of O.J. Sommer, is the plant
operations manager.
- Ted Sommer,
the son of the founder and former head of the
plant, still stops by once a week.
- Jim Sommer,
the grandson of the founder and also a former
head of the plant, still stops by the facility.
Timeline
- 1909 – The
first crop of corn. 20 bushels sold for seed
- 1910 – First
corn breeding plot established.
- 1925 – Sommer
Yellow-Dent recognized as a distinct variety.
- 1936 – Sommer
Brothers becomes an associate grower for
Funks-G-Hybrids.
- Mid-80’s –
Plant expands to dozens of different seeds
besides corn and soybean (including alfalfa,
clovers, wheat, rye, pasture mixes, and
sorghums, among others).
- 2001 –
Achieves the largest corn production year at
7,000 grower acres.
- 2004 –
Acquired by Syngenta.
- 2006 –
Achieves highest corn production yields within
Syngenta NAFTA.
- 2007 – Again
achieves highest corn production yields within
Syngenta NAFTA.
- 2008 –
Receives ISO certification.
- Present –
Injury free since March 28, 2008
- 2009 –
Receives Centenarian award from Peoria
Historical Society
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Syngenta is one of the world's
leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90
countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to
life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment
to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect
the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more
information about us please go to
www.syngenta.com.
The Syngenta logo is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.
*ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the
world's largest developer and publisher of international
standards that ensure desirable characteristics of products and
services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety,
reliability, efficiency and interchangeability at an economical
cost. |
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