Awards don’t rank high in Douglas Garwood’s personal hierarchy of importance. As president
and treasurer of Garwood Seed Co., a Golden Harvest member company, his focus is on serving customers and meeting sales goals. Perhaps that’s why Garwood Seed Co. 

recently garnered something its co-owner wasn’t looking for: the Golden Harvest President’s Trophy. The coveted President’s Trophy honors the Golden Harvest member company logging the greatest percent increase in corn sales during a marketing year. To win the award, the Garwood Seed Co. marketing team generated more than a 10 percent increase in corn sales in the 1998-1999 sales year as compared to the previous year. 

Douglas Garwood’s colleagues say the prestigious award is an honor hard earned and well deserved. Jim Shearl, Executive Vice President of Golden Harvest, said the company is known for its excellent seed quality. In addition, he points to hybrid selection and a professional sales approach as key factors contributing to Garwood’s success. “Garwood Seed Co. has identified some corn and soybean hybrids that work well in Southern Illinois,” said Shearl. “That performance showed up in their competitive plots and, coupled with their professional sales approach, pushed them toward this sales milestone.” 

Carl Garwood, vice president of Garwood Seed Co., credits quality products, pricing and Golden Harvest programs including Agronomy Up FrontTM for the company’s notable sales increase. “Product performance was the key. Our product line had good performance from top to bottom,” Garwood said. “That got people’s attention.” Considering an award win he neither sought nor expected, Douglas Garwood recounts his simple sales philosophy--another likely reason his team landed the prize. 

“We give everyone a good product at a fair price,” he said. “We always treat every customer fairly and equally.” Garwood Seed Co., Stonington, Ill., is the smallest of Golden Harvest’s five member companies. Founded 76 years ago by the Garwood family of Christian County, the organization markets Golden Harvest products to Illinois farmers south of U.S. Route 36. The company has been involved in several seed industry firsts. Its founder was the first owner of a combine east of the Mississippi, and was instrumental in improving the pest resistance of early open-pollinated corn varieties. Garwood Seed Co. and other award recipients were honored during the recent Golden Harvest National Convention, conducted January 26-29 in New Orleans. Shearl said the annual meeting brings together Golden Harvest’s breeders, agronomists and sales staff for training, education and recognition. 

The Golden Harvest brand of hybrid corn, soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa is produced and marketed by five family-owned and managed seed companies serving farmers throughout the U.S. Corn Belt, Europe, South America and Canada.  These five companies share research and marketing resources nationally, while continuing to offer the nearby service that is the heart of the seed industry.

Company news release
N2896