On February 4, 1947, at 9:00 am, Senesac Inc officially opened for business in Fowler, Indiana. Wilford “Red” Senesac was the founder and first president. He, along with partner Ralph Puetz, started hauling and spreading limestone. They used a WWII Army truck mounted with a lime bed and drove it back and forth to the quarry in Kentland.
Raw rock phosphate was added in 1949. Those who were involved in farming back then remember the heavy bags. The up side of applying rock phosphate was that the crops today may still be utilizing it.
Red and Ralph both agree that 1952 saw the greatest revolution in both Senesac and agriculture in general. That was the year that liquid nitrogen was first offered for sale. At first, Red got skeptic farmers to accept this new concept by offering the nitrogen free of charge if there was no yield increase. Red claims that he always got paid, once the yield results were in.
Some other important dates in the history of Senesac Inc.
1954 The dry plant was built.
1956 The liquid fertilizer plant was built.
1963 The plant in Wellington, Illinois was purchased. It was later sold in 1968.
1964 The Otterbein plant was purchased.
1972 The Ambia and Atkinson plants were purchased.
1976 Ralph Puetz succeeded Red Senesac as President.
1982 The Atkinson plant was closed.
1987 Custom application began.
1992 The mix station was built at Ambia.
1992 Jerry Pyle succeeded Ralph Puetz as President.
1993 The mix station was built at Fowler.
1994 The mix station was built at Otterein.
1996 Custom application of lime was once again offered after 40-year absence.
1997 Seed was first offered for sale and Atkinson plant reopened to store soybeans.
1999 Senesac became 100% employee owned.
2000 First CaseIH Patriot equipped with AIM command system was added.
2003 Seed applied inoculants were offered for the first time.
2004 New seed warehouse was built in Fowler.
2005 Portable seed treater was purchased and assembled for treating with Cruiser Maxx and Apron Maxx.
2007 John Freeland succeeded Jerry Pyle as President.
