10/22/2026
What does running a seed business have in common with running a business of your own? Our Silver Creek Area CEO students got to find out yesterday when we visited Wehmeyer Seed, just east of Mascoutah along Route 177.
For students who don’t come from farming backgrounds, walking into a facility of this size was a whole new experience. What started in 1995 as a 10,000-square-foot operation has grown to more than 140,000 square feet, with advanced seed-cleaning technology, multiple locations, and more than 50 team members.
That kind of growth is impressive. But what stood out to me most was the family behind it and the story of how they built it.
Last week, Dale Wehmeyer, Cody Ferland, and Kristen Wehmeyer Eaves joined us in the classroom for Ask the Expert Day. Yesterday, our students got to visit Wehmeyer Seed and see some of those business lessons in action.
Dale spent 11 years working for the University of Missouri, managing its Foundation Seed Program, before he and his wife, Lisa, started Wehmeyer Seed in 1995. Today, two of their three children are part of the business’s continued growth. Their son, Matt, serves as president, and their daughter, Kristen, leads marketing. Lisa continues to work alongside them.
One thing I kept thinking about was Dale’s pride in seeing his children carry on what he and Lisa started. They took a chance and built something of their own, and now they get to watch the next generation help it grow even further. There’s something pretty special about that.
Dale shared a story about someone in the industry who predicted Wehmeyer Seed wouldn’t last five years. More than 30 years later, the business is still growing. It’s a good reminder that starting something of your own takes a belief in what you’re doing, even when others might not see the potential.
He also had a message our students needed to hear: at 17 or 18, you don’t have to have your whole future figured out. Think about what you enjoy, what brings you joy, and what you can offer others. Sometimes that’s where the journey starts.
Matt shared some of his own journey, including the three years he spent working as a commodity trader before returning to the family business. He talked about understanding the numbers and knowing how the business is performing. As he explained, you cannot manage what you cannot measure.
Cody added to that conversation with practical advice about tracking expenses, reconciling accounts, and protecting cash. Those aren’t necessarily the exciting parts of starting a business, but they’re important ones. A great idea still needs good financial habits behind it.
Kristen’s path looked a little different. After graduating from Mizzou with a marketing degree, she joined Teach For America and worked in elementary education. She loved working with kids, but along the way, she realized how much she missed marketing. She went on to earn a master’s degree in communication at Saint Louis University, worked in Chicago, and eventually found her way back to Wehmeyer Seed.
I love that her story is a reminder that you don’t have to know exactly where you’re headed right away. You can try something, discover what you enjoy, and change direction when you find something that fits.
Kristen also helped our students look at marketing differently. It’s about much more than social media, ads, or logos. It starts with understanding what a business stands for and what you want people to say about your brand when you’re not in the room. Every step, from someone first hearing about your business to deciding to buy from you, helps build that trust.
Our students will have plenty of opportunities to put those ideas to work as they continue developing their own business ideas and prepare for our class business this December.
Of course, hearing about a business is one thing. Getting to walk through it is another. Students toured the facility, saw the seed-processing equipment, and got a feel for the scale of the operation. They also saw the company’s core values displayed throughout the building:
Work Hard. Work Smart.
Be Professional.
Be Committed to the Team.
Pursue Excellence.
Do the Right Thing.
It was a good reminder that building a business takes more than a product or a good idea. It takes people who are committed to how they work and how they treat others.
And a special shout-out to our student Matt, who served as our CEO of the Day! He researched the speakers, introduced each of them, and did a fantastic job. He even got to wear the headset and close out our visit in the warehouse.
One of the things I love about having businesses like Wehmeyer Seed involved in Silver Creek Area CEO is that their support isn’t just about writing a check. They give us something just as valuable: their time, their experience, and a genuine interest in seeing our students succeed. Dale is serving as a mentor this year, but all of them have shown such a genuine interest in our program and our students.
Last week, they came into our classroom and challenged our students to think deeper in their class business plans. This week, they welcomed us into their business and gave our students a glimpse of what it takes to build something that lasts. And you know what? You can tell they truly enjoy being part of this. The smiles on their faces said it all.
Dale and Lisa built something together, and now they get to watch their children continue to grow it while sharing what they’ve learned with young people who are just beginning to figure out what they want to do. To me, that’s one of the best parts of this story. They aren’t just building a business for the next generation of their own family. They’re helping encourage the next generation in our community, too.
Thank you to Dale, Lisa, Matt, Kristen, Cody, and everyone at Wehmeyer Seed for welcoming our students and sharing so much with them. We’re grateful for your support of Silver Creek Area CEO and for the enthusiasm you bring to helping our students learn and grow.
They came to learn about a seed business. I hope they left with a few new ideas about what they might build for themselves someday, too.
