Who is Chester, Inc.
George F. Chester & Son was established in 1936 to produce hybrid seed corn as an extension of a large farm operation located in Porter County, Indiana. In 1951, Charles Bowman and Orville Redenbacher purchased the company. This team of experienced seedsmen expanded the company and began the production of K.V. Hybrid seed corn, certified small grain and soybeans throughout Northwest Indiana. The company name was changed to Chester Hybrids, Inc. and the seed company introduced several agricultural services and products, including liquid fertilizer and an engineering service to develop and install grain drying, handling and storage systems. In addition, the development and production of hybrid popcorn seed was included.
Carl Hartman was hired in 1959 to help breed and develop closed pedigree K.V. Hybrids and came up with some new, award-winning hybrids. Chester chose to sell the seed operation to Cargill, Inc. in the mid-sixties and focus on liquid fertilizer production. At this point, the company name was changed to Chester, Inc.
Hartman then placed all his efforts on the breeding and development of popcorn hybrid seed varieties under the name of Redbow Popcorn Hybrids (Red for Redenbacher and bow for Bowman). Redbow Popcorn Hybrids became popular and known for quality. In fact, so much so that marketing experts were employed to establish a label, packaging, etc. They recommended using the name "Orville Redenbacher," believing it was a name that would help sell a quality popcorn. The name was adopted and the rest is history.
Hunt-Wesson Foods (which was subsequently purchased by ConAgra Foods) became interested in the Orville Redenbacher brand of popcorn and in 1976 purchased the Orville Redenbacher Popping Corn brand name, all rights, breeding material and physical facilities. Orville Redenbacher began working with Hunt-Wesson Foods to promote the Orville Redenbacher brand of gourmet popping corn by making personal appearances and television commercials. Although Orville passed away in 1995, Charlie Bowman is still active within the Chester, Inc.organization.
Currently, Chester, Inc. operates three divisions: Agricultural Systems (irrigation & grain handling systems), Construction Services (design/build - commercial & industrial buildings) and Information Technologies (computers & networking). The Popcorn Store is a part of the Agricultural Systems Division..
George F. Chester & Son was established in 1936 to produce hybrid seed corn as an extension of a large farm operation located in Porter County, Indiana. In 1951, Charles Bowman and Orville Redenbacher purchased the company. This team of experienced seedsmen expanded the company and began the production of K.V. Hybrid seed corn, certified small grain and soybeans throughout Northwest Indiana. The company name was changed to Chester Hybrids, Inc. and the seed company introduced several agricultural services and products, including liquid fertilizer and an engineering service to develop and install grain drying, handling and storage systems. In addition, the development and production of hybrid popcorn seed was included.
Carl Hartman was hired in 1959 to help breed and develop closed pedigree K.V. Hybrids and came up with some new, award-winning hybrids. Chester chose to sell the seed operation to Cargill, Inc. in the mid-sixties and focus on liquid fertilizer production. At this point, the company name was changed to Chester, Inc.
Hartman then placed all his efforts on the breeding and development of popcorn hybrid seed varieties under the name of Redbow Popcorn Hybrids (Red for Redenbacher and bow for Bowman). Redbow Popcorn Hybrids became popular and known for quality. In fact, so much so that marketing experts were employed to establish a label, packaging, etc. They recommended using the name "Orville Redenbacher," believing it was a name that would help sell a quality popcorn. The name was adopted and the rest is history.
Hunt-Wesson Foods (which was subsequently purchased by ConAgra Foods) became interested in the Orville Redenbacher brand of popcorn and in 1976 purchased the Orville Redenbacher Popping Corn brand name, all rights, breeding material and physical facilities. Orville Redenbacher began working with Hunt-Wesson Foods to promote the Orville Redenbacher brand of gourmet popping corn by making personal appearances and television commercials. Although Orville passed away in 1995, Charlie Bowman is still active within the Chester, Inc.organization.
Currently, Chester, Inc. operates three divisions: Agricultural Systems (irrigation & grain handling systems), Construction Services (design/build - commercial & industrial buildings) and Information Technologies (computers & networking). The Popcorn Store is a part of the Agricultural Systems Division..