Our Story

THE FOUNDERS

Dr. Victor A. Tiedjens had an impressive career in agricultural research and spent years carefully developing and refining a new concept in plant nutrition. When he realized agricultural organizations were not interested in marketing his ideas, he joined forces with Joseph P. Henry and George B. Ward to bring his concept to market.

Henry was an established leader in fertilizer sales and marketing, while Ward brought an exceptional background in business management. Together, they named their new concept The Growers Program. To further support the program, Dr. Tiedjens developed a balanced, high-quality, non-toxic liquid fertilizer called Growers Mineral Solution (GMS).

In 1955, the three men founded Growers Mineral, Corp., establishing the foundation for a family-owned company built on innovation, quality, and customer relationships.

The Factory

The three founders needed a facility to manufacture their fertilizer, Growers Mineral Solution (GMS). Together, they purchased an old brewery built in 1905 in Milan, Ohio. The building had previously housed the Joseph Herb Brewery Company (1905–1919) and later the Milan Brewery Company (1934–1951).

At the time, much of the equipment used in brewing beer required minimal modification to produce GMS. Over the years, the original equipment has largely been replaced and upgraded with modern materials, including stainless steel, helping the company maintain its commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

Passing the Torch

Dr. Tiedjens was recognized as one of the world's leading plant nutrition specialists beginning in 1923 and played an instrumental role in Growers Mineral Corp.'s early success. Before his passing in 1975, he selected Wilbur Franklin as his successor. Read More on Dr. Tiedjens

Franklin continued working with the company until his death in 1999. In the early 1990s, he began training Jim Halbeisen to carry on the company's research and development efforts. Halbeisen earned a bachelor's degree in soil science and a master's degree in agronomy from South Dakota State University. Raised on a crop and livestock farm in Fremont, Ohio, his family farm has been part of the Growers Program since 1955. In the late 1990s, Halbeisen assumed the role of Director of Research, a position he continues to hold today.

Following Joseph Henry's death in 2012, his daughter, Jennie Henry, became President of Growers Mineral, Corp. She helped modernize the company while preserving the values established by its founders. After her passing in 2019, her husband, Richard A. Bobel, assumed the role of President.

Around the same time, Jennie and Richard's son, Russell R. Bobel, joined the company as Vice President of Marketing and Technology, while their daughter-in-law, Asa J. Bobel, joined as Vice President of Corporate Development. In 2020, George Ward's grandson, Jim Ward, joined the company as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of Sales.

In 2022, Richard Bobel became President of the Board, with the third generation taking responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations. Through each transition, the Growers Family has remained committed to building on the founders' vision while preparing the company for the future.

THE MILESTONES

In 2014, Growers Transport Company was founded to provide dedicated transportation for our products. By building a team focused on delivery, we strengthened our ability to provide safe, reliable, and timely service to our customers.

This milestone allowed us to better support our growing customer base while maintaining greater control over the delivery process and the customer experience.

THE PRESENT

Today, Growers Mineral, Corp. remains a family-owned business headquartered in Milan, Ohio. Our close-knit leadership team oversees the production, sale, and delivery of our three products: Growers Mineral Solution (GMS), Soil Conditioner, and Nutritional Additive (NA).

Over the years, we have expanded our service area to 27 U.S. states and parts of Canada. This growth has been made possible not only through our products and operations but also through our commitment to treating our customers as an extension of the Growers Family.

LOOKING AHEAD: OUR NEW FACILITY

As Growers Mineral, Corp. continues to grow, we are investing in the future with our new facility. This exciting milestone represents another step forward in our company's history, creating opportunities to improve operations, increase efficiency, and better serve our growing customer base.

While our facilities and capabilities continue to evolve, our commitment to quality, innovation, and strong customer relationships remains unchanged. Our new facility reflects our dedication to building on the foundation established by our founders in 1955 and carrying their vision into the next generation.

With a proud history behind us and exciting developments ahead, we look forward to continuing to grow alongside the customers and communities who have been part of our journey.

THE NEXT GENERATION

Left to right: Asa Bobel, President; Jim Ward, Vice President of Sales; Elika Bobel, fourth-generation member of the Growers Family; Richard Bobel, President of the Board; Russell Bobel, Vice President of Marketing and Technology; and Freja Bobel, fourth-generation member of the Growers Family.