Joe Anchor and Carl Schmidt formed keystone Group Agricultural Seeds in the early spring of 1997. At that time Carl came home with a tractor-trailer load of Stine soybean seed and figured Joe just had to help him sell it. That load turned into two that year. And together, we laid out a territory that included just about all of Pennsylvania’s best agricultural areas. Carl and Joe worked together for 5 years. As Keystone Group Ag Seeds evolved, they added Barenbrug grass seeds, Bird Hybrid seed corn, Advanced Biological Marketing, Dairlyland Seed Company, and now finally Cover Crop Solutions. None of their early achievements could have occurred without the help and mentoring of Tom Capper, the Stine District Sales Manager and friend from Star City, Indiana. As time went along, Leon Bird also played a key role in the growth and development of Keystone Group Ag Seeds. His gracious advice and friendship is sincerely appreciated.

As often happens, goals and ambitions change, and Carl was no different. He decided to step away from Keystone Group Ag Seeds to pursue converting his farm to a certified organic production system. He remains a good friend, advisor, and confidante to all at Keystone Group Ag Seeds. Today he farms close to 300 acres of certified organic grain and hay production in Lycoming County.

After Carl left, Joe’s wife, Evelyn stepped in, and the Anchors began to see Keystone Group Ag Seeds grow with the addition of new products and new dealers. With the seed distribution business and the family growing at the same time, the Anchors needed to reduce the number of acres to their farm operation to focus on providing customers with the very best possible seed products, advice, support, and a level of caring unsurpassed in the seed industry.