\889 
1888 -1938 
938 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FARMER SEED & NURSERY CO. 
B ack in is88 Wm. L. Kueker and Otto Koz- 
lowsky, sons of Illinois farmers, founded 
the Farmer Seed Co. in Chicago. The venture 
was inspired by the idea of acquainting farm¬ 
ers with the newest improved farm and gar¬ 
den crops, and lowering the cost of reliable 
seed by bringing producer and consumer closer 
together. 
In 189 3 they moved to Faribault, in the 
heart of the growing section, where improved 
hardy, northern grown strains could best be 
produced. Here a building was erected, sev¬ 
eral farms acquired—and a four page folder 
laid the foundation for the present business— 
now serving a quarter million patrons. 
Upon Mr. Kozlowski’s death 10 years later, 
Mr. Kueker became manager and the business 
made steady progress for 25 years under his 
guidance. A Nursery Department was added 
during this period of gradual expansion and 
the firm name was changed to Farmer Seed 
& Nursery Co. Mr. Kueker died at the height 
of his career, in 1927. 
He was succeeded by the present manager, 
E. J. Kiekenapp, who had joined the company 
in 1912 and the business continued to flourish 
through good years and bad, until this Golden 
Jubilee year finds the Farmer Seed & Nursery 
Co. enjoying the confidence of the greatest 
number of patrons in its history. 
The first customers told others—until today 
250,000 satisfied customers rely on this firm 
for dependable seeds and nursery stock. New 
buildings and equipment have been acquired 
to accommodate the growing business. 
Satisfied customers have made this progress 
possible, and keeping ever alert to" the newest 
developments in agriculture has brought a close 
contact with leading plant breeders and Experi¬ 
ment Stations. The management is proud of 
the high regard accorded them by officials of 
Agricultural Colleges, and is grateful to all 
who have made the Golden Jubilee Anniver¬ 
sary possible. 
WE VALUE THESE LETTERS HIGHLY 
i _ 51 
Of Minnesma ®tate 
up a very lar|e No doubt 
.Vllnnesota Crop Improvement Association. 
St. Paul. Minnesota. 
October 8, 1937. 
Farmer Seed & Nursery Co., 
Dear Mr. Kiekenapp: ^ ^ 
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate tne 
Farmer Seed & Nursery Company on its fiftieth an¬ 
niversary. It has been my good fortune to come In 
contact with the officers and employees for the past 
twetit^yeara. In all cases I have found good co-operative spiru. 
willingness to serve the people by providing well cleaned seeds 
at reasonable prices. , , __ 
Many changes have taken place during the last nity years, 
but you have kept up with the times by installing modern clean¬ 
ing machinery and handling recommended varieties of dependable 
seeds. 
May you continue to thrive and prosper.^ ^ haeDECKE 
Asst. Secy.-Treas 
. Minnesota. Experiment 
.r ®*^iekenaPP;., compa”^, 
yviehee. R. g-,..!^2?intende^ 
„„ii Coileg^’ 
N"''" Xrto. 
Farmer Seed & ^ for yoxxr 
" YpurP v«y truly- VgAGEB.^^ 
University of Wisconsin. Department of Agriculture. 
Madison. VVi.s. __ 
October 12. 193i. 
Farmer Seed & Nursery Co.. 
F.aribault. Minn. 
Dear Mr. Kiekenapp: 
It was very gratifying to me to learn that your 
company has a history of fifty years behind it, and 
believe that .seedsmen like yourself have ^en a decidedly Impor¬ 
tant agencv in the furtherance of the agricultural w^elfare of this 
country. You are certainly to be congratulated. , „ , 
In mv contacts, both in Wisconsin and Minnesota, I have found 
that vour customers have faith In your honesty 
and dependability. ^ ^ WRIGHT. 
Agronomist. 
FSrmfi- PwSdJnlS'- 
C.ing-ratulatioiis Company. 
_ Lr aln^o!jf^' Anniver. 
best Wishes for your J ■ 
you*- continued -success, 
W. T. FOLEY 
Associalc Editor’ 
N. C. Bleter 
Vice Pres.-Mgr. 
Farm Seed Dept. 
Chas. Danphine 
Sec’y, Office Mgrr. 
R. i. Kiekenapp 
Asst. Treas., 
Advertisinir. 
L. P. Vassar 
Plant Breeder 
Geo. Slevers 
Mgr. Garden Seed 
Dept. 
Robt. Bleter 
Asst. Seed Analyst 
Page 3 
