b'Building Upon a LegacyJohn Latham, president of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, reflects on following in his familys footsteps in the family business.Alex MartinIN A FAMILY BUSINESS,its not unusual totwined. When his uncle Tom Latham was elected see younger generations build upon the foun- to Congress in 1994, it opened a sales position for dation built by the older generation. Latham to join his familys company.John Latham, president of Latham Hi-TechIm so thankful my Uncle Tom was bitten by Seeds and chair of the American Seed Tradethe political bug, Latham jokes.Association (ASTA), didnt think hed follow soNow Latham is looking at ways to build upon closely in his fathers footsteps.his familys foundation in the seed industry.I always wanted to be a senator when I grewMy grandfather, Willard Latham, startedEvery time we up, says Latham, who served as a senator for theLatham Seeds in 1947, he says. At that time, thewent to an ASTA Iowa State Student Body from 1990 to 1992. Heoat crop in North Central Iowa was affected by graduated from Iowa State University in 1992 withsmut. Grandpa retrofitted a piece of equipmentmeeting, I would a bachelors degree in Agricultural Business. that helped clean and preserve the local oats crop. learn so much Lathams political aspirations waned as hisAfter freezing while traveling from farm to farm interest in agricultural business grew. He grew upcleaning oats that first winter, Willard installed thefrom [my dad]. He in the house next to the seed business, shadowingcleaner in a granary. Local farmers brought their his grandfather and father. Their family vacationsoats to Alexander for cleaning and conditioning, sowould explain the revolved around seed industry conferences, includ- it was a natural transition into the seed business.background of the ing ASTA and the Independent Professional SeedLatham Seeds started offering certified seed oats Association (IPSA).and then branched into soybeans after Lathamsissues discussed, After I graduated from high school, my dadfather and uncles returned to the family business.and it helped me kept me involved with seed industry events,Under the direction of Bill Latham, Latham Seeds Latham says, whose father, Bill, served as Lathamhad one of the industrys largest independentlearn about issues Seeds president from 1975 to 2009. When I wasresearch programs. John made his mark by adding in college, I actually sat with my dad in one of firsthigh-tech corn to the companys portfolio.facing the seed IPSA meetings ever held. Every time we went toMy grandfather required his sons to work else- industry. an ASTA meeting, I would learn so much from him.where before coming back to the family business, He would explain the background of the issues dis- Latham says. My dad worked for Monsanto. Uncle John Lathamcussed, and it helped me learn about issues facingDon served in Vietnam, and Uncle Tom went into the seed industry.the insurance business.Latham learned how laws and regulationsJohns experience came from working for impacted the familys business. He began to seePioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.that many times politics and business were inter- Pioneer really taught me a lot about corn, he DECEMBER 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /33'