Even with the challenges facing Summit Seed this year, owner Bill Talley says they’re up for the challenge and ready to do it right for their customers.
Even with the challenges facing Summit Seed this year, owner Bill Talley says they’re up for the challenge and ready to do it right for their customers.Seed World: What are you currently reading?
Bill Talley: I enjoy reading the trade journals and magazines to stay up to date on current events and issues when I am at home, as well as anything related to hunting, boating and fishing. Since I travel so much, I have discovered that audio books are a great way to make time for a longer read.
SW: What one challenge must Summit tackle in the year ahead, and how do you plan to overcome it?
BT: Our production facility in Indiana was flooded this past May, destroying everything in it. The challenge to date is to continue coating seed for our customers with the same quality and efficiency we have always provided. This will require an extra effort at our production facility in Idaho, and we are up for the challenge! The support and patience of our customers has been overwhelming. We have come to realize how fortunate we are to be in an industry made up of people who have become like family to us over the years.
SW: Do you have a hobby?
BT: Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. I grow lots of vegetables but my specialty is peppers. The hotter, the better! I enjoy growing a wide variety of peppers, and I have blended several combinations of them to create dry seasoning, spicy mustards and smoked powders.
SW: What is your favorite thing about working with seed coatings?
BT: Seed coatings have rapidly evolved over the past several years. It is exciting to work with new treatments and coatings that have become vital in the marketing of seed. The new and ever-changing technologies have put an emphasis on seed treatment that has improved and increased the value of coating, and has led to an increase in the amount of research dollars spent in the development of innovative enhancements for seed.
SW: What is a motto you use in your work?
BT: At Summit, it is known that I say “Do it right! Someone will use every bag!” Each and every customer, and order, is important to me. No matter how small or large the job is, quality is our No. 1 goal. That being said, I often say “If we aren’t having fun doing it, let’s don’t do it!” Attitude, a love for our company and seed coatings is what makes Summit successful.
SW: What do you want readers to know about your products?
BT: We believe in our products, and we stand behind what we do. Our promise to customers is as simple as that, and in return their loyalty and our continued relationships with them are beneficial to the seed industry.
