[Citizens National Bank Helps Burtch Seed Sow Seeds of Success]
Beginning in 1979, Burtch Seed started out as a local farm-seed company, providing soybean and wheat seed to local farmers. As they grew, they expanded that side of the business to include contracts with farmers in not only Ohio, but Indiana and Michigan as well. Twelve years ago, through a program offered by the Ohio Soybean Council, Ed Burtch and his brother Mike, owners of the company, decided to go international by offering food-grade soybeans to companies in Japan, and they haven’t stopped growing since. According to Ed, “Ohio is known for quality soybeans throughout the world. Due to our weather conditions, we grow the best beans and Japan, especially, who utilizes soybeans in a lot of their food products, including tofu, are eager to purchase Ohio beans. Our expansion into this market made a lot of sense for us, but it definitely requires confidence in your bank that you can get the money you need when you need it.”
Ed says he has that confidence in Rod Stover and Citizens National Bank. Having dealt with Rod at a previous bank, Ed and Mike chose to stick with him when he came to Citizens in 2005 as a commercial lender. “Being a farmer himself, Rod understands our business and he works with us to provide what we need,” comments Ed. A lot of Ed’s deals require cash on hand to close the deal and the line of credit he has through Citizens provides him the freedom to know what size deals he’s capable of closing at any given time. “The ability to complete foreign wire transfers is also extremely vital to the international side of my business. When I’m in Japan, I know I can have money wired to me and it will be there,” says Ed.
Ed says the transition to Citizens National Bank was a smooth one and they’ve never been happier with their choice in banks. In addition to their line of credit and wire transfers through Online for Business, Burtch Seed has their real estate loans, equipment leasing and checking accounts with CNB and Ed even keeps his personal accounts with Citizens as well. He comments, “Our bank should be a partner with us in our business, keeping us up to date on rates and product options. That’s what Rod provides for us – a true partnership.” One specific event he recalls was this past August. One of Burtch Seed’s buildings caught fire on a Saturday. Ed was out of state and Rod was one of the first people at the scene and even made the phone call to tell him the building was a loss. “Rod was out here Saturday, Sunday and Monday, being a true friend and letting us know what our options were. It’s service like that that builds loyalty.”
Burtch Seed is located on Tama Road in Celina, Ohio. In addition to the farm seed and food grade soybeans, they also offer turf and forage seed, including bluegrass and alfalfa. As they continue to diversify and expand, they remain focused on the fact that they are a family-owned local business and they stress the importance of dealing with local farmers and institutions. “We’re proud of the roots we’ve put down in Celina and look forward to continuing to work with other local institutions, such as Citizens National Bank, that believe in our ability to continue to grow while remaining here in northwest Ohio,” says Ed.
