Thomas Wiltrout

Bituminous Coal And Lignite Surface Mining

Founded in 1938, Agricultural Alumni Seed Improvement Association, Inc. develops and supplies hybrid popcorn seeds, including butterfly, mushroom, and white varieties. The private company is based in Romney, IN. The company utilizes Purdue University germplasm and genetics research to create hybrids optimized for diverse climates, focusing on traits such as regional adaptation, maturity, disease resistance, yield, kernel size, color, and popping expansion. Most seed production is conducted in-house at a large facility, ensuring quality control and certification to AOSCA and ISTA standards by independent, USDA-accredited agencies. All seed lots are GMO-free certified. The company also provides custom seed production, conditioning, treating, and bagging services.

Functions as an investment holding company

Indiana Agricultural Leadership, operating as AgriInstitute, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leadership capacity within agriculture, food, and rural communities. The private company is based in Danville, CA. Its flagship initiative is the Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP), a two-year professional development program that includes seminars and travel study experiences to broaden participants’ leadership skills and industry knowledge. The organization also offers additional leadership training focused on practical workplace skills and maintains a strong alumni network for ongoing support and networking. AgriInstitute hosts community events to engage stakeholders and address agricultural and food issues, and its funding comes from participation fees, grants, fundraising, and donor support, including scholarships.