SALINA, KS — Beck’s, the largest family-owned retail seed company in the United States, officially opened its new Salina facility on Tuesday, August 5, with a grand opening event that welcomed hundreds of visitors from across the region. The event combined education, technology, and family-friendly activities in a full-day showcase of the company’s presence in Kansas.
The celebration included guided tours of Beck’s newly constructed warehouse and surrounding test plots, hands-on seed and product demonstrations, equipment displays, and technology showcases. Attendees were also treated to soft-serve ice cream, prize raffles, branded giveaways, and a drone demonstration that provided an aerial view of the research fields.
Drone Technology Takes Flight at Beck’s Salina Grand Opening
The Salina location, situated just off I-70 on North Ohio Street, is designed to serve as both a distribution center and a Practical Farm Research (PFR) site. The 96,000-square-foot facility sits on approximately 140 acres and includes field plots planted with corn, soybeans, and milo—crops relevant to Kansas growers. The company uses these test plots to conduct localized research aimed at helping producers make more informed seed and management decisions.
Company representatives were on hand to speak with growers, explain Beck’s product lineup, and answer questions about field performance, trait packages, and agronomic support. The drone demonstration was particularly well received, highlighting Beck’s investment in precision agriculture and aerial monitoring to evaluate plant health and stress levels.
Beck’s leadership says the Salina facility marks a key step in expanding the company’s footprint westward and strengthening ties with producers in central and western Kansas. Kansas was previously considered underserved by the company’s distribution network, and this investment is intended to close that gap.
The grand opening also served as a regional Becknology™ Days event, part of Beck’s larger initiative to bring education and innovation directly to the farming community in a hands-on format.
Founded in 1937, Beck’s remains independently owned and farmer-focused, serving growers across more than a dozen Midwestern and Plains states. The Salina site is expected to host future field shows, agronomy clinics, and other grower-focused events in the years ahead.