b'PARTNER CONTENTAfter 20 Years in Business,Ive learned what Separates us from the Seed Testing PackMorgan Webb, President & Senior Seed Analyst, Seed Check TechnologiesH ow fast two decades go by. Twenty years ago, I co-founded our company Seed Check Technologies with my business partner Beverly Mitchell.This year will be one of celebration for us, as weve come a long way since 2002, both within the business and looking at the world at large. That year, Jean Chrtien was prime minister. George W. Bush was president of the United States. A global pandemic was the furthest thing from everyones mind.How different the world looks since then, but what really doesnt look that different is the staff that make up Seed Check. Prior to starting Seed Check, I worked at two other seed labs in the area, and they werent the right fit for me. In starting this business, we wanted a place where people could determine their own hours and didnt feel like they were under the thumb of their employer. We wanted this seed lab to be a family, and thatsThe staff of Seed Check. From left to right: Michele Douglas, Bonnie what it has become. Our most junior staff member has been hereLove, Elisha Havanka, Morgan Webb, Morgan Saumer, Debora Wheeler, for eight years.Lisa Greenan. Not pictured: Amanda Lunde, Beverly Mitchell.Starting any new business is complicated, and you dont know how its going to turn out. The market is competitive. I was scared.But after a lot of hard work, we found our niche and ended up becoming known as specialists in native grasses and foragesSTARTING ANY NEW BUSINESS and other seeds that are difficult to work with and typically satIS COMPLICATED, AND YOU DONT on the backburner at other labs, because nobody really wanted to bother with them and theres often no seed testing rules inKNOW HOW ITS GOING TO TURN place for them. Word quickly spread, and we became known as authorities on native species largely used for reclamationOUT. THE MARKET IS COMPETITIVE.projects, prairie restoration and national parks. Morgan WebbMany of these species have high dormancy and contami-nants in them that are hard to identify. The seed rules dont always address a lot of these very well. Seed testing involves a lot of science and a little bit of art, and we figured out how to work with them, how to expose the embryos to figure outWhat sets us up for success is our strength as a seed testing viability, conduct tetrazolium testing and much more. Its been afamily. We are not a corporate seed testing lab. Twenty years labour of love, and weve really honed our skills in this area. from now, Id like to see Seed Check carry on with people who Of course, we do a lot of other work as well for countlesswant to do this as a lifestyle rather than as a corporate venture. growers in our region and beyond.We are able to offer something large corporate-style labs are The innovating weve had to do over the years has helped usnot: personalized, customized service delivered by people who adapt to changing times and a changing climate. Some yearsreally care about the client. Were proud to have delivered that challenge us to use our skills to break dormancy. Other years itsfor the last two decades, and its not going to change. Were here fungal issues, and the list goes on.because we love what we do.JANUARY 2022 GERMINATION.CA 9'