Jay Lausen has lived in his childhood home all his life. He started farming in high school, first planting Latham® soybeans in 1990, and has continued to plant them ever since. When his parents, Dennis and Pauline, built a new house shortly after he graduated, Jay stayed on the family farm just outside Estherville, Iowa, and took on the operation.

Jay also took over his uncle’s Latham Seeds dealership when he retired, and he continued to sell the Latham soybeans both he and Uncle Ralph Lausen had grown to rely on over the years. Today Jay is 100% Latham, planting and selling both soybeans and corn.

“I was so accustomed to the quality of Latham soybeans and its yield,” Jay says. “I judged how other companies performed and Latham was just very high performing.”

A large seed company wooed Jay away for a few years, but he soon tired of “the big company attitude.” Even when he was selling that competitor’s seed, Jay was still planting Latham soybeans on his own farm.

He signed back on with Latham and has never looked back.

“The big guys cared more about the shareholder than they did about the customer,” Jay says. “Family values are what I want to represent. The seed industry is very competitive. It’s hard to set yourself apart, but Latham always has.”

Jay and his wife, Kohlene, have four children: Natalie, Elizabeth, Caleb and Megan. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, riding bicycles, spending time in Okoboji, Iowa and vacationing in the Western United States.

Their family always enjoys this recipe for Cheesy Potatoes — a classic in the Lausens’ home.

America is rich in its history and traditions. Every year, the Fourth of July brings families and friends together to celebrate America’s independence with parades, activities and of course delicious food. Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we are rooted in our history as an independent-family-owned company

But what’s more American than a Fourth of July picnic? Actually, the word “picnic” comes from “pique nique,” which is French for “to pick.” Picnics were often held indoors, where everyone contributed their own dish. Since the 1830s Americans have embraced, which has been captured in many American paintings ever since.

Today, many of us couldn’t imagine celebrating the Fourth without a picnic, thanks to this easy and fun tradition. Whether you are celebrating on a boat, watching fireworks or in your own backyard, food is always a centerpiece of the festivities — because it has a special way of bringing people together. This holiday, we’re celebrating “picnic style” by sharing Sunnyside Farms baked beans and Grandma V’s Fruit Salad recipes to add to your celebrations.

From all of us at Latham Seeds, have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

Baked Beans Supreme

Ingredients:

• 1 28 ounce can Bush’s Original Baked Beans
• 2 28 ounce cans Bush’s Onion Baked Beans
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef, browned and drained
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ stick butter
• 1 ½ cup Famous Dave’s Rich & Sassy barbecue sauce
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Dried onion to cover the top
• Pinch garlic powder
• ½ pound bacon, fried and cut into ½-inch pieces
• 1 package polish sausage sliced

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a 6-quart crockpot. Cook all day on LOW or on HIGH for 2 ½ or 3 hours

Grandma V’s Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup sugar
• Scant 2 tablespoons vinegar
• Dash of salt
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions:

• Cream together eggs, butter and sugar
• Mix in vinegar and salt; cook in double boiler until thick, stirring constantly
• Cool mixture and then add 1 cup whipped cream
• Pour over fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries and grapes) then refrigerate