ATLANTA, Ind. — It is not every day a family-owned seed company celebrates its 75th anniversary. The company was founded by Lawrence and Francis Beck in 1937; Sonny Beck, third-generation, is currently president.

“In 1937, the year hybrid corn was born, they were both allotted three acres each of hybrid parent corn from the Purdue (University) Botany Department. This became the first crop of Beck seed corn. Sonny Beck joined the company in 1964, and now we are the largest family owned seed corn in the U.S.,” said Ryan Parkin, marketing communications manager.

To celebrate its anniversary, company management employed a unique idea. “Every year our employees submit new marketing ideas. One was to approach Orange County Choppers to see if they would develop a 75th anniversary cycle, and another was to find a legacy fund for employees to contribute to for charity.

“We threw them together,” Parkin explained, “and we had two choppers built: one we are giving away through a sweepstakes for charity, and one we are keeping.”

Paul Teutul Sr., CEO of Orange County Choppers, agreed to build a unique bike to represent Beck’s. It will be featured on “American Chopper” on the Discovery Channel this fall.

“Our theme chopper will air as the season’s premiere episode. It is an ag-themed bike, built to honor the American farmer,” Parkin said.

The chopper is a reverse trike, with two wheels in the front and one in the back, and mimics a corn picker. Every aspect of the commemorative chopper is unique and custom-built. An American flag with the saying “God Bless the American Farmer” flies on the gas tank, along with an image of a two-row horse-drawn planter. “This represents how we did our first planting 75 years ago,” Parkin explained.

The specially designed chopper was unveiled at the Dealer Sales Kick-off Camp in July for more than 1,000 dealers in downtown Indianapolis. Besides this chopper that will tour and be on display for Beck’s, another specially designed two-wheel chopper with the gas tank decorated in the same design of the American flag will go to the winner of the sweepstakes.

Parkin said there is a well-known rivalry between father Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers and his son, Paul Teutul Jr., of Paul Jr. Designs. Orange County Choppers designed Beck’s bike and seed company rival Dekalb, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, had a chopper designed by Paul Jr. (According to Parkin, the Beck’s chopper was the first unveiled.)

Raffle tickets – whether for a donation made, or a free ticket for stopping by – are available at the home office or at a Beck’s Hybrids booth at upcoming shows. To check out what events Beck’s will attend – including this week’s Farm Science Review in London, Ohio – visit www.beckshybrids.com/wecare

The sweepstakes wraps up Feb. 22, 2012. Beck’s plans to pick the winning ticket at its home office, then present the chopper at the Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., March 1-3. Donations will go to the We Care for Orphans fund, an organization set up by Shantel and Vice President Scott Beck of Beck’s to assist families with resources needed to fund their adoption.

“We learned that there are over 143 million orphans worldwide,” Parkin said. “It costs over $30,000 to adopt, and this sweepstakes will help fund adoptions.”

As of early September, Ryan said the project had already raised more than $50,000. “The Beck family has created the Beck Foundation and the family has donated through this foundation. They have been very private about it, but this year the employees wanted to do this and make a difference,” he added.