Red Hen Turf Farm Inc

What Red Hen Turf Farm Inc does

Red Hen Turf Farm, Inc. is a privately held Indiana corporation founded in 1970 that produces and sells turfgrass sod across more than 1,000 acres of farmland, primarily Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue varieties. The farm serves customers within approximately 150 miles of its base in Indiana and Southwest Michigan through direct farm pickup, local delivery, garden centers, and wholesale partnerships with Lowe's and Home Depot. Per-square-foot pricing sits in the $0.58-$0.78 band, with adjacent product lines covering grass seed, fertilizer, and erosion-control blankets. Production is supported by GPS-guided soil nutrient evaluation technology, and the operation runs a crop-rotation cycle across tomatoes, soybeans, corn, and wheat that yields over 100,000 bushels of row crops annually alongside its turf output.

The revenue model is product-driven: per-square-foot sod sales are the primary line, supplemented by ancillary input sales, grain revenue from rotation crops, and volume-based wholesale relationships with national retailers. Customer segments span individual homeowners, professional landscapers, athletic field developers, golf courses, and erosion-control contractors. A wholesale discount program and SMS-based customer service indicate deliberate go-to-market investment beyond passive farm-gate sales. Educational content on the company site and academic collaborations with Purdue University and Michigan State University support agronomic credibility and trade-buyer engagement.

No external funding, acquisitions, leadership changes, or M&A activity are disclosed. The company is a long-tenured, family/privately operated regional turf producer whose competitive position rests on 1,000+ acres of production scale, multi-channel distribution, and 50+ years of accumulated agronomic expertise rather than on technology differentiation or capital-driven expansion.

Name

Red Hen Turf Farm Inc

Legal name

Red Hen Turf Farm, Inc.

Website

https://redhenturf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Red Hen Turf Farm is a privately held Indiana sod producer founded in 1970, growing Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue across 1,000+ acres for homeowners, landscapers, golf courses, and retailers including Lowe's and Home Depot within a ~150-mile radius.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Turfgrass Sod Farming

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming (111191)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Sod, Turfgrass & Groundcover Production (AFAGAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Turf & Ornamental Seeds (Lawn, Golf, Landscaping) (AFABAFAG), Turf & Ornamental Specialty Fertilizers (Golf, Sports Turf, Landscaping) (AFABACAM)

Keywords

• Turfgrass sod production
• Sod farming
• Kentucky bluegrass sod
• Tall fescue sod
• Erosion control products

Headquarters

HQ city

New Carlisle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sod Sales: Primary revenue from selling turfgrass sod (Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue varieties). Sold by individual rolls (2ft x 5ft = 10 sq ft) or pallets (50 rolls = 500 sq ft). Volume discounts available for pallets and large orders. Delivery available for orders of 50+ rolls.
2. Fertilizer Sales: Sells select range of fertilizers, herbicides, and lawn care products. Provides soil test kits with interpretation services to help customers tailor fertilizer programs.
3. Grass Seed Sales: Sells several varieties of grass seed matching their sod products, including Kentucky Bluegrass Sod Mix and Tall Fescue Sod Mix, plus specialty seed blends.
4. Erosion Control Products: Sells straw blankets for erosion control on seeded slopes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Red Hen Turf Farm grows and sells mature turfgrass sod (Kentucky Bluegrass and Turf-type Tall Fescue varieties) on over 1,000 acres at its New Carlisle, Indiana farm, using GPS-guided precision nutrient management across an 18-month production cycle. In addition to sod, the company sells complementary grass seed mixtures, fertilizer products with soil test interpretation services, and straw blankets for slope erosion control.

Product overview

Red Hen Turf Farm is a turfgrass sod producer and retailer offering two primary sod varieties: Kentucky Bluegrass Sod (100% Kentucky bluegrass blend) and Turf-type Tall Fescue Sod Blend (predominantly turf-type tall fescue with Kentucky bluegrass). The company also sells complementary grass seeds (Greenskeeper seed mixtures), fertilizers, and erosion control products. They do not offer installation services. Products are sold direct to homeowners, landscapers, and retailers with pickup at farm or delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Red Hen Kentucky Bluegrass Sod 100% Kentucky Bluegrass sod blend of four high-quality varieties with deep emerald blue-green color and boat-shaped blades. Spreads quickly via rhizomes to form dense knitted sod best suited for full sun (4+ hours of direct sunlight daily). Sold to homeowners, landscapers, athletic sites, and retailers in rolls (10 sq ft) or pallets (500 sq ft).
• Red Hen Turf-type Tall Fescue Sod Blend Predominantly rhizomatous turf-type tall fescue with a bit of Kentucky bluegrass mixed in. Grown for superior density, dark color, and fine leaf texture, with deep rooting and increased drought tolerance once established.
• Kentucky Blue Grass Sod Mix (Grass Seed) Seed matching current Kentucky Bluegrass sod varieties. Germinates in approximately 21 days; used for patching small areas or seeding new areas. Seeding rate 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for new lawns, 2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for established lawns.
• Tall Fescue Sod Mix (Grass Seed) Seed matching Turf-type Tall Fescue Sod (approximately 90% Turf-type Tall Fescue, 10% Kentucky Bluegrass). Provides deep rooting, drought tolerance, and low irrigation requirements. Germinates in 7-14 days.
• Greenskeeper Custom Mixture (Grass Seed) All-purpose mix of fine-bladed grasses containing bluegrass for lasting beauty and durability, plus turf-type ryegrasses for quick establishment and weed control.
• Greenskeeper Premium Shady Mixture (Grass Seed) Designed for low-sunlight areas with moderate maintenance requirements; early spring or fall seedings recommended. Low fertilization and water requirements.
• Greenskeeper Super Shady Mixture (Grass Seed) Selected varieties for difficult heavy-shade areas, more aggressive than normal shady mixtures. Contains 5% Poa Supina bluegrass seed.
• Greenskeeper National Links Mixture (Grass Seed) Blend of fine fescues suited for low maintenance and shady areas, with unmatched shade tolerance under low-managed conditions.
• No-Mow Fescue Seed (Grass Seed) Also called Low-Mow or National Links Seed, this is an excellent blend of fine fescues for low-maintenance areas.
• Fertilizer Products with Soil Test Interpretation Range of fertilizers including 12-12-12 fertilizer and specialized lawn care products. Includes soil test kits with interpretation services and customized fertilizer program recommendations based on soil analysis.
• Straw Blankets (Erosion Control) Straw blankets used to protect seeds planted on slopes from erosion. Do not contain seed and are not needed for bird control.

Quantifiable outcome

• It typically takes 18 months for turf grass plants to reach maturity and knit together to make a strong sod product
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Four Seasons Landscaping NurseryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent garden center located at 226 E US Hwy 6, Valparaiso, IN 46386. Resells Red Hen sod products to local consumers.
• Cummings Landscape IncminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLandscape company located at 7705 West Lincoln Highway, Crown Point, IN 46307. Resells Red Hen sod products to local consumers.
• Ginger ValleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarden center located at 15065 IN-23, Granger, IN 46350. Resells Red Hen sod products to local consumers.
• Not Just a Garden CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarden center located at 1502 S. Union St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Resells Red Hen sod products to local consumers.
• McKinley Garden CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarden center located at 13333 McKinley Hwy, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Resells Red Hen sod products to local consumers.
• Lowes and Home DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor home improvement retailers supplied by Red Hen Turf Farm across Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan regions. Provides significant volume distribution through these chain stores.
• Purdue University Turfgrass Science DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing science-based, regionally relevant research and educational resources. Red Hen references Purdue as a primary trusted source for lawn care information in the Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan region.
• Michigan State University Extension Turf ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing regionally relevant research-based lawn care information for the Michigan region. Referenced alongside Purdue as trusted sources for lawn maintenance guidance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• West Coast Turf: Southern California sod producer offering multiple warm- and cool-season varieties with direct delivery to homeowners, landscapers, and golf/athletic markets. Comparable to Red Hen in operating model and customer mix but serving a different climate/geography.

Direct peers

• Super-Sod: Multi-state sod producer operating in the Southeast with company-owned retail stores (SodShed), direct delivery, and complementary soil/fertilizer products. Closely comparable to Red Hen in offering mature sod varieties plus soil amendments through both direct and retail channels.
• NG Turf: Georgia-based sod producer offering multiple grass varieties (Zoysia, Bermuda, Fescue, Centipede) with delivery within a regional radius and sales to homeowners, landscapers, and retailers. Directly comparable to Red Hen in product mix, regional delivery model, and customer segments served.
• Sod Solutions Inc. Large US-based sod developer and producer offering multiple proprietary turfgrass varieties (Zoysia, Bermudagrass, St. Augustine) sold through garden centers and direct delivery. Directly comparable to Red Hen in product, distribution model, and target customer base of homeowners, landscapers, and retailers.
• Greenhorizons Group of Companies: Large North American sod producer operating farms in Ontario and the US with direct delivery, retail garden center partnerships, and complementary seed/fertilizer offerings. Directly comparable in product breadth, distribution channels, and customer segmentation to Red Hen.

Broad incumbents

• Lebanon Turf (Lebanon Seaboard Corporation): Specialty manufacturer of turf and ornamental fertilizers, grass seed, and soil products sold through distribution and retail. Adjacent competitor in the fertilizer and seed categories where Red Hen offers its own ancillary lines.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Company: National lawn-care giant with leading consumer fertilizer, seed, and lawn-treatment brands. Overlaps with Red Hen in the grass-seed and fertilizer categories where Red Hen competes for end-consumer wallet share, but does not produce sod at scale.
• SiteOne Landscape Supply: Largest North American wholesale distributor of landscape supplies, including sod, fertilizers, seed, and erosion-control products, serving professional landscapers. Competes with Red Hen indirectly by aggregating supply for the same commercial buyer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/redhensod
• Facebookfacebook.com/redhenturf
• Pinterestpinterest.com/redhenturf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-hen-turf-farm-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Hen Turf Farm Inc