FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 1, 2019

Two Industry Leaders Partnering for a Common Goal

Chesapeake Valley Seed partners with W.S. Connelly & Company, Inc.

Roanoke, Virginia— W.S. Connelly & Company (“WSC”) and Chesapeake Valley Seed (“CVS”), leading providers of seed, fertilizer, erosion control and plant protection solutions, announced today the merger of both companies. CVS and WSC will begin integrating business operations in the months to follow, however, both companies will maintain their brand equity in the marketplace and continue to deliver on meeting and exceeding your expectations.

“We celebrate this new milestone today as we formally join these two independently owned and operated companies,” Kevin Connelly comments. “After 12 months of due diligence, it is the culture of each company that excites me most. Combining the compassion we have for our staff and the passion we share for our customers is what will make this merger successful.”

In only six years, CVS has delivered some of the most innovative and successful seed solutions, quickly growing to a household name in the native, reclamation, pollinator and sod production industries. The owners of CVS had the vision to create true “seed house” for the entire east coast serving seed distributors, farm service dealers, retail stores, and landscape construction contractors. With the most diverse seed offering in the Mid-Atlantic Region and fully integrated blending and bagging operation, CVS has brought back the locally owned and operated seed house. By merging with WSC and all of its subsidiaries, CVS will draw on decades of experience to push the boundaries of service, innovation and customer-focused solutions.

Gordon Kretser, founder of CVS, states: “Our obsession with customer service led us to look for additional partners in the industry. WSC is a natural fit for CVS to continue our path towards growth and customer focus. Being a part of this family owned business allows our employees to have access to better opportunities. By combining our business strengths, we will provide you, our customer, a one-stop shop with over 5 acres of warehouse space and 80 employees passionately focused on earning your trust.”

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About W.S. Connelly & Company, Inc.

For over 60 years, the mid-Atlantic region has depended on W.S. Connelly & Company and its subsidiaries as trusted supply partners in the green industry. While the family business model is increasingly rare in today’s business world, it is a third generation, family-owned and operated business. W.S. Connelly started as a simple "feed ’n seed" business in the 1950s. Through years of hard-work this humble business has grown into one of the most well-respected turf and ornamental and construction supply businesses in the country.

About Chesapeake Valley Seed

A wholesale seed house, Chesapeake Valley Seed manufactures and supplies the perfect solution for all green-industry categories. CVS offers an unbeatable range of high quality wholesale seeds and seeding materials for many applications, including turfgrass, reclamation, native, wildflower, forage, range and pasture, and erosion control needs. CVS’s highly educated and devoted staff focuses on creating close relationships and building unparalleled communication with customers.