Roundstone Seed, LLC’s President, John Seymour, in a field of wildflowers.
When you walk the fields at Roundstone Native Seed in Kentucky, you’re stepping into more than just rows of carefully cultivated native plants. You’re stepping into a story of persistence, faith, and passion for restoring America’s biodiversity—a story that began with five-gallon buckets in Mammoth Cave National Park.
A Family Rooted in Native Plants
Image of Roundstone Native Seed, LLC’s logo made entirely from plant and seed material.
Roundstone’s president, John Seymour, grew up in the footsteps of his father, Randy, who literally wrote the book on Wildflowers of Mammoth Cave National Park. The Seymours’ early efforts in the 1990s involved hand-collecting seeds, bucket by bucket, before launching what would eventually become Roundstone Native Seed, LLC in 1994.
For John, the seed business has always been about more than just plants—it’s about ecotypes, adaptation, and resilience. “The same species can exist from the Midwest to the Southeast, but how it grows depends on rainfall, frost dates, soils, and insects,” John explains. “Genetics matter. Ecotype matters.” That philosophy has guided Roundstone’s growth from a small family venture into one of the most influential voices in the national native seed movement.
Weathering the Storms of Business
Like grasslands themselves, Roundstone has endured seasons of boom and bust. In the early years of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the company grew rapidly—at one point expanding eightfold. But in 2009, orders collapsed. John recalls walking the fields carrying the weight of debt and doubt, but also learning invaluable lessons about resilience. “You have to be self-motivated,” he says. “Have faith, keep going, and know that what you’re doing makes a difference.”
A Partnership of Shared Vision
A field of Monarda citriodora (common name Lemon Beebalm).
Roundstone’s path crossed with SGI co-founder Dr. Dwayne Estes through mutual friends in the botanical world. The connection sparked quickly, fueled by a shared passion for plants and restoration. In 2016, the partnership became tangible at Dunbar Cave State Park, where the Seymours helped Dwayne and a burgeoning SGI to prepare the land and supply seed—at no cost. “Let’s help him for free,” Randy told John. That generosity helped catalyze a restoration project that continues to inspire today.
“Roundstone didn’t just pitch in a little, they gave a gift of seed and labor valued at $35,000,” says Dwayne. “That gift gave us our first pilot project and helped us build credibility. The value of Roundstone’s gift goes way beyond $35,000, it was truly a gift of love and friendship that is invaluable to SGI’s origin story.”
Since then, Roundstone and SGI have partnered on projects large and small, from the 100-acre Google-funded restoration to training programs for foresters, land managers, and park staff. The collaboration has also extended to advocacy, with John and Dwayne traveling to Washington, D.C. to educate policymakers on why regionally adapted native seed resources matter.
Complementing, Not Competing
Image outside of Roundstone Native Seed LLC’s seed cleaning and storage facilities.
The native seed world is a small one, and Roundstone, like SGI, has always chosen collaboration over competition. “At least three businesses may be bidding on the same project,” John notes, “but my door has always been open. Helping others has never hurt us—it’s only made the whole movement stronger.”
This spirit of collaboration is evident in projects like SGI’s Barnett’s Woods & Prairie State Natural Area initiative, where Roundstone has provided guidance and support for producing foundation seed that will cut the costs of wild collection while ensuring the highest-quality ecotypes. The natural area, located just 15 minutes west of Austin Peay State University’s campus, will become a real showpiece for grassland restoration and research.
Lessons From the Land
Producing native seed is anything but easy. Some species only yield viable crops every three years. Others, like milkweed, resist being farmed and prefer to grow in clumps. Even perennial species may fail to set seed some years. “You never know which season will give you a harvest,” John explains. “That’s why research, collaboration, and education with partners like SGI are so important.”
For Roundstone, educating consumers is as important as producing seed. John prefers honesty—even if it frustrates a customer in the short term. “I’d rather you be mad at me now than mad at me later,” he says. “Restoration takes time, patience, and the right seed.”
Recognized Leadership
In 2025, John & Randy Seymour and Roundstone Native Seed were honored with the Aldo Leopold Award, recognizing their decades of leadership in native seed production, conservation, and partnership. It’s a fitting milestone for a family business that started with buckets of wildflowers and has become a national leader.
Looking Forward
Roundstone’s story is one of grit, generosity, and vision. As John reflects on advice he would give to the next generation of farmers interested in native seed production, “I never thought it would be a gold mine. I never knew it would be so arduous. But when people told me I couldn’t do something, that just drove me harder. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.”
At SGI, we’re proud to call Roundstone Native Seed not only a partner but a friend and our first donor. They believed in us even before there was an SGI. Together, we are building a future where grasslands thrive, biodiversity flourishes, and restoration efforts have the best chance to succeed—one seed at a time.
Blog by Eleanor Lopez, SGI Communications Specialist.
