Name: Buice, Lou
Title: Founder of Golden Acres Genetics
Texas A&M Class: 1979
Inducted: 2022
Biography
Lou Buice was born and raised in Waco, TX. Growing up, Lou was involved in FFA at Midway High School and enjoyed showing Guernsey dairy cattle. Outside of the show ring, he became the chapter Vice President and President before graduating and he was awarded the Lone Star State FFA degree.
Buice started his undergraduate career at Texas A&M University in the fall of 1975. He majored in Agricultural Economics with a business option, and he quickly gained a mentor in Dr. Vernon Schneider. He credits Drs. Howard Hesby, Kerry Litzenberg, and Don Levi with providing him the tools to succeed in agricultural business marketing and management. Outside of class, he joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity colony that had started the previous year at A&M, and he was the Agricultural Economics Club President. Due to this position, Buice met regularly with other students in leadership positions and the President of the University, Dr. Jarvis Miller, to discuss issues related to the student experience. During the spring break of his junior year, Buice traveled with Dr. Schneider on the Agribusiness Field Study Trip to various agribusinesses in the western United States. This trip led to an internship opportunity for him with Elanco in their Midwest Headquarters that summer, and ultimately, to his first job after college. He received his B.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1979.
Elanco hired Lou to work in their Liberty, TX, office in 1979 – 1981. While there his focus was on sales, followed by him being promoted to a marketing job in their Indianapolis office. By the middle of 1983, Zoecon Animal Health had hired him as their product manager in Dallas, a position he held until ProAg Supply hired him in 1987 when Lou relocated to Wichita, KS. One year later, Zoecon hired him back as their Director of Marketing, charging him with applying their technology to new fields and industries. Mycogen hired Buice in 1990 as their Director of Marketing in San Diego, California where he worked until 1995. He then moved to their Minneapolis, MN branch to be a Product Manager for a year before ultimately moving to Waco in 1996 as their District Sales Manager. In 1999, he started Golden Acres Genetics. Mr. Buice sold Golden Acres Genetics to AgReliant in 2015, but he continues to work as its Divisional Manager today. Buice has held numerous leadership positions within the seed industry, including President of the Texas Seed Trade Association in 2008, President of the Independent Professional Seed Association in 2014, and Chairman of the Corn and Sorghum Division of the American Seed Association in 2015.
Outside of his work with Golden Acres, Buice and his family continue to be heavily involved in their church, community, and Texas A&M University. He is on the College of Agriculture Development Council, is a long-time judge for the Weston AgriFood Sales Program’s class projects, and is a member of the 12th Man Foundation. Buice is also a member and past President of the Texas Early Tractor and Engine Association. Buice has served in an advisory capacity with several faith-based non-profit organizations.
The Buice family also collects antique farm equipment, specifically tractors from 1910-1930, one of which they obtained from the Texas A&M University Bioenvironmental and Agricultural Engineering Department. Lou and his wife, Regina, live in Waco, TX. Their sons, JT and Ty, are Aggie grads of ’04 and ’08, respectively.