about Greenhorizons > company history

The Schiedel farming history in Ontario can be traced back more than 200 years, when the ancestors of Greenhorizons founder Richard Schiedel purchased large tracts of land along the banks of the Speed and Grand Rivers.  The family’s success in both dairy and grain farming continued into the 1980’s, when the transition to farming Kentucky bluegrass sod had already begun and the green industry was to be changed forever. Compact Sod was born in 1975 and became the first production facility under what is now known as The Greenhorizons Group of Farms.  Since its inception in 1989, Greenhorizons has expanded to include Hamilton Sod, Niagara Sod, Halton Sod, Ontario Sod and Compact Sod as divisions of the company and is growing and harvesting grass on 4000+ acres. 

Back in the early days, sod was hand loaded and unloaded…one roll at a time.  The process was arduous and labour intensive and because of that, there were limitations when it came to the harvest and therefore limitations on what could be done to satisfy the supply chain and the customer.  Since those early days and continually over the past 40 years, the key to Greenhorizons’ success as the #1 grower in the province has always been an embedded willingness to embrace the future.  

“Greenhorizons president Ron Schiedel is enthusiastic and an innovator.  I believe the key to his success is in his ability to strike that fine balance …to remain acutely aware of what has worked in the past and use that as a springboard to foresee change and embrace advancements.  He has always been a leader, on the cusp and never willing to stand pat.  The Schiedels simply have not allowed current successes to limit their future”

-Rob Witherspoon, Executive Director, Guelph Turfgrass Institute

back to top