Company Information

A history of excellence.
Maple Leaf Farms, Inc., located in America's heartland, was founded by Donald Wentzel in 1958. It began as a small duck operation among the farm fields of Milford, Indiana, producing 280,000 ducks its first year then growing to more than one million in 1964.

Although Mr. Wentzel passed away in 1968, his son-in-law Terry Tucker carried on the tradition. Many of the Tucker family members are involved in the business. Terry now serves as chairman and CEO of the company, and Wentzel's grandsons, Scott and John Tucker lead daily operations as co-presidents. Today, Maple Leaf Farms is North America’s leading producer of quality duck products, producing up to 15 million ducks annually.

This fourth generation family-owned company manages a number of vertically integrated operations throughout the United States, including breeding farms, hatcheries, biotech and analytical labs, feather operations, feed mills, primary processing, and value-added processing plants. By paying careful attention to quality at each step of production, its 1,200 employees and 100+ partner farmers are able to produce the highest quality duck products in the marketplace. 

Maple Leaf farms is one of only a few fully integrated primary breeders of duckling worldwide, and conducts extensive research and development in genetics, nutrition,duck health and welfare, and environmental improvement of duckling production.  As a pioneer in the duck industry, the company is committed to identifying and developing new business opportunities and relationships to leverage  its integrated duck system technology in ways that benefit all entities involved.

Despite the company's growth, Maple Leaf Farms has not lost sight of the values and commitment to family, community, and customers for quality of service, products, and brands that are the basis for its success. The company and its officers have been recognized throughout the years for their accomplishments. They have been honored to receive recognition as a Top 100 Private Company, a Top National Foodservice Brand, the Governor’s Half Century Business Award, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, American Business Ethics Award, Family Business Award, and the Blue Chip Community Business Award.

Visit the Quality and Research section for company technical background.

Maple Leaf Farms is proud to be a member of the following organizations: 

• American Feed Association
• Facility Certification Institute (FCI)
• U.S. Poultry and Egg Association
• National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
• National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT)
• International Association of Culinary Professionals
• Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce