Herman Beck

Herm started his business career at the early age of 19 by working with the family’s new car dealership. After college, he became general Manager, and purchased the company expanding into an auto leasing company, motorcycle dealership, and formed a company to import and distribute automobile accessories and parts. During this time period, he was also involved in radio and TV both in production and as a talent. In 1978 he founded Chenoweth/Lee Group which specialized in aerial, architectural, interior and food photography. The company grew to be in the top 5% of all commercial studios in America. Completely vertically integrated, the company owned it's own aircraft, still and video equipment, processing laboratory and layout and design department. He sold his interests in 1992. In 1990 he moved to a 160 acre farm and began raising livestock and vegetable crops for sale to restaurants and at farmer's markets. The business became a leader in the sustainable agricultural movement. Mr. Beck began to conduct workshops to teach other farmers and "wannabees" how to raise and process free-range poultry and vegetables and how-to market direct from the farm. In 1996 he wrote a best selling book, Free-Range Poultry Production and Marketing and wrote and produced a companion video in 1999. Back40Books was founded in 1995 as part of his effort to make it easier for rural people to buy the books he recommended. The business prospered and went on-line in 2001. It had been run as a co-operative business until Mr. Beck and Ms. Lee purchased the company from Locust Grove Community in July of 2005. The Company, now named Back 40 Group, operates www.Back40Books.com , Pleasant Valley Productions, Fluffy Cat Records and KWBC.fm internet radio. Herm attended Ohio State University, is a co-founder of Resilience, and currently Executive Director. Resilience, a non-profit group with members in 28 states, operates a research farm at Nature’s Pace Sanctuary.