DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Winged Ear Logo

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

1. The Winged Ear Logo Marker

Inscription. The DeKalb® brand winged ear logo is perhaps one of the most widely-recognized agricultural trademarks in the world. Over the years it has undergone many design enhancements from the original concept. But the same iconic image of a flying ear of corn, first conceived in 1935 here in DeKalb, remains. The original concept behind the logo is credited to DeKalb Agricultural Association founder Tom Roberts Sr. He believed that the increased yields from newly-developed DeKalb® hybrid corn would help “lift” farmers’ mortgages, even as dairy cows and hogs had done earlier. When employee Ken Kramer suggested putting wings on an ear of corn, Roberts immediately approved. The basic design of the company’s logo was thus born. The first appearance of the winged ear with the words “DeKalb Quality Hybrid Will Be Your Mortgage Lifter" was in October 1935 on company letterhead. An enhanced version of the logo developed by an ad agency was legally registered with the U.S. Patent Office as the company’s trademark on August 25, 1936 and assigned trademark registration number 337,915. The new logo was first used in an advertisement which appeared

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in the Prairie Farmer magazine dated October 24, 1936. In 1938, the first signs appeared in farmers' fields.

In 1998 Monsanto purchased DeKalb Genetics Corporation and now proudly owns the DeKalb® brand and the winged ear logo that represents it. Today the DeKalb® brand and the winged ear logo are legally registered as trademarks of Monsanto in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Erected 2015 by DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association, Inc. • The Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 1936.

Location. 41° 55.796′ N, 88° 44.979′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. It is on North 4th Street north of Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 N 4th St, Dekalb IL 60115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

2. The Winged Ear Logo Marker

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jacob Haish (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeKalb Veterans Memorial Mural (about 800 feet away); City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial (about 800 feet away); Egyptian Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); DeKalb War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); City of DeKalb Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); DeKalb World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Ellwood House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Regarding The Winged Ear Logo. Bayer AG has owned the hybrid corn seed concern since 2017, when Bayer and Monsato merged.

Also see . . . DeKalb Genetics Corporation History. It was not until 1932 that the first cross-breeding of corn was tested by the [DeKalb County Agricultural] Association. The

DeKalb Hybrid Research Plot image. Click for full size.

Harold R Koltz; uploaded to Flickr by waynemegaman (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

3. DeKalb Hybrid Research Plot

One of 700-plus plots were DeKalb developed and researched hybrid corn varieties. The winged ear logo is visible on top of the sign.

results were so successful, however, that a large field of the variety was planted in 1933. (Funding Universe) (Submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026

4. The Winged Ear Logo Marker & Lincoln Highway

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 848 times since then and 137 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on September 11, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.