🌽 Business Visit: ROI Biologicals
Recently, the Union County CEO team had the opportunity to visit ROI Biologicals in Cypress, Illinois — owned by Vienna High School alumnus, Cody Goins. While Cody was unable to attend, General Manager, Chasity Chotner, and Operations Manager, Jordan Adams, provided an insightful overview of the company and a behind-the-scenes tour of their production facilities and warehouses. We were also joined by our friends from the Johnson County CEO Program, making it a great collaborative experience!
Cody began ROI Biologicals in his garage and has grown it year after year into a thriving agricultural business. Today, ROI Biologicals is a leader in the development and delivery of biological solutions that improve soil health, increase crop yields, and reduce the use of synthetic chemicals—helping farmers get the most out of their crops while supporting long-term sustainability.
Jordan shared that there’s a great deal of chemistry and precision involved in formulating their products—each ingredient must be mixed in a specific order to ensure top quality. He also emphasized the importance of flexibility, innovation, and strategic planning in business, reminding students that being able to pivot when challenges arise is essential to success.
ROI Biologicals’ products are used by farmers across the U.S. and internationally, including many right here in Southern Illinois. Their biologicals have even contributed to world-record corn and soybean yields and are used on crops ranging from corn and soybeans to watermelon, cotton, peanuts, and cabbage! Every product is blended, manufactured, and packaged right in their Cypress facility.
The AJ Wildcats student, Zoe Chen, had some great takeaways from our visit:
“On Monday, our CEO team visited ROI Biologicals with Johnson County CEO. Guest speakers Chasity Chotner and Jordan Adams spoke to us about how ROI Biologicals came to be and its goal.
It was very cool to learn that ROI Biologicals was started in a garage and then grew into a big company. Their brand name is very strategic. ROI Biologicals' motto is to build from the ground up and continuously improve a farm’s yield. ROI stands for return on investment, so it means that, since the farmers are investing in ROI Biologicals, they’re getting a return on their investment as their yields improve, allowing them to make even more money. Their brand name is very clever. I can use this information when creating the brand name for my own personal business. I need to make a name that is easy to remember but also has a clever meaning that pertains to my business.
While there, we toured the facilities. Their buildings are similar to Trainor Ag’s, which makes sense as their businesses are somewhat related. One thing that was different was the types of products they sold. Trainor Ag was more chemical based while ROI Biologicals were organic, making it easier to clean up if there was any spillage.
This visit was very cool and I learned a lot of things.”
A sincere thank-you to Chasity and Jordan for sharing their morning and knowledge with our students, and for the delicious breakfast! The story of ROI Biologicals is truly inspiring—built on innovation, honesty, and hard work. We’re proud to have ROI Biologicals as an Investor in the Union County CEO Program and deeply appreciate their ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship education and community growth. 🌱
