Maple Leaf Farms in Indiana: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Maple Leaf Farms is a Tucker-family duck company based in Leesburg, in Kosciusko County, Indiana, a state that ranks first nationally for duck production. Founded in 1958 by Donald Wentzel with 280,000 ducks in its first year, it now reports annual production in the millions and exports whole ducks, parts and by-products.
| Location | Leesburg and Milford, Kosciusko County, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958, by Donald Wentzel in northern Indiana |
| Sectors | duck production, processing and retail and foodservice products; down and feather subsidiaries |
| Scale | 280,000 ducks in the first year; the company reports annual production in the millions |
| Why it is elite | Described as the largest U.S. duck producer in published coverage, in the state ranked No. 1 for ducks |
| Ownership | Tucker family across four generations as described by the company |
| Official website | Maple Leaf Farms official About Us page |
History of Maple Leaf Farms
Donald Wentzel started a small duck operation in northern Indiana in 1958. After his death in 1968, his son-in-law Terry Tucker took over leadership and is now chairman. The company says the Tucker family has led it across four generations, and Scott Tucker is CEO.
A 1981 acquisition of C&D Foods created a Wisconsin division. Related companies Down, Inc. in Grand Rapids and Eurasia Feather Company produce down for bedding. The company celebrated 60 years in business in 2018.
What Maple Leaf Farms Grows and Raises
Maple Leaf Farms raises and processes ducks and sells whole duck, breast, roast half duck, legs, appetizers and halal duck to foodservice and retail customers. Indiana corn and soybean producers supply the grain in its feed, which links the company to row-crop farms in the state.
Exports are part of the strategy. Hoosier Ag Today reports that markets include Japan, South Korea and China for whole ducks, parts and by-products, and the company's down businesses use materials that would otherwise be waste. Its company store also sells duck fat.
How Maple Leaf Farms Makes Money
Foodservice and retail duck
Whole birds and cuts sold to restaurants and grocery shoppers are the main product line, backed by a company store at its Leesburg headquarters.
Exports and by-products
The company exports whole ducks, parts and by-products to Asian markets, and finds value in parts that domestic buyers use less.
Down and feathers
Sister companies Down, Inc. and Eurasia Feather Company turn feathers into down for pillows and comforters, a second revenue line from the same birds.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Maple Leaf Farms
Dominating a niche is the first lesson. Duck is a small segment of U.S. poultry, and Maple Leaf Farms built leadership by focusing on it for six decades rather than competing in chicken. Small and mid-size producers can look for niches with few large competitors.
The second lesson is to monetize every part of the animal. Down, duck fat and export markets add revenue beyond the breast and legs. Operators should ask which co-products have buyers and whether a processing partner could capture them.
Indiana ranks first in ducks, which gives the state a quacking claim that few can match. The farm satire team at farm.FM believes duck country has the best farm humor, mostly because the ranch humor crowd cannot decide whether to call a flock a paddling or a raft. The farm jokes write themselves, though the Tucker family has been busy with real work since 1958.
farm.FM calls itself the nation's first satirical farm site, and between the headlines it spins Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers; a good place to start reading is this farm.FM columnist's archive.
How to Contact Maple Leaf Farms
Website: https://mapleleaffarms.com/pages/about-us
Address: 101 East Church Street, P.O. Box 167, Leesburg, IN 46538
Phone: (800) 348-2812
Email: customerservice@mapleleaffarms.com
Contact details as published on the operation's own website, November 2026. The company store lists weekday hours; confirm before traveling.
Maple Leaf Farms Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Maple Leaf Farms About Us - Company history, locations and products
- Hoosier Ag Today on Maple Leaf Farms - Indiana's No. 1 duck ranking and export markets
- IBJ: Made in Indiana roasted duck - Indiana business coverage of the company
- Indiana State Department of Agriculture programs - State programs including Indiana Grown, Clean Water Indiana and the Indiana Dairy Strategy
- USDA NASS 2022 Census of Agriculture, Indiana - State-level Census of Agriculture tables for Indiana
Maple Leaf Farms FAQ
Where is Maple Leaf Farms located?
Its published headquarters is in Leesburg, Indiana, with Milford as the original site, in Kosciusko County.
When was Maple Leaf Farms founded?
In 1958 by Donald Wentzel, who started a small duck operation in northern Indiana.
Who runs Maple Leaf Farms today?
The company describes Tucker family leadership across four generations; Terry Tucker is chairman and Scott Tucker is CEO according to the sources reviewed.
What does it sell?
Whole duck, duck breast, roast half duck, legs, appetizers, halal duck and duck fat, plus down through sister companies.
Maple Leaf Farms shows how focus on one specialty animal can make an Indiana family firm a national leader. See the Indiana farms guide for more operations and state resources.