For nearly 65 years, Justus Bag Co. has been supplying high-quality agricultural packaging for some of the largest grass seed, onion, pulse crop, and livestock feed companies throughout North America.

The third-generation family business, now led by Darin Justus, has locations in Portland and east of Spokane. Bags for clients come in a variety of materials and sizes — everything from paper to polypropylene, and 1 pound up to several thousand pounds.

OSA presented Justus Bag Co. with the award for Associate Member of the Year at our 2024 Summer Convention in June. The company has supported OSA for about three decades, Justus said.

“It was just truly an honor,” he said. “I was very humbled.”

Partners in the Seed Business

Justus Bag Co. was founded by Justus’ grandfather, Roland “Curly” Justus, and his father, Doug Justus, in 1959. Roland had previously gone into business with the Oregon Bag Co., now known as OBC Northwest, in Canby before moving his family to Spokane to start his own company.

Back then, Justus said they would drive around collecting old used bags, mostly burlap, and bringing them back to their facility where a line of sewers would recondition them to be sold again. Today, bags are made overseas and brought to Justus Bag Co.’s warehouses, where employees hand-feed them one by one through one of nine printing presses.

The company opened its Portland branch in 2008. Together, the facilities employ about 30-35 people, depending on the season.

“Our team on the production line doesn’t get enough credit, because we cannot go out and do what we do without them,” Justus said.

Justus described the grass seed industry as a “vital” component of their business. His favorite part of the job is developing long-lasting relationships with clients, and forging partnerships that benefit and strengthen the agricultural industry as a whole.

“We don’t look at our customers as customers. They’re more partners with us in business,” he said. “That really is the most important part of our business, is building these relationships, these friendships and partnerships, that hopefully last a lifetime. Once you have that, it’s easier to work together on issues.”

Supporting OSA and the Community

A lot of that industry networking and relationship-building happens through OSA, Justus said, which is a big reason why he continues to support the association.

“We only thrive in this industry because of the people we’re dealing with in OSA,” he said. “It’s a good group of people, it’s a great organization, and it only gets better for us every year with them.”

Justus Bag Co. also supports several other community organizations, including Cancer Can’t, a Spokane-area nonprofit dedicated to assisting people fighting cancer. The group was founded by Jonathan Van Keulen and his wife, Becky, after Jonathan was diagnosed with bone cancer. Jonathan’s father, John, is a sales manager for Justus Bag Co.

The 10^th annual Cancer Can’t Gala is scheduled for Sept. 21 at the Spokane Convention Center, with Justus Bag as an event sponsor.

“That’s probably one of the biggest highlights for us, is that organization,” Justus said.

Upon receiving the Associate Member of the Year award from OSA in June, Justus said it took everything he had not to get emotional in front of everyone.

“We only get that award because of the people in this industry,” he said. “We’re very fortunate and grateful that most of these companies that we’re dealing with are loyal clients, loyal partners, and it just makes it a lot of fun.”

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