Though I certainly don’t consider myself a food plot expert, I have been working the soil and planting food plots for whitetails in the Midwest for nearly 30 years. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to plant/field test a wide variety of food plot products, from companies big and small, as well as seeds purchased from the local farmer-owned co-op.

I mention my history with food plots because much of what I’ve learned along the way came from brothers Steve and Wilson Scott, sons of the late Ray Scott, who was the original pioneer of the food plot industry for whitetails nearly 40 years ago.

FYI: If the name Ray Scott sounds familiar, it should. He founded the Bass Angler Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), and in 1967 he put on the first major bass tournament in America. Ray Scott is literally the founding father of BASS/Bassmaster and fishing tournaments as we know them today. As if that weren’t enough, Ray is also the founding father of the whitetail food plot industry. Either of these accomplishments raises him to legendary status in the outdoor industry, and the fact he did both is almost too crazy to believe. But it’s true.

On two occasions, I had the pleasure of spending time with Ray Scott near his home in Pintlala, Alabama. Around the campfire on the shore of Ray’s first man-made largemouth bass pond, I picked his brain about the origins of BASS, as well as how his curious mind as a whitetail hunter led to starting a food plot company. Ray died on May 8, 2022, at the age of 88, and I’ll never forget his fascinating stories. (Click here to read my tribute to Ray Scott.)

Introducing Magnet Outdoors

Steve and Wilson Scott spent the vast majority of their adult lives building and running the food plot company (Whitetail Institute of North America) started by their father until they sold it to PRADCO Outdoor Brands (parent company, EBSCO Industries) in early 2019. Because I know Steve and Wilson fairly well, I didn’t think they’d sit on the sidelines forever, so I’ve been curious about when they’d step back into the outdoor industry. That day has come.

When I talked to Steve recently about the launch of Magnet Outdoors, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he and Wilson are partnering with someone else in the food plot industry whom I greatly admire, Jason Say. I’ve watched and learned from Jason’s how-to YouTube videos for several years, where he talks about everything under the sun when it comes to food plots. Note: Jason builds most of his food plots in the Northeast; I mention this fact because the ground he’s working is likely worse than wherever you’re building and maintaining food plots.

Rounding out the Magnet Outdoors team is Josh Lesniak. I don’t know Josh, but Steve tells me he’s the “real deal,” which is good enough for me. Josh has dedicated his entire career to the seed industry, and he’s the mastermind behind developing and testing the company’s seed blends. Steve says that Josh’s expertise brings a level of precision, science and testing that will set the company apart. And Jason agrees.

“No other food plot seed company can match the depth of experience and dedication found at Magnet Outdoors,” Jason said. “When customers choose our seed, they’re not just purchasing a product — they’re investing in the industry's best minds and most reliable results.”

Jason explained to me that each product from Magnet Outdoors undergoes comprehensive testing through partnerships with a leading university, as well as field trials conducted by expert hunters and land managers across the United States. “Our academic collaborations provide rigorous scientific validation, while real-world testing ensures each product delivers under actual field conditions,” he said.

Product Offerings — First Impressions

I’m not surprised to see an initial product offering from Magnet Outdoors that is simple and smart. When it comes to making business decisions, Steve and Wilson have demonstrated to me time and time again that common sense rules the day.

Of course, their new company offers annuals and perennials, and I like that they offer blends of both types specific to northern and southern climates. I’ve never understood why someone like me putting in food plots in central Minnesota and Wisconsin would rely on a seed blend that is supposed to work equally well in the Deep South. And I also smiled when I saw the perennial blend product name “Founder’s Blend” as a nod to the Scott family’s history in the food plot industry.

I look forward to seeing Magnet Outdoors hit their stride in the food plot industry. Yes, it’s a competitive space, but if their seed offerings perform well, and their staff focuses on creating solid educational content that helps deer hunters throughout the country build and maintain effective food plots, then in my opinion, the sky is the limit.

Visit www.MagnetOutdoors.com to learn more.