T.H. Bell planted the seeds for TNT in 1979 when he bought 40 acres of sagebrush in Utah County so his sons could turn it into a sod farm and earn money for college and church missions. T.H. and his wife, Betty, wanted their sons to learn how to work together.

Warren, in particular, enjoyed the process of growing a quality crop. He gradually built the family farm into a successful business while his parents lived in Washington D.C., where T.H. served as Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of Education. Despite double-digit inflation and interest rates, Warren studied agriculture, improved the farm’s infrastructure and expanded its operations.

Eventually, Warren’s son, Clark, took an interest in the family’s sod business, too. An entrepreneur at heart, Clark heard that a friend was using nanotechnology to enhance his dry-cleaning business and wondered if nanoparticles could improve farm production. The trials Warren conducted saw significant improvement over industry standards.  

From there, Warren and Clark met Fraser and Mike Bullock, investors who love to back science-based companies. Together, they incorporated Aqua-Yield and formed an investor group, including sod growers from Australia, Canada, Norway and South Africa. The company filed its first patent and discovered new liquid nano applications for agriculture.

Making key hires has been pivotal in the company’s growth. Dr. Landon Bunderson has steered research and development, making significant discoveries and helping the company file additional patents. Hiring industry experts in sales and operations has been another key factor. 

With a solid, proven product line in the ag and sod industry, Clark decided to enter the Pro Turf Industry with a full brand launch in 2023.