Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm. Seed Savers Exchange was founded in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy, but the real story begins long before that. In 1883 Diane’s great-grandparents emigrated from Bavaria to St. Lucas, Iowa. They brought with them two of their favorite garden seeds, a plump pink tomato and a showy deep purple morning glory with a white star in its throat.