About Us

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues are yet to be discovered. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Over twenty years ago, Herb Knudsen fell in LOVE with a plant. Not a rose or a poppy. Herb fell in love with Syriaca, known to most as milkweed.

From that time, the Knudsen family embarked on a JOURNEY that will take generations to complete. A mission committed to excellence, innovation, and comfort by weaving Syriaca into our everyday lives.

We developed a unique brand of down comforters and pillows by blending Hungarian goose down and Syriaca clusters. The invention became known as HYPODOWN and the first business was born: Ogallala Comfort Company. Hypodown is currently available through high end specialty stores, designers and catalogs, as well as in some of the world’s finest resorts.

Virtues abound in Syriaca, and the oil is special too, we had a rare gem in our pocket. And, in 2006, ESCAPES by Ogallala Body came to be.