Javascript is required to use this website.

Businesses of Agriculture: Morton thrives due to Getz family legacy

From the Businesses of Agriculture series

Rebecca Chaney
Mar 21, 2019
Mar 21, 2019 Updated Feb 10, 2021

Businesses of Agriculture: Morton thrives due to Getz family legacy — Maurice Sharp of Granby, Colo., far left, and Greg Ure of Fort Morgan, Colo., both sales consultants for Morton Buildings, discuss building options to potential customer, Dean Mettler of Brighten, Colo., during the National Western Stock Show in the Morton exhibit in January. Other sales consultants from Nebraska, Kansas and other nearby states also worked the two-week national event.

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

kAmu@F?565 @? 6?EC6AC6?6FC:2= DA:C:E[ |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 92D 2 C:49 `__\A=FD J62C 9:DE@CJ 32D65 @? 92C5 H@C<[ BF2=:EJ AC@5F4ED 2?5 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46] ~C:8:?2==J[ |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 3682? 2D E96 x?E6C=@4<:?8 u6?46 r@] :? `h_b 3J y@9? v6EK $C] :? |@CE@?[ x==:?@:D] v6EK 7:CDE @H?65 2 92C5H2C6 DE@C6 2?5 56G6=@A65 H@G6? H:C6 E92E 82G6 E96 7=658:?8 4@>A2?J E96 9:896DE BF2=:EJ AC@5F4E E@ @776C E96:C 8C@H:?8 4FDE@>6C 32D6]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>A2?J E96? >2?F724EFC65 8C2:? 92?5=:?8 2?5 DE@C286 AC@5F4ED] |2:= @C56C 2?5 56=:G6CJ 82G6 x?E6C=@4<:?8 u6?46 r@] 2 5:DE:?4E >2C<6E:?8 25G2?E286 2?5 96=A65 3F:=5 2 D@=:5 C6AFE2E:@? H:E9 E96:C 6IA2?5:?8 4FDE@>6C 32D6] p7E6C y@9?’D 562E9 :? `had[ 9:D D@?[ y@6 p] v6EK[ E@@< @G6C E96 3FD:?6DD F?E:= `heb]k^Am

kAmp7E6C ((xx[ 72C> >6492?:K2E:@? 6IA=@565 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J E@@< 25G2?E286 @7 E9:D 3J @776C:?8 >249:?6CJ 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 =:G6DE@4< D96=E6CD] x? E96 =2E6 `hc_D[ w6?CJ p] v6EK[ 2E 286 ag[ H9:=6 H@C<:?8 7@C 9:D 72E96C 2D 2 D2=6D 4@?DF=E2?E[ 925 E96 7@C6D:89E E@ 255 D:>A=6 72C> 3F:=5:?8D[ H9:49 H2D E96 7@F?52E:@? @7 E96 4@>A2?J]k^Am

kAmxE H2D :? E96 `hd_D w6?CJ >256 E96 564:D:@? E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E@ 4@>A6E6 H:E9 2?@E96C A@AF=2C 3F:=5:?8 4@>A2?J :? E96 >2C<6E] w6 564:565 E@ 4C62E6 2 3F:=5:?8 H:E9 2 “H@H” 724E@C :? @C56C E@ DF44665[ :? 9@A6D @7 AFD9:?8 |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D E@ E96 7@C67C@?E @7 28C:4F=EFC2= DECF4EFC6D]k^Am

kAm$@[ 96 A2:?E65 E96 3F:=5:?8D C65 823=6 EC:> 2?5 E96 C65 5@@C EC:> 82G6 |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 2 5:DE:?4E=J 5:776C6?E =@@<] &?56C w6?CJ’D DFA6CG:D:@?[ E96 56>2?5 7@C |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 8C6H] %96 3FD:?6DD>2? DA6?E 2 8C62E 562= @7 E:>6 :56?E:7J:?8 ?6H >2C<6ED 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 ?6H :562D 7@C 3F:=5:?8 DECF4EFC6D 2D EC6?5D 492?865]k^Am

kAm~?6 >2C<6E E@ C62==J 8C@H H2D E96 A@DE\7C2>6 4@?DECF4E:@?] w6?CJ C64@8?:K65 E9:D EC6?5 2?5 D6E E96 DE286 7@C AC@5F4E EC2?D7@C>2E:@? 7C@> x?E6C=@4<:?8 u6?46] w6?CJ 6G6?EF2==J E@@< @G6C E96 3FD:?6DD 7C@> 9:D 72E96C :? `heb] pD E96 4@>A2?J 6G@=G65[ DA64:2=:K:?8 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 :? DECF4EFC6D[ x?E6C=@4<:?8 u6?46 H2D C6?2>65 |@CE@? :? `hed]k^Am

kAm|@CE@? qF:=5:?8D :D H6== <?@H? 7@C :ED DF446DD] qJ 6>A92D:K:?8 BF2=:EJ[ :>AC@G65 2AA62C2?46[ 2?5 G2=F6 @G6C 4@DE[ E96 4@>A2?J H2D 23=6 E@ 5:776C6?E:2E6 :ED6=7 7C@> 2== @E96CD 3J 4@?DE2?E=J D62C49:?8 @FE 2?5 :?:E:2E:?8 :??@G2E:@?D E92E :?4=F565 E96 36DE A@DD:3=6 >2E6C:2=D FD65 :? AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAm%9:D :D 2 DE2?52C5 E92E 92D 96=A65 <66A |@CE@? @? E@A[ 244@C5:?8 E@ |2FC:46 $92CA @7 vC2?3J[ r@=@][ 2 |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D D2=6D 4@?DF=E2?E]k^Am

kAm“|@CE@?’D 8@2= :D E@ AC@G:56 E96 9:896DE =6G6= @7 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 2?5 AC@;64E BF2=:EJ[” 96 6IA=2:?65] “(6 DE2CE65 @FE H:E9 A@=6\7C2>6 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 ?@H H6 92G6 6G@=G65 H:E9 E649?@=@8J 2?5 |@CE@? 92D 6IA2?565 :ED >2C<6ED] p 9:89 A6C46?E286 @7 @FC :?5FDECJ :?4=F56D =:G:?8 BF2CE6CD :? @FC 56D:8?D H96E96C :E’D C6D:56?E:2=[ 4@>>6C4:2=[ DF3FC32? @C 28C:4F=EFC2=]”k^Am

kAm$92CA D2:5 E92E |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 2C6 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@? H:E9 @77:46D :? >@C6 E92? c_ DE2E6D] “|@CE@? 3C:?8D ;@3D E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5[ @7 4@FCD6[ 2446DD 7@C D2=6D 4@?DF=E2?ED E@ 92G6 3F:=5:?8D 7@C 4@DEF>6CD E@ =@@< 2E[” 96 25565] “(92E A6@A=6 5@?’E C62=:K6 :D E92E E96 D2=6D 4@?DF=E2?E :D E96 @?D:E6 AC@;64E A=2??6C H96? 4@?DECF4E:?8 2 |@CE@? 3F:=5:?8]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
Snap2Graze: grazing cereal rye really can be that simple
Haugen Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale
Divine intent of creation respected

kAmp?@E96C :??@G2E:@? E92E D6A2C2E6D |@CE@? 7C@> :ED 4@>A6E:E@CD :D :ED H2CC2?EJ E92E E96 4@>A2?J AC@G:56D 2D 6G:56?46 @7 :ED 4@>>:E>6?E E@ BF2=:EJ] %9:D 92D 96=A65 3F:=5 2 D@=:5 C6AFE2E:@? 7@C |@CE@?] $92CA 2=D@ 36=:6G6D E96:C F?:BF6 4@?DECF4E:@? >@56= 7C@> 368:??:?8 E@ 6?5 D6A2C2E6D E96> 7C@> 2?J 4@>A6E:E@CD]k^Am

kAm“(6 E2<6 2 AC@;64E 7C@> 6I42G2E:@? E@ 4@>A=6E:@?[” $92CA 6IA=2:?65] “%9:D :D D@>6E9:?8 <6J E@ @FC 4@?DECF4E:@? E62>D 2?5 H6 92?5=6 E96 6?E:C6 AC@;64E[ @E96C 4@>A2?:6D 5@ ?@E]”k^Am

kAm|@CE@? 92D `` 564256D A=FD @7 565:42E65 D6CG:46 2?5 2 BF2=:EJ AC@5F4E E92E 6>A=@J66D 4@?E:?F6 E@ DEC:G6 E@ :>AC@G6]k^Am

kAm“(6 5@ 2== EJA6D @7 DECF4EFC6D ?@H[” $92CA A@:?E65 @FE] “!6@A=6 2C6 ?@E 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 D4@A6 @7 2== E92E |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 42? AC@G:56 :?4=F5:?8 C6D:56?E:2=[ 4@>>6C4:2=[ DF3FC32? 2?5 28C:4F=EFC2= >2C<6ED]”k^Am

kAmpD 2 C6DF=E @7 E96 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 7C2>6H@C< @7 E96 4@>A2?J E92E w6?CJ v6EK 2?5 9:D E62> 3F:=E[ |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D :D H6==\A@D:E:@?65 E@ >2:?E2:? 2?5 8C@H :ED =6256CD9:A A@D:E:@? :? E96 :?5FDECJ] w6 92D =67E 2 =6824J 2?5 3C2?5 ?2>6 E92E :D 2 4C65:E E@ 9:>[ 9:D 72>:=J 2?5 E96 6>A=@J66D @7 |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D]k^Am

kAmp7E6C ``b J62CD @7 |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D 36:?8 72>:=J @H?65[ 2D @7 |2J h[ a_`f[ |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D :D ?@H 6>A=@J66 @H?65] q6:?8 6>A=@J66 @H?65 >62?D E92E E96J 4@?E:?F6 E96 4@>>:E>6?E @7 36:?8 2? :?5FDECJ =6256C H:E9 2 7@4FD @? :??@G2E:G6 D6CG:46 2?5 BF2=:EJ]k^Am

kAm|@CE@? @A6C2E6D :? cb DE2E6D H:E9 `_b 4@?DECF4E:@? 46?E6CD 2?5 6:89E >2?F724EFC:?8 A=2?ED 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am

kAmw6?CJ v6EK H2D H:E9 E96 4@>A2?J F?E:= 9:D C6E:C6>6?E :? a__a 2?5 96 5:65 @? }@G] b[ a_`f] w6 :D C6>6>36C65 7@C 9:D :>A24E 2?5 :?7=F6?46 E@ E96 4@>A2?J 2?5 9:D 86?6C@D:EJ] w6 H2D 9@?@C65 :? a_`e 3J E96 }2E:@?2= uC2>65 qF:=5:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? H:E9 E96 q6C?@? v] !6C<:?D pH2C5 C64@8?:K:?8 9:> 7@C 9:D 564256D @7 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ E96 :?5FDECJ] xE’D =2C86=J 3642FD6 @7 E92E 86?6C@D:EJ 2?5 9:D A2DD:@? 7@C E96 4@>A2?J E92E |@CE@? qF:=5:?8D :D ?@H F?56C 2? t>A=@J66 $E@4< ~H?6CD9:A !=2? Wt$~!X]k^Am

kAm%96 }2E:@?2= r6?E6C 7@C t>A=@J66 ~H?6CD9:A 92D 4@?5F4E65 C6D62C49 E92E D9@HD E92E 6>A=@J66\@H?65 4@>A2?:6D A6C7@C> 36EE6C 2?5 4C62E6 >@C6 ;@3D E92? ?@?\6>A=@J66 DE@4< @H?6CD9:A A=2?D]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ |@CE@?’D AC6DD C6=62D6 23@FE E96 492?86 :? |@CE@? @H?6CD9:A[ |@CE@? !C6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ y@9? #FDD6== D2:5 E92E 6>A=@J66 @H?6CD9:A DE:>F=2E6D 6?E9FD:2D> 2?5 492?86D =:G6D]k^Am

kAm%96 C6DF=E :D E92E |@CE@?’D 6>A=@J66D H:== ?@H @H? @?6 @7 E96 fdE9 =2C86DE t$~! 4@>A2?:6D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 |@CE@?’D `[f__ 6>A=@J66D 4@?E:?F6 2 C:49 EC25:E:@? @7 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 2?5 BF2=:EJ[ E96J 42? C6>6>36C E92E :E H2D ?@E 2 3FD:?6DD @7 492?46 3FE C2E96C 2 4@>A2?J 2?5 =6824J 3F:=E 7C@> E96 8C@F?5 FA E9C@F89 v6EK’D =6256CD9:A[ 7@CH2C5 E9:?<:?8 2?5 :??@G2E:G6 5C:G6]k^Am

kAmk6>mq64<J r92?6J 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i364<J]492?6Jo>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>Qm364<J]492?6Jo>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

Morton Buildings

Founded:

In 1903 as Interlocking Fence Co. by John Getz Sr. in Illinois

Current owner:

Employee owned since 2017

Current top executive and board chairman:

John Russell, president, CEO and chairman of the board

Product or service:

Specializes in post-frame construction in rural America that includes custom buildings that range from garages and general storage to multi-million dollar commercial facilities

Employees:

Approximately 1,700

Locations:

In Nebraska, offices in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, and Norfolk.

In Kansas, offices in Salina, Holton and Colby.

In Iowa, offices in Onawa and Clarinda.

Corporate headquarters in Morton, Ill.

Website:

https://mortonbuildings.com

Telephone:

800-447-7436

Mailing, physical address: