Businesses of Agriculture
A glimpse into the local businesses that support the Midwestern agriculture industry.
(44) updates to this series since Updated
Becky Soukup was first inspired by a little lean-to shack while working at a small nursery business in York, Nebraska.
FRIEND, Neb. — Two brothers, Jim and Jerry Ryan — and now their sons, Tony and Steve — have been serving customers at Brothers Equipment based…
“The seed” was the start of everything they do today at Roberts Seed, Inc. said Leisha Roberts. In 1987, Leisha Roberts and her husband, Joe, …
It all began in a garage a little over 42 years ago.
It all began with the vision of a Nebraska farmer that has transformed into a new Nebraska-based agribusiness company — GrainBridge — that is …
MetaFarms, Inc. coins itself as “the information platform for agriculture” and brings traceability and insights tracking through software solu…
Rob Robinson, chief executive officer of Rob-See-Co based in Elkhorn, Nebraska, said the seed company is bound and determined to retain one as…
Jeremy Wilhelm, chief executive officer of Frontier Cooperative based out of Lincoln, Neb., said the company’s mission to aid farmers evokes s…
The mission at Central Valley Ag is displayed in the main entrance of company headquarters in York, Nebraska: “Embracing the Cooperative Spiri…
The Merritt family has been dedicated to building trailers with what they call, “Legendary Toughness,” for nearly 70 years.
The story begins in 1944 when G.F. “Sam” Bauer, founded what is now Bauer Built Inc. as an oil jobbership in Durand, Wisconsin.
Ward Laboratories in Kearney, Neb., has been around since 1983. The lab opened for business in 1984 with the philosophy of providing their cli…
COLUMBUS, Neb. — Jim Pillen makes it very clear that family is critical to success.
Ernst Auto Center of Columbus truly lives up to the term “family business.” They are a family-owned business that’s been selling to a couple o…
KEARNEY, Neb. — Neil A. Koster, owner of Mid-Plains Equipment, Inc., said it’s all about a trusted handshake when it comes to doing business a…
Four farming brothers — Greg, David, Daniel, Jim and their father, the late Michael Firth — saw a need to make better quality products for the…
Reminiscent of the businesses that opened across the nation during the early pioneer settlement years, Beaver Hardware is a testament to the h…
Jeniece Kimminau owned the Doniphan Herald in 2003 when she received an ad for a meat locker for sale in Cordova, Neb.
A leading provider of credit and crop insurance, FCSAmerica serves the needs of more than 51,000 farmers, ranchers, rural residents and agribu…
When farmer and hog producer Vance Lundell was told it couldn’t be done, he found a way.
Fifty years ago, in 1969, Jim Kanne started what is now known as Astro Buildings. What started as a building package developed for lumberyards…
Exactly what do “Cooperative Councils” do?
LEXINGTON, Neb. — Compared to many agriculture implement firms, Orthman Manufacturing is relatively young. Founded just 54 years ago by Lexing…
COLUMBUS, Neb. — Behlen Mfg. Co.’s 870,000-square-foot-headquarters in east Columbus doesn’t necessarily look like a lot from the exterior, bu…
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It all began in 1945 when Larry Ehlert, a former Cargill salesman, took a $2,500 loan and purchased St. Joseph Feed and Supp…
The right seed for a farm can make or break a growing season, if not the operation itself.
The Meinhardt family has been part of agriculture for generations.
There’s nothing more important to a good crop than the right inputs. However, it’s equally important to consider the overall health of the soi…
The roots of White Planters run deep in American agricultural history, reaching back 170 years ago. Today, those deep roots continue with the …
One of the most important factors in successfully growing crops is providing the right amount of water at the right time. That’s where Valley …
Stan Stutheit was destined for the implement business from an early age.
Founded on entrepreneurial spirit, Morton Buildings has a rich 100-plus year history based on hard work, quality products and customer service…
Diversification and a focus on customer service has led Chief Industries from humble beginnings in a garage as a small construction company in…
From founding to today, convenience and ease of use are the key features that Rawhide Portable Corrals products and services offer in farming …
Jim Farrell, president/chief executive officer (CEO) of Farmers National Company, took a moment to explain the fruition of this long-standing …
To win the battle against pests and disease in crops, a mist sprayer and farm equipment company that has sold sprayers for 35 years in northwe…
COLUMBUS, Neb. — Brothers Mark and Ron Stock were not unlike many of their peers in farm country in the 1980s when they co-founded Stock Realt…
The equipment side of the agricultural story is one that has been woven into the history of farms and ranches for generations. Kent Kirchhoff …
Deep in America’s heartland, Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc., provides mechanized irrigation solutions for growers worldwide. Reinke was founde…
“Innovation” is a word that can be thrown around carelessly in the business world. Strobel Manufacturing is Clarks, Neb., is a company that re…
Thurston Manufacturing is a family-owned and operated business that’s been a part of Nebraska agriculture since 1971. While the company’s prod…
Lindsay Corp. has roots that go deep into Nebraska agriculture, tracing back to the 1950s. It’s primarily an irrigation company, but it has br…
LYONS, Neb. — Brehmer Manufacturing in Lyons celebrated its latest expansion in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 5. Nebra…
Agriculture might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Rod’s Power Sports, on the southwest corner of Lincoln, Neb. How…
