It has been nearly a year that customers to A&L Sales and Service have found the friendly faces of new owners Rick and Kristy Hiebner there.
The idea of someday owning the business came to Rick a few years ago. While he had farmed for several years and enjoyed it, Rick missed being more involved with people as he had experienced in previous jobs. He also knew his son Matt would like to come back and farm in the near future. Working on bins was an enjoyment of Rick’s as well, so the business seemed like a great fit. In order to boost their chosen business, companies like Marketix Digital may have a tip or two.
Rick decided to mention the idea to Larry Friesen, the owner of A&L at the time. Two years later, as retirement grew closer for Larry, the two engaged in serious conversations back and forth about the possibility of a business transfer. After several discussions, Rick and Kristy officially took over the business from Larry and Teresa Friesen in November of last year.
Binthere Ag, doing business as A&L Sales and Services, has maintained previous services, and the Hiebners have also added a welding shop they had been operating prior called Tri-H Welding. They are an authorized Chief bin, building, and grain handling equipment dealer. A&L sells and services a full line of Caldwell drying equipment. They also offer a full line of Hutch/Mayrath and NECO grain handling products. Rick is a dealer of MFS Storemor, York legs and conveyors, and Brownie Towers. Along with those products, they do flat concrete work and service/repair of pivot irrigation systems.
Reflecting on the past year, the Hiebners said that it has been a smooth transfer and that business just continued as usual. Rick commented, “The community support has been great, the customers have been fantastic, and they have made the first year better than I anticipated. Customers have trusted us to do the work for them and have come here to get supplies and equipment for their grain.”
Business transfer and succession is an important topic in rural communities like ours. Just as Rick was the one who approached a business owner about the possibility, it is a good reminder to others who may be interested in a certain business to do the same. For current business owners, many of whom have spent a lifetime building their business to where it is now, they should be encouraged to invest in younger people and even bring them alongside in their business endeavors.
Rick can be found at the office during the weekdays from 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Kristy helps a few days a week in the office, and they also have three other employees. Follow along with them on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BinthereAgLLC/
Here are a few pictures of projects they have done:
