Wamego Kanequip Expansion Bolsters Service to Area Producers by Donna Sullivan, Editor Art Audio-Visual Equipment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
11-3-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 10/29/15 11:48 AM Page 1 Wamego KanEquip expansion bolsters service to area producers By Donna Sullivan, Editor art audio-visual equipment. Just as people rely on While they have held train- rural America for their food, ing meetings for customers fiber and fuel, small towns in the past, the new facility rely on local businesses to will be much more con- provide goods and services, ducive to such meetings. “It as well as jobs and tax rev- used to be if we had a meet- enue to bolster their infra- ing or training, we had to structure. KanEquip in stop work clean up the shop Wamego has been a respect- and set up tables and chairs,” ed local business for nearly said Meinhardt. “This way fifty years and recently com- we won’t interrupt anybody.” pleted an expansion project It has a full kitchen so meals to better serve agriculture can be catered or prepared producers in the area. on site. There is also a torna- “We were really running do shelter that would accom- out of room in our old shop modate 100 people should and were needing to do the need arise. The facility is something there,” said store available for use by ag-relat- manager Mark Besthorn. He ed groups or businesses to added that as farm machin- ery has grown in size and di- mension, their old shop did- n’t provide the right condi- tions for proper repairs. “It The spacious, open showroom was designed for greater visibility among the depart- didn’t make us very efficient, ments and better customer service. Photos by Donna Sullivan so we decided we needed to do something,” he said. Founder Jim Meinhardt described how the business started out in a 50x100 building nearly fifty years ago. “We kept adding to it in every direction,” he said. “Of course when you do that, there are uneven floors and Regional manager Bryndon Meinhardt, general man- opportunities for water ager Craig Goff, store manager Mark Besthorn, public leaks. The old facility was sector sales manager Grant Meinhardt and founder Jim just worn out and needed an Equipment that would have crowded their old shop fits well in the 29,000 square feet of space that includes a 44’ door to allow grain headers to be driven in. Meinhardt worked with their employees and techni- update. We want something cians to design the new facility. They expressed appre- They also talked to their which was our goal.” Goff ished product. “I think it nice for the customers to ciation to the employees who kept things running employees, gathering input had also been involved with works best involving every- come into and a good envi- through several moves as the building was completed. ronment for our help to work as to what was important to building dealerships at some body, making sure we have them as the project moved of KanEquip’s eight other the best understanding of the and did quite a bit of the fin- in.” ish work on the project. gather together in a profes- The equivalent of two and forward. locations and was able to need that is specific to the lo- sional setting. General manager Craig draw on things he’d learned cation,” he said. “My earlier At 640,000 square feet, a half or three buildings were the new facility includes a The new showroom has torn down as the construc- Goff served as lead on the from those projects. He em- construction projects were an open design and includes project, compiling the ideas phasized the priority they more of a solo vision of 29,000-square-foot shop tion process began. with 25 work bays and two all the elements of the busi- But before the actual they’d seen with the priori- placed on using local con- mine, compared to the vision ness. “The parts, sales and ties of their technicians to tractors in the construction. of a lot of people.” overhead cranes and a 44’ demolition and building door, 6000 square feet of service are equally repre- started, those involved in the come up with the design, “Most were from Pot- As the ideas came togeth- sented up front versus hav- which he says ranks right up tawatomie or Riley Coun- er, Thad Carley of Carley weather protected outside project embarked on a nearly work area and a 4500- ing the service or parts de- 2000-mile road trip, touring there with the dealerships ties,” he said. “We feel like Construction, Wamego, put partment in the back,” said they toured. that’s important because the conceptual drawings to- square-foot training facility. top dealerships in Indiana, The training center features a Grant Meinhardt, Public Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. “Functionally it’s as nice we’re a local business and gether for them. “That was Sector sales manager. High- as any of them,” he stated. local people are who we go nice to be able to take back large room that can hold any “…getting ideas from each piece of equipment they sell density storage with 36 cabi- and every one we went to,” “There are others that have with.” to the employees and say, ‘Is nets allows for easy access to spent more money on luxury Goff appreciated the this what we’re talking as well as a classroom that Besthorn said. “What we will accommodate 50-75 parts and the old shop has liked and didn’t like and than we have, but this is a input from others and be- about,’” Goff said. Carley people and has state-of-the- Continued on page 3 tried to come up with what very functional facility, lieves it led to a better fin- erected the metal building we thought would work for us and our customers.” Wichita Farm & Ranch Show coming November 10-12 The 21st annual Wichita Farm and Ranch Show will be held November 11:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m., Wednesday 12:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m., Thursday 10th, 11th, and 12th at the Sam Fulco Pavilion located at the Kansas Pavil- 11:30 a.m. and & 2:30 p.m. Those attending Scott Daily Horsemanship ions. Doors open at 9:00 am daily with Tuesday night's close at 5:00 p.m., Clinics can register to win 10 twelve-foot corral panels and a six by nine Wednesday night's close at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday's wrap-up at 4:00 p.m. walk-through gate, courtesy of Behlen Horse Country. Admission and parking at the Wichita Farm and Ranch Show are free. For those looking to upgrade current livestock handling facilities, ques- "Due to increased vendors counts this year the daily squeeze chutes tions can be answered by attending the daily squeeze chute and handling demos and horse clinics will be in the Arena Building (AB)," said Steve equipment demos at the show. KFTI AM 1070 "Classic Country", Behlen Guenthner, show manager. Featured at this year's farm show are many Country, Valley Vet Supply and Central City Scale are sponsoring the cat- sprayer, building and seed manufacturers and once again a full line-up of tle squeeze chute demos each day: Tuesday 12:00 & 3:00 p.m., Wednesday livestock handling equipment. On display will be the newest in grain and 1:30 p.m .& 5:00 p.m., and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Preston Hickman livestock trailers plus a full line of scales, squeeze chutes, farm tools, farm will be on hand at each demo discussing health supplies and beef quality vehicles and accessories to complement any farming operation. assurance issues. Behlen Country is furnishing the crowding tub, chute KFRM will be sponsoring "Market Shoot-Out IX" on Tuesday, Novem- panels and alleyway to correctly handle the cattle during the three days of ber 10th. It all starts with Kyle's famous ham sandwich at 5:00 p.m. The cattle demos. Central City Scale will have their scale on hand recording market analysts for KFRM will return for the shoot-out and provide insight weights. By visiting the daily squeeze chute demos, attendees have the to the volatile markets. The price, supply, demand and world consumption chance to win a free sorting stick. Check out seven to eight squeeze chutes will all certainly be discussed in an entertaining and educational format that in action! Both the squeeze chute demos along with the horsemanship will place Pete Loewen with Loewen and Associates, Tom Leffler with Lef- demos will be held this year in the Arena Building (AB) directly east of fler Commodities, Derrik Hermesch with Paragon Investments and Mark Pavilion One. Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing in the KFRM Corral for the "Market Visitors can stop at the Information Desk and register for three $250 Shoot-Out IX". This will be the marketing event of the year for crops and daily cash drawings plus a Thursday afternoon drawing for a Behlen Horse livestock. For tickets and information call KFRM at 1-888-550-5376 prior Country 40- foot Round Pen Corral and a six by nine walk-through gate to November 6th for free tickets. courtesy of the Wichita Farm & Ranch Show. (Must be 18 years of age or Local horsemanship clinician Scott Daily will be working the horse older). training demos twice daily. The free clinic is being held each day: Tuesday 11-3-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 10/29/15 11:49 AM Page 2 Page 2 Grass & Grain, November 3, 2015 or drive a vehicle, you are place eager young learners One U.S.