SEGMENT: FARM FACILITIES
Jay Johnson>LPL Walk & Talk Interviews>Johnson, Section 1
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- FARM FACILITIES
- BACKGROUND
- Jay's father Robert started the business in 1975. In 2003 he transfered it to Jay. Jay is the president, Robert the vice president, and Carol Corotha is the corporate secretary.
- FARM FACILITIES
- TRANSPORTATION
- Jerry German operates the train. They have several train operators. When the loader peaks, Jerry moves the train forward so they can fill the next hopper. The train crew comes in and leaves the train. They have three drivers and three train loaders. Jerry is a retired farmer and used to operate trains for the military. The train track comes from the main BNSF line and a switch is used so the train can come there or go by. Train is sent down to Hereford, Texas. Half the trains go to Mexico and the other to Texas.
- FAMILY
- Jay's kids love to operate the train. He thinks they are too young to get involved in the business right now but he hopes they grow into it.
- REFLECTIONS
- His parents started as tenant farmers. Today's operations are much larger. The volume and the speed motivates the modern farmer. Credits his parents with the success of the business. Notes that the industry is going to continue to grow, with larger farms and less of them. Their facility is technology advanced and extremely efficient Jay was named the small business man of the year for 2007 in the Springfield area and got to represent Illinois in Washington DC.
- FARM BUSINESS
- Jay employees about 35 people. When he started he only had about ten. Jay sees the business growing in the future.
