If one were to look at the data provided by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, it would quickly become apparent the Redwood and Renville counties area is a leader in the industry, especially in crop production. Companies, such as the Brokaw Supply Company, see that as an opportunity to expand their base of business, and as a result Brokaw recently opened a new site in Redwood Falls. “Brokaw has been around since 1958,” said Robert Varland, store manager for the new Redwood Falls facility, adding in the late 2000s, the Nelson family purchased the company. A company that had been maintaining status quo for several years began to see dramatic growth, as its area of sales and service widened. “When the Nelsons bought the company there were five employees,” said Varland, adding through marketing and good timing the company has grown and today has 50 employees. The public is being given the opportunity to learn more about Brokaw and its new dealership in Redwood Falls tomorrow and Wednesday when an open house event has been scheduled. All are invited to attend, said Varland.
During the open house, individuals can come and see just what the local dealership has to offer, and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day lunch is being served to attendees. Brokaw’s new facility, which was erected by Everstrong Construction of Redwood Falls, is located on the east edge of the community on CSAH 1. A number of vendors representing the products Brokaw has on hand are scheduled to be in attendance to answer questions about their products, with some offering demonstrations of their equipment. According to Varland, the backbone of Brokaw is sprayer and fertilizer equipment, adding those who work for Brokaw focus specifically on those products offered by various companies, such as Apache and Blue-Jet. “Chances are pretty good that we are going to have someone here who can answer any questions people will have,”?said Varland. “If we don’t know, we will contact someone who does know.” In addition to equipment sales, Varland said the new facility includes a parts department with a variety of products for the equipment it sells. The company also offers universal parts, such as pressure gauges and pumps, but he added that does not mean every part for every applicator is going to be on hand. Brokaw, which is headquartered in Fort Dodge, Iowa, opted to expand north to help cover more of its vendor territory, said Varland, adding the Redwood Falls location also includes a service center for repairs. That, he said, is attractive for farmers, because it means having a location closer than Fort Dodge for service needs. Varland said company owners Gary and Dave Nelson are scheduled to be at the open house this week. There are currently five individuals working at the Red-wood Falls site. “Redwood Falls is a great community,” said Varland, who began working in the area this past fall. “We did business here before. This just helps get us closer to where the people we serve are living.” Brokaw is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Varland said during those busiest times of the year the hours are extended to meet the needs of its customers. Varland, who farms in central Iowa, said he believes having a farming background helps him to better serve the customers, because he has that practical in-the-field experience. “This is a great company to work for. The Nelson family has farm experience and their goal is to best serve the people of this area,”?said Varland. Find out more about Brokaw by visiting its Web site at www.brokawsupply.com, or stop by the local store.
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