Customer Testimonials

Farming has always been the legacy of the Jim Dale family. The family’s swine operation spans through generations, making it only natural for his sons, Shane and Jeff, to follow in their father’s footsteps. Taking a leap of faith, they decided to step out on their own into new technology to grow their father’s business...

When Verne Wiley channeled his entrepreneurial spirit in 1982 to create Wiley Metal, a custom fabricating company, he did so with a value for serving customers and his hometown of Marion, Indiana. These values were also shared by Verne’s sons, Ed and Rob, who joined the company after graduating from Miami of Ohio, and Purdue University.

“Dad was a visionary in a lot of respects and he was inspired to apply his industry experience into creating a niche business that would focus on providing quality product consistency for a wide variety of client uses,” said Ed Wiley, President and co-owner. “His core philosophy allowed each of us to develop the business over time and be reflective of the industry environment. Marion was no different than a lot of smaller rust belt cities in the Midwest at that time. It had seen its share of manu­facturing decline and there was certainly a sense of purpose towards creating and helping to build a business that contrib­uted economically to our hometown.”

When it comes to speaking about the growth of his family equipment dealership, Plevna Implement, owner Bill Shrock is thoughtful – and humble.

Originally founded by Bill’s father and uncle in 1945, the company has grown to serve a wide range of customers in Indiana and surrounding states, and has earned 5-Star AGCO dealership awards for the past five consecutive years.

Bill attributes the company’s success to a very unique competitive advantage – the skills and camaraderie of his 38 employees. He also cites his personal faith as a source of inner strength and sense of calm while guiding his operation.

The Sturgell family took a non-traditional route into agriculture. After graduating from Wittenberg University, Terry knew he wanted to work in a field that valued teamwork. Summer employment on his uncle’s farm introduced Terry to agriculture. The camaraderie and cooperative nature of the business solidified his interest in the industry.

“I had a sincere love for the independence that farming provided and I enjoyed working with people that shared that passion.” 
Unexpectedly, his uncle offered Terry the primary role in running his operation. Soon after, the need for insurance brought Terry to the local Farm Bureau. Terry warmed to the organization immediately...