Marshal
Oswald always felt there was room for another Farm Service business
in Atchison County. He was right. Marshal's business has grown considerably
from the part-time custom spraying business serving a few neighbors
just five years ago. Today Oswald Ag serves all of Atchison County
with a wide array of products and services.
Four years ago, when Marshal first started working with the Northwest
Missouri State University SBDC, he was farming full-time and operating
his custom spraying business part-time. He had one small sprayer that
he operated himself; he hired one part-time employee to drive the
water truck. The spraying was very seasonal, and his sprayer was very
small. He often had to turn potential customers away.
Marshal felt that the custom spraying business had more potential
than farming. He needed to grow and began exploring ways to start
a full time farm service business. He considered many options.
The following year, Marshal continued to operate from his farm, and
the demand for his services continued to grow. He worked longer hours
and increased sales by 50 percent. But he knew it was time to expand.
That fall he purchased a closed business site in Tarkio and started
to work renovating the facility. He added a full-time employee, purchased
an additional sprayer and updated support equipment.
The first year Oswald Ag operated from the new location, customers
and sales grew by more than 100 percent. During this rapid growth,
the company experience all the problems typically associated with
rapid growth. Higher inventory requirements, account receivables and
the need for more working capitol were the major concerns. Honest,
reliable, quality customer service is always an important key to growth.
In a small rural community, word of mouth is often the main source
of news and advertising. Oswald Ag has developed an excellent reputation,
which is another reason for its continued growth.
The second year of operation from the retail location, the company
continued to grow with sales increasing by more than 30 percent. The
business currently operates three custom sprayers. Oswald Ag has three
full-time employees and a part-time bookkeeper. In addition, four
to five seasonal employees are hired each spring. 2004 figures indicate
50 percent growth and a nice profit. Marshal plans to buy another
sprayer to add to his rapidly expanding fleet.
The products and services Oswald Ag offers have also grown considerably.
Today Oswald Ag is a full-service farm supply business. Custom spraying
and application continue to be the heart of the business. Retail product
lines include agriculture chemicals, fertilizer and seed. The company
also offers turf management, crop scouting and agriculture consulting
services.
By providing outstanding service, Oswald Ag has grown from a small
one-man part-time business into one of the larger farm supply and
service businesses in Atchison County. Marshal expects the growth
to continue into 2005.
Oswald Ag
2 Maple St
Tarkio, Mo. 64491
Manufacturer
- A.M. Pyrotechnics LLC of Buffalo - produces fireworks and choreographs professional pyrotechnics displays
- Billy Goat Industries of Lee's
Summit - manufacturer of outdoor power equipment
- Eyes of the World of Rolla - manufacturer of high-quality intraocular lenses for humans and animals
- ISW Group, Inc., of St. Louis - manufacturer of a skin-care product for
African Americans suffering with dermatological problems
- The Newberry Group of St. Louis - developer of computer security systems
- Patric Chocolate of Columbia - gourmet chocolate maker
- Pogue Label and Screen of St. Louis - a specialist in printing labels on plastic containers
- Sigma Aldrich of St. Louis -
chemical manufacturer
- TechGuard Security of Chesterfield - provider of information network security products
- X-Com, Inc. of Warrensburg, - produces digital communications hardware and software for the Navy and other commercial applications and products
Professional, Scientific and Technical Service
- Aegis Business Solutions LLC of Kansas City -
offers solutions to business problems in information technology
- Brick City Custom Works of Mexico - custom motorcycle repair and service shop
- Gaskin, Hill, Norcross of
Springfield - developer of a text messaging system
- Global Solutions Group of Fenton - network solutions, IT telephone and
systems management firm
- H2O Technical Services, Inc., of Springfield, a provider of integrated water treatment services and applications
- Hammer Collections of Springfield - employs computer software and information technology to resolve and prevent payment delinquencies
- InnovaPrep LLC of Drexel - developing technology to aid detection systems for biodefense, medical diagnostics, food and beverage industries
- Language Solutions, Inc. of St. Louis - specializing in translation technology and multi-lingual communications services to assist other businesses reach a global market
- Logistical Resource Solutions of St. Louis - storage and inventory control
- Lytmos Group LLC of Lee's Summit - provides peer review and grants management support to organizations that sponsor high technology R&D
- Mobile Media Technologies, LLC of Kansas Ciy - wireless communications
- Nanoparticle BioChem Inc. of Columbia - research and production of nanoparticle-based products
- Nanova, Inc. of Columbia - researching biomaterials, materials, composites and medical devices to develop more reliable medical devices
- NEMS/MEMS Works LLC of Columbia - engineering researchers developing early-stage prototypes of nanotechnology delivery devices to target drug applications in patients with life-threatening conditions
- OsteoGeneX of Kansas City - drug research and biotech commercialization
- Paternity Testing Corporation of Columbia - forensic investigations, DNA profiling
and parental identification
- PureFlow Technologies Inc. of Jefferson City - produces and markets a diesel engine fuel efficiency device
- P/Strada, LLC, of Kansas City - a
consultant in bio-terrorism and homeland security
- QM Power Inc. of Greenwood - developing magnetic force control technology
- Sign Designs of Joplin - designs and manufactures custom signs for large corporations and small businesses
- Technology and Networking of Cape Girardeau - computer technology and telecommunications sales and services
- The Vacation Channel of
Branson - independent TV station providing tourism info
- Westinn Kennels of St. Charles
- canine boarding and training facility
- Wren Associates, Ltd. of Jefferson
City - provider of retail fraud detection systems
|
|
|
Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur
