Three Hillsboro businesses highlighted for state recognition

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KDOCLumberyard471.jpg

Bob Fettke (far left), from the Kansas Department of Commerce, presents
awards to representatives from the three locally nominated businesses. (from left) Ruby Hefley, Sonja Hefley, Jon Hefley, Deborah Collier and Jim Hefley representing The Lumber?yard.

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Bob Fettke (far left), from the Kansas Department of Commerce, presents
awards to representatives from the three locally nominated businesses. Jules Glanzer, Marlene Fast and Jim Elliott representing Tabor College.

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Bob Fettke (far left), from the Kansas Department of Commerce, presents
awards to representatives from the three locally nominated businesses. Lyman Adams, Dan Bernhardt, Bill Fish, Cheri Bentz and Serena Pankratz representing Countryside Feed.

The three Hillsboro businesses nominated for regional excellence awards were honored with a reception Thursday morning at Little Pleasures Coffee House.

The reception was hosted by the Hillsboro Development Corp., which nominated the three business for recognition by the Kansas Department of Commerce for their contribution to the local community and the state economy.

The businesses nominated this year were The Lumberyard Inc., Tabor College Inc. and Countryside Feed, LLC.

?You are the backbone of our community and your hard work has kept Hillsboro financially strong through the economic recession,? said Clint Seibel to representatives of three entities. ?We can only imagine what Hillsboro would look like without having a strong business community like we do.?

Bob Fettke, KDOC regional project manager for business development from Wichita, was on hand to present the awards.

The Lumberyard Inc. and Tabor College Inc. both received a 2009 Business Appreciation Award of Merit.

Countryside Feed, LLC, received the 2009 Regional Business Excellence Award and qualified as a finalist for the Governor?s Award of Excellence. The award went to BTI of Greensburg, a fourth-generation John Deere dealership specializing in sales and maintenance of farm and ranching equipment.

As part of the presentation, Seibel offered the following synopses for each business:

n The Lumberyard Inc. This year The Lumberyard is celebrating 125 years of service to Hillsboro and the surrounding community. The oldest operating business in Hillsboro, the Lumberyard has been in the same location since its inception in 1884.

In 1962 the late Maynard Hefley and his wife Ruby purchased the business, which has remained in the family for the past 47 years. The business has been passed on to their children. Their son Jon is now the manager in charge of operations. Son Jim and daughter Debra are also partners.

In February 2009, The Lumberyard Inc. completed a $250,000 remodeling project on an adjacent building to house an expanded line of interior decorating materials, hardware and household supplies.

The Lumberyard Inc. has been active in their support of community programs ranging from high school and college activities to the Marion County Toy Run and Relay for Life to name a few. Of particular interest to Jon is Quail Forever, which is dedicated to the conservation of quail, pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvements.

n Tabor College Inc. Tabor College has also reached a milestone this year, celebrating 100 years of providing Christian higher education to students coming to Hillsboro from around the world.

Tabor?s dedication to quality education is reflected by being listed in U.S. News & World Report?s ?Americas Best Colleges? addition. Tabor has been ranked among top Midwest colleges by U.S. News and World Report for the fifth year in a row.

As the largest employer in Marion County, Tabor has a strong economic impact on the Hillsboro community. A $4.3 million campaign for student resident townhomes was completed in 2006.

Presently the college and the local school district are engaged in a cooperative campaign to complete a $5.2 million dollar athletic stadium.

Many members of the Tabor College faculty and staff are active in the Hillsboro community. Tabor is represented in the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Hospital Advisory Board, Hillsboro Museum Board, Hillsboro Development Corp. Board to name a few.

n Countryside Feed, LLC. Countryside Feed began construction of its $4.5 million feed mill, including a 27,000-square-foot warehouse located in the Hillsboro Industrial Park, in 1998.

The company manufactures a variety of complete formula feeds as well as feed supplements.?Countryside Feed has the capacity to produce nearly 500 ton per day. Sales throughout Kansas and into neighboring states exceeded $40 million last year. Presently they employ 32 people with a total annual payroll of $1.8 million.

The management team at Countryside Feed actively supports various community activities, including local school programs, Kiwanis and Lions Club fundraisers, etc. It supports the annual 4-H livestock auction and Marion County Extension programs.

Employees are encouraged to become involved in city government and provide leadership for economic development.

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