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Conklin Success Stories
Team Up for Success
Mike and Jodi Stout
Mike and Jodi Stout have always made a formidable team. Co-owners of Stout Construction, Mike has been a General Contractor for more than 35 years, while Jodi was employed as an Alzheimer’s specialist at an Independent Living center. However, that was before they decided to work in tandem promoting their Conklin business.
“We have always been happily married and lived without much money while working hard to get what we had” Jodi said. “We were not dreamers, and never thought things would be easier for us.” Working long hours at their respective jobs, they were just making ends meet, and had little hope of saving for retirement.
When Mike began using Conklin roofing products – and made a substantial profit from a roofing job in just two weeks – Jodi’s interest was piqued. Her eagerness to learn more about selling roofs was fueled by a background in healthcare marketing, and driven by her desire to make their own business more profitable. In a leap of faith, Jodi took an extended break from her job to begin promoting their new joint venture. “Mike figured it made more sense for us to work together for our own profit, rather than have me work for someone else,” said Jodi.
They began by making a plan of how they would work the business as a husband and wife team. Mike prefers to work on the roofs. He also enjoys selling roofing jobs, talking with contractors and doing shows and presentations. Jodi prefers the office work, phone conversations, marketing and advertising, brainstorming and training. Jodi cold-calls and writes email blasts, and then Mike follows up by bidding jobs and talking details. Together they sponsor contractors and attend trainings.
This partnership has afforded them opportunities they may not have been able to enjoy, such as their recent Master Contractor trip to sunny California. “We have more family time and money to spend on our four children and five grandchildren, and we want to travel, travel, travel!” said Jodi. In addition, they hope to fund their retirement, put their grandchildren through college, and give their children opportunities they may have otherwise never had.
This couple has found that a solid marriage is a great foundation for becoming business partners, and follows some similar principles. “Working together can be very rewarding if you decide who is responsible for each role. And knowing that you are there to help and support each other in whatever you are doing takes trust, faith and belief in each other as well” said Jodi.
Conklin Success Stories
Ahead of the Pack - How AgroVantage drove Bigg Dogg Agg into the lead
Mark, Pam and Jason Fillbrandt
It’s all about service to his customers for Mark Fillbrandt of Felton, Minn. This was especially evident in his business
philosophy of running it similar to a family farm – offer quality products, have a close relationship with his clients and intimately know and understand their production practices.
This philosophy is reflected in his mission statement: “We offer our customers quality products, a fair price, personal services,and the experience in knowing how best to provide those services to save our customers time and create a more profitable business.”
He started his agriculture career in 1980 with Cargill and moved on to other agricultural companies before he, his wife, Pam, and son Jason, opened their full-service agriculture retail dealership, Bigg Dogg Agg, in January 2001. The full-service agronomy company offers a wide range of services to their customers that include crop consulting, chemical applications and agriculture equipment sales.
“We find what our producers need, anything from machine parts to sprayers,” explains Mark. “I do a lot of research with a good network of contacts who cover a wide area to make sure my customers get the best deal. It may not be the most efficient way of doing business, but we have relationships that work.”
He also has worked as a certified crop advisor (CCA) for the past 15 years. The core of the business centers around consulting, specializing in intensive wheat management. “I help producers make money growing wheat,” says Mark. His client’s wheat crops consistently average 10 bushels higher per acre than other producers in his area, 1 point to 1.5 points higher in protein and
1-2 pounds heavier in test weight. “I work a lot on the quality of wheat,” he notes. “You have to manage the crop all year round.”
Currently, Mark has 24 full-time crop producer clients, along with several part-time ones. This covers more than 35,000 acres of crops spanning 150 miles throughout northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. While specializing wheat, he also advises producers on managing corn, soybeans, sunflowers, alfalfa, sugar beets, flax and barley.
“Working with a CCA, you have another set of eyes looking at your crops,” says Mark. “It’s not a matter of me coming up with a recommendation; it’s more about working together with the producer, his program and cropping system. We make decisions together and learn as the growing season progresses.”
Being a CCA has given Mark more credibility within the agricultural industry, especially with potential new clients. Along with having to pass state and national tests, a CCA must have extensive experience and continuous training to maintain his certification.
This motivation to provide more value-added services to his clients is what led Mark to learn more about the AgroVantage® crop management system he heard about on local radio advertisements on KQLX of Lisbon, ND, in March 2008. Specifically, Mark was interested in foliar feeding as an alternative to broadcast applications. “You can’t afford to throw out extra fertilizer because you might have a crop out there,” he says. “You put enough fertilizer on the field for 40-60 bushels per acre of wheat, and determine the stand’s potential, then spoon-feed fertilizer after you know more about the stand and the weather.”
The next step Mark took was to attend an informational meeting about Conklin’s AgroVantage crop management system, specifically foliar feeding crops. He was impressed with the discussion on research, documentation and statistics on crop timing.
“There are so few companies that ever instruct you about which of their products to use as your crops move through the various growth stages,” explains Mark. “I learned when to foliar feed during a crop’s development.
It is so helpful to be walked through the growth stages of crops and told specifically when you should apply each product.”
Along with offering a wide variety of products, one of the staples of this crop management system is proper soil testing to maximize the effectiveness of each farming operation. The soil test results enable Mark to make specific nutrient and application recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, secondary and micronutrients to his clients.
Another key is continuing education and training on the AgroVantage products, but also on basic agronomy, soil analysis, plant fertility and foliar feeding. These products give Mark another way to help his clients maximize their ROI (return on investment). Several of Mark’s clients are seeing greater yields. Three of his spring wheat producers harvested yields of 80 to 90 bushels per acre, when the average in their region is 37 to 40 bushels per acre.
Offering the AgroVantage system is a win-win proposition for Mark. His clients have more value-added product options and it also allows him to earn a residual income in addition to his retail dealership.
Producers are buying into the system, especially if it allows them to minimize the number of fertilizer applications each year.
“Time is not our friend in this part of the country,” explains Mark. “We have to be very diligent to get things done on time. That’s where Conklin crop timing charts work for us, especially with foliar feeding. It’s not very often that if you miss the application window, then you’re told not to apply the fertilizer. With this system, if you miss the window, you don’t spend the money because you won’t get the maximum return.”
All of the AgroVantage products work hand in hand with his consulting philosophy. “I’m able to offer my producers the ability to buy high-quality products at wholesale prices,” he says. “It makes it nice to go out to a producer with a high quality product at a factory wholesale price.”
The AgroVantage system has enabled the Fillbrandts to offer their clients more value-added products, a large network of crop producers to work with and the ability to earn more money.
Conklin Success Stories
Create a Family Legacy
Mose, Brian and Jonathan Beachy
Mose and Ellen Beachy’s commitment to excellence has set high standards for their children to follow. Leading by example, Mose’s determination and willingness to face challenges head-on have inspired their sons Brian and Jonathan to join– and succeed– in the Beachy family business.
Once a well-respected diesel mechanic, Mose was impressed with Conklin vehicle products, and recommended them to customers and friends. Holding sales meetings at his home, people were easily drawn to his honest demeanor and product knowledge. When a change of direction brought Mose to the roofing business, he utilized his natural talent for sales to market Conklin roofing products and share the business opportunity. During this time, his young sons Brian and Jonathan began working with their dad on the roof. Today, the Beachy’s roofing company, MEB Systems, is highly regarded in their home state of Ohio, and is a shining example of a successful second-generation family business.
After a serious fall from the roof in 2004, Mose has made a miraculous recovery and continues to work each day at the company office. Brian is in charge of bidding jobs and Jonathan manages a crew of seven as the field supervisor. Being part-owners in the company has given Brian and Jonathan a sense of pride and self-satisfaction. Mose appreciates the flexibility of being his own boss, and is pleased that he has something of value to pass on to his children.
In addition, Mose enjoys his Conklin business because “it doesn’t seem like a job. I have always liked taking on new challenges and using my sales ability. And I look forward to family time and working as a team with my sons,” said Mose.
Mose and Ellen have worn the title of Conklin Directors for 26 years, and Mose has held the prestigious designation of Master Contractor for over a decade. Brian is also a Master Contractor, and the Beachy’s actively share the business opportunity with those they meet. Mose and Ellen’s commitment to excellence has set high standards for their children to follow. “My father’s determination is inspiring,” said Brian. “He’s taught me everything. The important thing is that you don’t take shortcuts, and treat each job as if it’s our own building.”
Conklin Success Stories
Merging Two Businesses Together
Judy and Ivan Dardar
East Central Illinois is Amish territory. And unlike the stereotype, the horse-and-buggy Amish community there, as well as the other hundreds of bucolic Amish communities throughout the country, reaches out to its non-Amish neighbors which they affectionately call the ‘English.’
In fact, one particular ‘English’ family, Judy and Ivan Dardar, have earned the trust of and developed strong friendships with their Amish neighbors both professionally and personally.
For the past eight years, the Dardars have built a local passenger transit empire serving the Amish’s travel needs through extensive word-of-mouth. Operating a transportation business coupled with building their Conklin business dovetails nicely for the Dardars. For the past year as Independent Business Owners (IBOs), they are attending more and more Conklin trainings themselves while escorting their prospects and IBOs from their front doors right into Conklin’s meeting rooms.
It wasn’t until Judy and Ivan transported a vanloadof Amish IBOs to last year’s National Convention in Louisville and attended themselves that they were convinced to start their own Conklin business. “We were so energized at National Convention. We knew we were in the right place, connected to a great company in which to build a great future,” says Ivan.
Judy and Ivan have become one of Conklin’s most dynamic new IBO teams, quickly achieving Sales Manager status. Judy won’t leave a Conklin training without depositing at least a dozen testimonials on the meeting registration desk. She’s also one of the most prolific storytellers wherever she goes.
The Dardars are constantly talking about Conklin products and trainings to friends and acquaintances, encouraging them to “hop on board” one of their passenger vans or motor homes free of charge any time they want to attend Conklin trainings with them.
Judy describes how Conklin has changed Ivan’s life: “I’m so proud of Ivan. He’s ordinarily such a quiet guy who keeps to himself. But now, when he’s driving the vans or ate talking about Conklin. It delights him. He lights up like a Christmas tree and comes right out of his shell.”
The Dardars feel like they earned multiple college degrees each time they “graduate” from a Conklin training. In addition to the Conklin Business Seminar (general foundational training) and National Convention, they’ve attended trainings for Fastrack® and Vehicle Products.
“The knowledge of the products we’ve acquired at Conklin is invaluable,” says Judy. “When we leave the trainings, we feel like we’ve sat through a lesson from an accredited institution of higher learning. Imparting this knowledge to our customers lends so much to our credibility as business owners.”
Conklin trainings have also enriched the Dardar’s lives by providing fellowship. Judy and Ivan explain: “There’s never a time when we don’t walk away with at least half-a-dozen ‘friends for life’ who we not only admire, but are delighted to spend time with socially.”
The Dardar’s current goal is to build a large Conklin organization. They are already well on their way, holding joint monthly meetings with Annie Otto and her son Rudy, both Directors. The Otto’s nearby canvas shop or their ice cream and coffee house provide ideal meeting spaces to hold Conklin meetings.
“The Dardars lend so much to our monthly meetings,” says Annie. “Their enthusiasm and knowledge about the products, especially Vehicle Products, Fastrack and Cleaners, are invaluable. They always have prospects attending. They are a great example of a Conklin business builder team making all the right moves.”
Judy and Ivan make an ideal team for their passenger transit and Conklin businesses. Judy mans the phones, sets the appointments and cleans out the vans while Ivan does the driving and maintains the entire fleet. For their Conklin business, Judy brings in the prospects while Ivan lends his technical expertise to product awareness and training.
As more Amish actively operate Conklin businesses, their need for rides to Conklin corporate-sponsored trainings is greater than ever before. And because their families are so large, it doesn’t take long to fill up a van.
“For most Amish, driving your own motorized vehicle is not permitted,” explains Ivan. “But they need to travel long distances for business and personal reasons. That’s where our transportation business fills the gap.”
Because Ivan has a ‘captive audience’ whenever he drives the motor home cross-country, he exposes his passengers to Conklin through product displays in an exhibit area and unleashes his newfound passion by telling the wonders of Conklin products to any passengers that want to listen.
Ivan and Judy weren’t always the crackerjack marketers and savvy chauffeurs they are today. Ivan, a former shrimper and native of southern Louisiana, and Judy, a former native of midcentral Illinois, met in New Orleans. After their marriage, they returned to the Midwest to raise Paint horses and Labrador Retrievers.
They revved up their transportation business to a sizeable fleet of vans, a motor home and four drivers while raising three sons, one daughter and many litters of Labrador pups. They are now enjoying a passel of grandkids.
The Dardar’s Conklin business is an ideal fit for them. In one short year, they are demonstrating just how easy and lucrative it is to weave Conklin into their working and private lives. They are driving straight for success.
Testimonial
Amplify-D® is one of my favorite AgroVantage products. We have seen anywhere from four to 12 bushel increases by using Amplify D. It costs less than one bushel per acre to use. This has been our number one selling product.
It's easy, sign up using the Online Application and in seconds become a Conklin Independent Business Owner
Mike and Jodi Stout have always made a formidable team. Co-owners of Stout Construction, Mike has been a General Contractor for more than 35 years, while Jodi was employed as an Alzheimer’s specialist at an Independent Living center. However, that was before they decided to work in tandem promoting their Conklin business.
It’s all about service to his customers for Mark Fillbrandt of Felton, Minn. This was especially evident in his business
philosophy of running it similar to a family farm – offer quality products, have a close relationship with his clients and intimately know and understand their production practices.
Along with offering a wide variety of products, one of the staples of this crop management system is proper soil testing to maximize the effectiveness of each farming operation. The soil test results enable Mark to make specific nutrient and application recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, secondary and micronutrients to his clients.
Mose and Ellen Beachy’s commitment to excellence has set high standards for their children to follow. Leading by example, Mose’s determination and willingness to face challenges head-on have inspired their sons Brian and Jonathan to join– and succeed– in the Beachy family business.
Mose and Ellen have worn the title of Conklin Directors for 26 years, and Mose has held the prestigious designation of Master Contractor for over a decade. Brian is also a Master Contractor, and the Beachy’s actively share the business opportunity with those they meet. Mose and Ellen’s commitment to excellence has set high standards for their children to follow. “My father’s determination is inspiring,” said Brian. “He’s taught me everything. The important thing is that you don’t take shortcuts, and treat each job as if it’s our own building.”
East Central Illinois is Amish territory. And unlike the stereotype, the horse-and-buggy Amish community there, as well as the other hundreds of bucolic Amish communities throughout the country, reaches out to its non-Amish neighbors which they affectionately call the ‘English.’