Farmer's Cooperative
Name: Gene Bruick, CEO
Company History: Farmer’s Cooperative was formed in 1944. Gene Bruick came on with the company in 1961, as the General Manager. Their history is long, and busy. Now-CEO Bruick explained their timeline.
“The original location was in Ft. Smith, Ark. We were doing about $300,000 a year in business; $275,000 to be exact. The business just kept growing, and all we had was an old dilapidated store. So we kept adding to it, doing repair work. Then in 1970 we built the new store at 201 S. 10th St. in Ft. Smith, Ark. My biggest comment on that building was that we built it too big. I had too much warehouse, too much display room. People said, ‘How are you going to make enough money to pay interest on that loan?’ But I said, ‘You gotta have faith.’ And, the business just kept growing," Gene said.
Branching Out: "We put a branch store in Charleston, Ark., and after about 5 years we moved that store to Branch, Ark.; our first branch store. The store in Ft. Smith grew so fast, we had to put another branch store in Poteau. Poteau, Okla., was our third branch store. Then Fayetteville came along and reluctantly, we put a branch store in Fayetteville and it became one of our better stores. This all goes to show you don’t know what will do what,” Gene said.
Farmer’s Co-op merged with Subiaco feed store and it became the company’s fifth branch store. Then came bulk fuel at Branch, Ark.
The Galloway tire store was purchased in 1986. Then they bought the Van Buren co-op in 1989. “We moved our headquarters from Ft. Smith to Van Buren, Ark. We then expanded the service station, bulk feed facility and retail feed store. From there we bought out a small feed store in Sallisaw, Okla., and put a branch store there.” Gene explained that after so much time, it became necessary to go back and remodel some of the earlier branches. "Then we went into Waldron, Ark., with a new store, and then from Waldron to Lincoln, Ark., and to Westville, Okla.
"In October we put in a branch store at Greenwood, Ark. We’ve got our plate pretty full."
What's been your goal for the company?
“We would like to be the leading feed and farm supply store in the community.”
How do you keep a similar work ethic and work values at each location?
“Each manager is responsible for their own location. We don’t micromanage. We let them manage their own store and give them an incentive for growth. I’m just lucky and blessed with excellent top-of-the-line managers."
Bruick also explained each location is networked together via computer networks, so communication and flow of information is much easier today.
Products & Services: “We’re of course a feed, seed, fertilizer and farm supply store. We also cover animal health. Fertilizer was not a bright spot in our business last year, but we don’t know what the next spring will bring. Our bulk commodity feeds have been the big bright spot in our operation. But we are also now trying to put more emphasis on retail. Fertilizer went down and retail went up, so we’ve been very blessed.”
What's in the future for your business?
“In regards to the future, we’ve got to be visionary. We’re adding locations, remodeling one in Greenwood, Fayetteville, Subiaco, we’re also remodeling the service station in Van Buren and expanding our commodity capabilities in Sallisaw. We’ve got our hands pretty full right now.”
What's the biggest change you've seen in your 47 years in the industry?
“This business has went from being about five or six feed stores in every town down to one or two. From being strictly feed, seed and fertilizer to being more diversified. We try to make our stores a one-stop store. We keep a complete inventory, if our customers get there, after a drive of 30-40 miles, they know they can go to the co-op and we’ll have it. I think our secret is good, caring managers.”
What's the best piece of advice you could give to a farmer?
“We’ve been through these times before and better times will come. We’ve got to be careful and be cautious, but we’ll work through these times too, as we have in the past.”
