Location: Elkland
County: Webster
Owner: Billy Pickel
History: “Our family farm has been around for over a century. It began as a dairy operation run by our grandparents, Bill & Virgina Harry, and the generations before them. In recent years, my family and I transitioned it into a cow-calf operation, which has been growing very well. In 2021, we added automotive mechanic work and welding repairs as a part-time side business. Then, in January 2025, we decided to bring both sides together –the cow-calf operation and the automotive and welding services – to form one full-time, unified business. This allows us to continue the legacy of the farm while building a strong, diverse operation for the future.”
What are the products and services offered? “We offer full automotive and diesel mechanic services, along with in-house welding and occasional mobile welding work. In addition to our shop services, we operate a year-round cow-calf operation and sell quality feeder steers and heifers. These services can be scheduled by calling ahead at any time!”
What are some of the most popular products and/or services offered? “The most popular services we offer are front end rebuilds, custom fabrication, and general maintenance services such as: oil changes, brakes, differential fluid exchanges, etc. Though those are most popular, we do a lot of different services, diagnoses, and repairs on a weekly basis! All services done by Hawk Pond Branch are efficient and competitively affordable!”
Future plans: “Our ultimate goal is to build a strong customer base for both our automotive repair services and our calf-selling operation. As the business grows, we hope to reach a point where we can hire additional employees and expand our cow-calf operation to better serve our community and customers. We just want a business/farm that our future generations can be proud of and can take to the next level.”
Business philosophy: “With the automotive side, we strive to keep our customers happy by accurately diagnosing every repair that comes through our shop and taking the time to look over the vehicle for any other concerns while it’s already in. We believe in being honest and straightforward, so we never try to sell customers anything they don’t need or want.
“We want our cow-calf operation to continue growing, but we’re just as focused on maintaining quality within our herd. If an animal doesn’t meet our standards, it simply isn’t sold to our customers, plain and simple. Our priority is offering cattle we can stand behind and that our customers can trust.”
