In just over seven months, a Wapello-based animal feed dealership has expanded to over 200 customers.
Hanson Farms owner Brandon Hanson says the venture started as a way for his two sons to sell enough feed to make a little money, but they experienced quick growth thanks in part to the pandemic, “Initially when we set out we assumed we would sell 100 bags a month, that would be enough to cover my kids poultry flock and we found out there was a need. A lot of backyard poultry growers had increased and hobby farms had increased and the idea for them to have the feed sat right in their barn without them being home and the ability to make a remote payment, the contactless concept kind of took hold.”
Hanson says he’s surprised by their early success and they have since added feeds for chickens, goats, cattle, swine, dogs, and cats. He says deliveries used to take three hours on a Saturday afternoon and now they can spend up to 30 hours a week delivering to their client base. Hanson says during March, they’ll donate 50 cents from each bag of feed they sell to the Multiple Sclerosis Society with suppliers of select brands they carry offering matching donations.
You can hear more from Hanson during our Special Edition Ag Magazines at 1 and 6 p.m. today on KCII.