Ron Balowski has been employed
at local co-op branch 28 years
at local co-op branch 28 years
By Bruce Rolfe
After nearly 50 years of working in the agriculture industry, Ron Balowski is ready to slow down.
Balowski has worked at the Climax Farm Bureau Co-op store for 28 years, including the last 10 years as manager.
Customers are invited to a retirement event January 31 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Farm Bureau. Refreshments will be served.
Josh Mack, who has been working at the local Farm Bureau co-op three years, was assigned as the new manager January 1, however Balowski’s last day is January 31.
A current resident of Coldwater and graduate of Union City High School, the long time Farm Bureau manager said he has been with the Farm Bureau co-op 50 years, starting at a Union City Farm Bureau co-op when he was 17 years old. When he turned 18 he was transferred to a different branch and later advanced into management training programs.
Balowski started at the Farm Bureau Climax Branch in 1997 in sales and as a Crop Specialist. He moved into the manager position in 2015.
In an era of big box stores with competition nearly everywhere, Balowski said local residents have remained loyal.
“If we didn’t have the loyalty of our customers, we wouldn’t still be here. We still are one co-op, compared to Keystone, who is 70 some co-ops all in one group. It takes a lot for a manager to be able to buy competitively and stay in business so our customers get a good price and we can still at least hopefully make a profit,” explained the long time manager.
With regular support coming from local residents, Balowski has gotten to establish many positive relationships over the years.
“That will be the hardest part. I’ll still have them on my phone so I’ll still probably talk to them once in a while. Not dealing with them on a regular basis. Over the years, 28 years in sales and as a manager, you get those bonds with those customers,” said Balowski.
Many bonds have been formed at the very popular coffee table at the local Farm Bureau co-op where local residents have gathered for years to enjoy coffee, talk farming or current events and maybe some gossip. Balowski said Mack intends to keep the coffee table in place as a gathering spot for local residents.
“I told them (coffee table regulars) every once in a while I might even stop off here to hear what’s going on, truth or a lie,” said Balowski with a laugh.
Balowski said he will also miss the employees, however he does plan on staying on part time for a period of time to assist Mack with his transition to store manager.
Balowski said advancements in technology in the agriculture industry has been the biggest change he has seen since he started. Farmers can now target areas in a field where soil or crop assistance may be needed.
“Running drones now to scout crops. Doing field samples by grid sampling so you’re going into small sections of the field, pulling samples and then our spreader trucks or sprayer can actually spray or spread accordingly with what that section of the field actually needs. You’re getting everything the crop needs and not over doing it or under going it. Put on the exact amount you need,” explained Balowski.
Balowski adds it’s been rewarding to see enhancements at the local Farm Bureau co-op that benefit the customer while he’s worked there.
The grain site was renovated to speed up drop off times. He said previously, the amount of grain the local co-op would take in from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., can now be processed in a regular 8-hour day.
He adds fertilizer load out is also much faster then it used to be. Balowski said before improvements were made, 10 tons of fertilizer could be loaded out in an hour, but now 10 tons can be
loaded out in about three minutes, preventing customers from having to wait in a line. He adds sprayer and spreader trucks have been upgraded as well.
The soon to be retired manager said he plans to spend more time with his wife and granddaughter, attending her activities when possible.
“Being in the ag business for 50 years, there’s things I want to do in the spring and can’t. So there’s some things I want to do in the spring that I’ve never been able to do before. And hopefully a little more vacation with my wife,” said Balowski.
He said overall, the experience working in Climax and the agriculture industry has been very enjoyable.
“I’ve enjoyed the customers. And I’ve learned with the advancement of technology,” said Balowski, who has achieved numerous certifications in fertility and chemical recommendations, field scouting, and material and equipment handling.
After nearly 50 years of working in the agriculture industry, Ron Balowski is ready to slow down.
Balowski has worked at the Climax Farm Bureau Co-op store for 28 years, including the last 10 years as manager.
Customers are invited to a retirement event January 31 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Farm Bureau. Refreshments will be served.
Josh Mack, who has been working at the local Farm Bureau co-op three years, was assigned as the new manager January 1, however Balowski’s last day is January 31.
A current resident of Coldwater and graduate of Union City High School, the long time Farm Bureau manager said he has been with the Farm Bureau co-op 50 years, starting at a Union City Farm Bureau co-op when he was 17 years old. When he turned 18 he was transferred to a different branch and later advanced into management training programs.
Balowski started at the Farm Bureau Climax Branch in 1997 in sales and as a Crop Specialist. He moved into the manager position in 2015.
In an era of big box stores with competition nearly everywhere, Balowski said local residents have remained loyal.
“If we didn’t have the loyalty of our customers, we wouldn’t still be here. We still are one co-op, compared to Keystone, who is 70 some co-ops all in one group. It takes a lot for a manager to be able to buy competitively and stay in business so our customers get a good price and we can still at least hopefully make a profit,” explained the long time manager.
With regular support coming from local residents, Balowski has gotten to establish many positive relationships over the years.
“That will be the hardest part. I’ll still have them on my phone so I’ll still probably talk to them once in a while. Not dealing with them on a regular basis. Over the years, 28 years in sales and as a manager, you get those bonds with those customers,” said Balowski.
Many bonds have been formed at the very popular coffee table at the local Farm Bureau co-op where local residents have gathered for years to enjoy coffee, talk farming or current events and maybe some gossip. Balowski said Mack intends to keep the coffee table in place as a gathering spot for local residents.
“I told them (coffee table regulars) every once in a while I might even stop off here to hear what’s going on, truth or a lie,” said Balowski with a laugh.
Balowski said he will also miss the employees, however he does plan on staying on part time for a period of time to assist Mack with his transition to store manager.
Balowski said advancements in technology in the agriculture industry has been the biggest change he has seen since he started. Farmers can now target areas in a field where soil or crop assistance may be needed.
“Running drones now to scout crops. Doing field samples by grid sampling so you’re going into small sections of the field, pulling samples and then our spreader trucks or sprayer can actually spray or spread accordingly with what that section of the field actually needs. You’re getting everything the crop needs and not over doing it or under going it. Put on the exact amount you need,” explained Balowski.
Balowski adds it’s been rewarding to see enhancements at the local Farm Bureau co-op that benefit the customer while he’s worked there.
The grain site was renovated to speed up drop off times. He said previously, the amount of grain the local co-op would take in from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., can now be processed in a regular 8-hour day.
He adds fertilizer load out is also much faster then it used to be. Balowski said before improvements were made, 10 tons of fertilizer could be loaded out in an hour, but now 10 tons can be
loaded out in about three minutes, preventing customers from having to wait in a line. He adds sprayer and spreader trucks have been upgraded as well.
The soon to be retired manager said he plans to spend more time with his wife and granddaughter, attending her activities when possible.
“Being in the ag business for 50 years, there’s things I want to do in the spring and can’t. So there’s some things I want to do in the spring that I’ve never been able to do before. And hopefully a little more vacation with my wife,” said Balowski.
He said overall, the experience working in Climax and the agriculture industry has been very enjoyable.
“I’ve enjoyed the customers. And I’ve learned with the advancement of technology,” said Balowski, who has achieved numerous certifications in fertility and chemical recommendations, field scouting, and material and equipment handling.
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