CALF_News_August_September_2020

31 CALF News • August | September 2020 • www.calfnews.net Rawhide Processor by John McDonald 3 Sizes Available! The First Hydraulic Corral and still the Largest! • Pull on highway at speed limit. • Fits through any gate your pickup will. • Stable on uneven terrain. • Wheels on each panel and electric over hydraulic jack eliminates lifting—saves time. • Permanent sheeted adjustable alley. • Frame gates for sorting. • Transport wheels are permanent, no sliding off the axles and rolling out of the way. Rawhide Original Standard Size Rawhide Portable Corral 900 NORTHWASHINGTON ST., ABILENE, KS 67410 785.263.3436 www.rawhideportablecorral.com “Bob was now the co-owner, manager, salesman, warehouseman, bookkeeper, delivery driver and janitor for the newly formed Great Plains Chemical Com- pany. This one-man operator, which started in 1967, employees more than 1,200 people today.” The decision on the location came as a recommendation by W.D. Farr, who told Hummel it made sense to headquarter where the feedyards are. Farr was right. Developing the company Soon after getting set up with distribu- tion companies, the duo bought Parker Livestock in Fremont, Neb., and opened several other locations. By 1975, they had a total of eight warehouses located in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle. They also bought Parker Livestock Supply in Billings, Mont., and V.A. Snell in San Antonio, Texas. “During the next 35 years, we focused on internal growth and streamlin- ing our business processes,” Hummel said.“We gradually began centralizing our accounts receivables and payables, human resources, billing, marketing and advertising, purchasing (particularly the large purchases) and fleet management. “As the years progressed, we once again expanded across the country – either through acquisition or start up – to be able to service the hog, dairy, farm stores and, finally, the companion animal vet- erinarians. Each class of trade presented both challenges and opportunities.” “Bob realized he needed to differenti- ate himself from others, and he needed to invest in his customer base to ensure their sustainability,” Kline said during his presentation.“So, in the early 1980s, he went to work resolving those concerns by investing in and developing technology. This technology could be utilized by the feeding industry, allowing them a fast, accurate way of tracking animals through- out the feeding period, and keeping track of their health and feed requirements. “The Micro Machine division was developed and now encompasses mill management, grain conditioners, feed truck management, flake monitoring sys- tems, and the overall control and man- agement of macros and micros utilized in feeding cattle today,” Kline said. “In 1983, we hired Betty Jo Gigot, who had feedyard experience, to build a vet records system. This allowed the tracking of individual animal health records for sickness [and] treatments used, which made it easier for feedlots to bill the customer for products used to prevent illness or treat each animal, and remain in compliance with government- mandated withdrawal of drugs prior to slaughter,” according to Hummel. They later acquired Turnkey, a feed- yard software company out of Amarillo, Texas, that offered feedyard financial software Advanced Livestock Tracker and accounting software FY 3000. They also invested heavily in PCC, a company that enabled feedyards to compare them- selves against their peers. “This accumulation of technology now supports a large percentage of the cattle on feed in the U.S. today. Others soon followed with their technology Continued on page 33 