For today’s feature we’re getting a little bit outside of town to Harristown to take a look inside, outside and around at Jenner Ag Sales Corporation. Not only does the Decatur area have a rich boutique retail market but being in the heart of American agriculture of course we’re home to our fair share of Ag-focused businesses so this month we want to invite you to learn more about Jenner Ag!
The Details: Steve Jones, President at Jenner Ag Inc.| In Business: 55 years
Hours: M-F 7-5 | Locations: Harristown, Taylorville and Fairbury, Illinois. Mobile field service techs on the road throughout Illinois and Indiana. | Phone: 217-963-2241
Tell us about your business…What do you do? Jenner Ag serves the agriculture industries in Illinois and Indiana as a leading provider of application equipment, including Case IH, New Leader, Raven and more. The company supports Central Illinois farmers and garden enthusiasts from our Taylorville store with Case IH, Kubota, Cub Cadet, eXmark and Echo products. We help farmers revolutionize their operations with the latest technology through Jenner Precision, partnering with Precision Planting, 360 Yield Center, Ag Leader and more.
What makes your business unique/special? Revolutionary is our mission. We live this every day by increasing customer profitability, reducing risk, making it easier to do business, and improving environmental stewardship. We were recently nominated for our third consecutive Great Game of Business All-Star Award, and it’s something we’re very proud of. The Great Game of Business, Inc. was established to help companies implement the open-book management practices outlined in the book The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack. The organizers describe the award this way: “The All-Star Awards are a public acknowledgement that your company is unique—an organization that runs their business in a way that includes trust, business education and involvement, shared risks and shared rewards, and open communication.”
In what way have you gone above and beyond in the past for a customer? I think customers tell the story best. Here are three of my recent favorites about each division of our company:
“Your people light the world on fire. Your man David is all over it. He knows more than you can imagine about an ammonia bar in 10 minutes on the phone. You earned our business today. I’ll go around the country and tell everyone in the world if they don’t run your stuff they’re nuts.”—On Jenner Harristown
“The last combine I bought new and had problems with the depth system on it and fought it for three years. Finally your man came out, and within a week, he had it figured out, and I haven’t had a problem since. I can’t see you doing any better than Jenner.”—On Jenner Taylorville
“I was looking at singulation and spacing. Both were at 98.9 at only 9 mph. I kicked it up to 10.3 mph, and both went to 100%. I can plant at [those speeds] easily and accurately. With everything I planted, I don’t think I saw a missing stalk.”—On Jenner Precision
What are you passionate about outside of business? Personal development and education. It’s why I feel so strongly about The Great Game of Business. We have been part of the Game for five years, and employees tell me it impacts and improves every aspect of their lives. I couldn’t agree more.
WHY did you choose to do what you do? I grew up on a farm, and I wanted to farm, but in the ’80s there was little room for additional expense because of low commodity prices and high interest rates. I sought out a career in agribusiness and worked to reinvest the passion I had for this field. That passion lead me to business ownership and the opportunity to introduce others into the field of agribusiness and the great opportunities found within the industry.
Introduce us to your STAFF… We have 80 team members at three locations. Our employees are like second family. We all work together to improve the business and enrich each other’s lives. Training is ongoing for both personal and professional development, so that each of our team members has the opportunity to grow their lives outside of work and develop into a strong member of our team and society.
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