In business since 1962, life-long ranchers, Redmond and Myrtle Sears recognized that a new irrigation project in Ainsworth would bring in a ready supply of water to what had been a dry land area.
Redmond quickly saw the potential the area had for growing an abundant supply of corn, paving the way for an efficient and profitable cattle feeding operation. His vision was a good one. Ainsworth Feed Yards Co., Inc., has now been owned and operated by three generations of the Sears fam-ily. Currently, Bob and Korley own and operate the business which has grown into one of the premier custom cattle feeding operations in the Midwest. Located in the heart of cattle country, the 49,000 head capacity feed yard is ideal for their customers. “The business is very competitive by nature,” says Korley. “We have to do a good job and it’s vital to have the cattle perform efficiently.”
The Sears family and their employees give their cattle an advantage by feeding them steam flaked corn – corn which is grown on their 6,000 acres of farmland. The process involves steaming the corn and then smashing it until it resembles a pressed corn flake. Ainsworth Feed Yards is the only steam flaked corn mill in north central Nebraska. This processing method releases the full potential of each ration and results in a feed which allows the cattle to absorb more nutrients. Korley admits the process is expensive, but they pick up about 10% in feed efficiency and feed gain in cattle. A nutritionist is also consulted to ensure the cattle perform at their best.
Ainsworth Feed Yards utilizes two CAT® wheel loaders to transport their feed to their cattle. CAT loaders are preferred by Korley and his family because they are quality machinery. They appreciate the trouble-free performance they get with these loaders, which is critical when feeding cattle three times a day; seven days a week.
“We went with CAT because they are one of the best loaders out there,” says Korley. “What is the value that can be put on a product that keeps us profit-able?”
Korley says that he can’t put a price on the value of his loaders that distribute 100+ loads of feed to the cattle per day. They can’t afford to have a breakdown because if their cattle aren’t healthy and fed, their operation would suffer financially. Their favorable reputation in the cattle industry and ethical business practices have brought customers from as far as the east and west coasts. Typically, their customer base includes ranchers and those investors that rely heavily on Ainsworth Feed Yards to produce healthy and hearty stock.
Since Ainsworth Feed Yards began its relationship with NMC, they have appreciated the customer service provided by their sales representative, Eddie Bomar. Korley noted that Eddie understands their busy workload and that time means money.
“We know that if we need something, Eddie is right on it and responds to our needs immediately,” says Korley.
With the daily use of their CAT loaders, the operation has taken advantage of NMC’s S.O.S Lab. Scheduled oil sampling ensures their machinery runs smoothly. Their operation has also benefited from NMC’s CSA (Customer Support Agreements) Program.
Services are tailored to meet the needs of the feed yard by locking in maintenance costs for the length of the contract. According to Korley, their NMC service technician has exceeded their expectations on at least one occasion by coming out to their yard to service a loader in the evening after work hours so they would avoid unscheduled down time.
Korley confidently notes that along with their business practices, they have been able to maintain their cattle and take care of their customers with the assistance of their CAT loaders. “The bottom line is that whatever is best for the cattle will be what’s best for our business,” says Korley.
