Closing a chapter

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — For 40 years, Jon Stein has had three focal points in his life: family, faith and Centre Dairy Equipment and Supply Inc.

In a couple of weeks on Dec. 1, that number will drop to two.

Stein has made the decision to retire and sell Centre Dairy Equipment and Supply out of Sauk Centre to the Leedstone Inc based out of Melrose. Both companies are certified dealers for GEA and Mueller equipment.

“Making the decision to sell was very difficult emotionally,” Stein said. “I love what I do and now that it has been announced that I am retiring, the response has been positively overwhelming.”

Stein said he has devoted a lot of time and energy to his business and now it is time to spend more time with his family. His wife, Laurie, has already retired from her job as a teacher at Albany Area Schools.

“I had told my wife I would retire after she does,” Stein said. “Well, it’s been nine years since she retired, so I figured it was time. She has been there for me over the years, now I need to give her the time she deserves.”

Together the Steins have three grown children and three grandchildren.

“My son, Gregg, works for me now,” Stein said. “All three of the boys have worked here at some point.”

Being on call to help farmers in their barns, parlors and milk houses has been challenging.

“I’ve been called out on every holiday and every hour of the day,” Stein said. “I am very excited to spend more time with my wife and our grandkids.”

Stein said the decision to sell Centre Dairy Equipment and Supply was not taken lightly.

“It was a timing decision,” Stein said. “I was approached by three different parties that were interested in my business. To me, that meant it was time. Right now, I am focused on transitioning the business over as smoothly as possible.”

Stein did his due diligence about a transition plan and wants to make sure his employees and farmers are taken care of.

“Leedstone is in the same proximity and carries the same product line, so it made a lot of sense to work with them,” Stein said. “I pray every morning for my staff and the people we serve.”

Stein has countless stories from being on the road over the past 40 years and has built a lot of relationships with his farmer customers.

“I care; I want each farm to be the best it can be,” Stein said.

Whether a farmer milks in a tiestall barn, parlor or with robots, Stein said his mission is always the same.

“It is listening to them and finding out what their needs truly are,” Stein said. “Anyone can sell them a product, but when you can establish a relationship with the farmer and truly get to the root of the problem, it makes all the difference. Sometimes it is a simple equipment adjustment, sometimes it is an upgrade.”

A career in the dairy supply industry was not Stein’s intended path. He grew up in a suburb of St. Paul that was a rural district with farms in the area.

“Even though I didn’t grow up on a farm, I have always enjoyed large animals and was in the pre-vet program at the University of Minnesota,” Stein said. “I switched to animal science and gained an appreciation of livestock production agriculture.

After college graduation, Stein got a job at a hog farm near Albany. He later helped milk cows at a dairy farm in the same area.

“I loved it, but my young family needed me home more,” Stein said. “So, I got a job at Dairyland Supply as a route salesman.”

After six years with Dairyland Supply, Stein bought out the milk cooling and handling side of the business, which became Centre Dairy Equipment and Supply.

“Milking cows prior to that job was a great foundation,” Stein said.

Stein spends little time in the office, as he takes shifts being on call and assists with installations and repairs.

“A good day for me is to come home smelling like cows,” Stein said. “That means I had the chance to have animal contact. That’s what I love about my job.”

With no two days being the same, Stein said he is grateful he gets to work in the dairy industry.

“I’d rather work with dairy farmers than any other group of people,” Stein said. “I’ve gotten to know so many farmers … I have been so fortunate to be carried over to the next generation on so many farms. I will miss that.”

Mark Klaphake contributed to this article.