Signs of change at AHW

Randy Allen and Ron Hatke retire

By John O. Marlowe

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Ever since man stepped away from hunting and gathering food, to colonize into settlements and farms, the success of the grower has depended on how well he or she interprets the signs.

For instance, a halo around the sun or moon is believed to indicate rain. Cows approaching labor will often separate themselves from the herd. Field corn is usually ready for harvest about 20 days after the first full silks appear.

And . . . seeing 30 or so half-ton and three-quarter ton pickup trucks surround the local John Deere dealership? Well, that’s the sign of tremendous respect for two people who have helped farmers in the community for more than five decades.

Ron Hatke and Randy Allen recently announced their respective retirements from AHW, LLC, the John Deere Dealership in Crawfordsville. Together they represent more than 100 years of service to West Central Indiana agribusiness. The two were feted, Friday, at an open house at the dealership, and the lobby was teeming with farmers and friends congratulating the pair on their successful careers.

“I’m so impressed by the number of generations represented, here,” said Tammy Allen, Randy’s wife, and the mother of the couple’s three daughters –– Stacey, Stephanie, and Shelby. “That means a great deal to Randy and me.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago that the girls tagged along with their Dad, when he worked Sundays. During the early years, a lot of extra hours were spent here, especially during planting and harvest, and if the girls were going to spend time with their father, it was here.”

Allen started the Crawfordsville John Deere dealership in 1996, and managed operations for 25 years. Initially, he wrote parts orders, but quickly turned to sales.

“I just really liked working with people,” said Allen. “I’ve really enjoyed the customers.”

Eventually becoming part of the Wright Implement, Inc. family of dealerships, the Crawfordsville location transitioned again when AHW, LLC – a private company based in Dwight, Ill. – purchased the dealership in 2014, along with other western Indiana stores in Williamsport, Rockville and Attica.

“It was awkward, at first,” admitted Allen. “We didn’t know them well, and they didn’t know us. In the beginning, we felt like we had to prove ourselves. Our employees did just that, and we are happy to be a part of AHW, today.”

Hatke, who began long ago under pioneer dealership head, Charlie Homsher, echoed Allen’s assessment of the merger.

“Change is not easy, but it didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable working for and with them,” said the veteran employee.

With more than 50 full-time years under his belt, Hatke, a service technician has seen a lot of innovations in his tenure. When he started in 1972, the big news was operator comfort. Cabs were enclosed, and heaters, air-conditioning and air-filtration was introduced to protect the farmer. Now, technology includes tracking the vehicle via Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and satellites that can measure the amount of fertilizer needed to be added to the field.

“There’s no question the technology is more complicated,” said Hatke, “but I wouldn’t necessarily say it was harder. John Deere is really good about training.

“Years ago, they used to send us to Service Schools for training, as far away as Indianapolis or Ohio, or maybe to branch houses as close as Linden. However, nearly all of the training is conducted online, now.”

And getting parts these days? Are the supply chain woes hurting work here, too?

“Some specialized parts are hard to find right now,” said Hatke. “However, we have really good relationships with other dealers around the Midwest. We can contact them online, and often they will share inventory with us, and vice versa.

“Nevertheless, when inventory is this tight, everyone kind of hangs on to what they have.”

Hatke and his wife, Terresa, a local insurance agent, plan on spending more time with their three children and six grandchildren. However, Ron has a few projects lined up at home, too.

“I’m going to do some woodworking. Nothing special. I just like working the wood. I’ve got things I want to make for the kids.”

Randy Allen had this day circled on the calendar for some time. He wants to use hard-earned time to restore a tractor. John Deere, of course?

“No, it’s a Red one (Case IH),” he winced. “But it belonged to my Dad. It’s really important to me.”

“Starting last year, I’ve been taking less and less responsibility for operations, here. It’s time for me to step aside,” said Allen, who served a similar role at Williamsport, Covington, and Mellott. “I will miss the people, though.”

“Maybe not everyone,” chimed his longtime friend and co-worker, Randy Saltz. “Ask him about the time someone got sick in the hallway. It seems while the two worked at the Mellott dealership, Saltz was angling to get a day off, and was willing to go to great lengths to achieve it.

“Yeah. Saltz kept telling me he didn’t feel good,” said Allen with some chagrin. “It’s amazing what a can of cream of chicken soup dumped on the hallway floor will make you think of.”

Evidently, that’s another one of those signs that successful agribusiness people just can’t ignore.