as well as putting together a good team of employees .
“ We ’ ve got a very good team with a good work ethic ,” Lavern credits . “ They just care about what they ’ re doing .”
It ’ s that care for producing a quality product and a genuine love of agriculture that sets the Eagle Ridge Team apart . Rooted in their faith and grounded by true integrity , Eagle Ridge Shavings finds success one log at time .
Lavern Ropp has worked with FCS Financial ’ s Roger Ash since 2000 . He ’ s especially appreciative of the integrity he ’ s found with the cooperative and its employees .
Financial in 2000 when he started his turkey operation . His 40-acre purchase came to be home to a poultry operation that houses some 15,400 birds . Cattle were later added to the enterprise .
Lavern appreciates working with the cooperative and its employees because they “ take care of me ,” as he puts it . “ From 2000 to 2017 , that ’ s the only place I ’ ve ever ( gone to for lending needs ).”
“ A business is only as good as its people ,” David adds , “ and in this business I can ’ t say enough good about FCS and Roger ( Ash ). He ’ s bent over backwards . He ’ s a man of exceptional integrity .”
Roger adds that working with the folks at Eagle Ridge has been simply a great relationship . Together , they ’ ve learned the ins and outs of the shavings business .
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE Starting a business from the ground up can be challenging , and both Lavern and David are quick to credit their faith for helping them succeed .
“ God ’ s been good ,” Lavern says . “ We ’ ve had our slow times , but as the fall and winter comes on , it calls for more bedding .”
Through it all , Eagle Ridge Shavings is grounded by honesty . “ That ’ s the number one key ,” Lavern says . “ In the bulk business , it ’ s very easy to tell somebody that they ’ re getting 150 yards when really they ’ re not getting 150 yards . ( Honesty ) is a reputation I want to keep . When Eagle Ridge sells you a yard , you ’ re getting a yard .”
Keeping a consistent product at an affordable price has been crucial to the operation ’ s success
David Peachey ( left ) and Lavern Ropp ( right ) built Eagle Ridge Shavings five years ago to fill a need for livestock producers by providing quality bedding .
HEARTBEAT | WINTER 2017 11