For one Indiana dealer, care that comes full circle is natural. Giving back to local county fairs is a way they help ensure the fairs survive. Lalon Allen appreciates how important fairs are for raising and empowering young people, the future of our industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe donate 10% of whatever we sell back to the fairgrounds. That also prevents 5 to 10 people from each county coming and asking for a donation,\u201d said the owner of Allen Feeds, based in North Manchester, Indiana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where does that 10% come from that Allen Feeds donates? The feed company has converted an old school bus into a mobile livestock show shopping experience. It uses that bust to take product on the road!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe took an old school bus, gutted it, and put shelving and racks in it. We go to 15 or so different county fairs around us,\u201d Allen said. \u201cThe original goal was to sell more product, but we weren\u2019t going to be a \u2018me too,\u2019 which means we weren\u2019t going to have just a trailer, and nobody knows what\u2019s in it,\u201d Allen said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further explains that after gutting the bus, adding shelves and LED lighting, customers can enter from the front, and flow through the bus to shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey ask a million questions because there are products in there they have never heard of before. Then they shop and check out at the end of the day. The more they spend, the more they (the show) get back,\u201d Allen said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we can get the little kids hooked, then they will come back as adults,\u201d Allen adds with a grin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he also knows the essential lessons that livestock kids learn in the barn with their animals, preparing them for the county fair and beyond. Lessons in responsibility, work ethic, respect, and animal care are all reasons Allen gives back to the fairs. After all, they\u2019re an arena where these efforts are rewarded.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have to give back or it (the fair) will dry up and go away,\u201d Allen said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With nearly 45 years of experience in the feed business, Allen can tell if someone grew up around livestock projects. He knows they are an important way to teach numerous life lessons including goal setting, sportsmanship, patience and time managment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n