Ole Pappy
“We have a vision,” said Stephen Trachtenberg as he stood inside the building he’d recently purchased.
The new owner of the Schott Building in Minneota added, “We have the opportunity and we’re in a position of exceeding expectations.”
Stephen is not only bringing his business, “Chasing Our Tails, Inc.,” to Minneota with a new packaging/distribution plant, but he’s bringing along a very deep desire to fit into the community, to learn new things and to discover what the Southwest Minnesota area has to offer.
“I’m looking forward to driving my first combine and plant my first seed,” he said about the agriculture-rich area. “I can’t wait,” he said with all the giddiness he could muster.
Stephen added, “I’m passionate about our business, our community.”
He’s not coming in blind, he knows the challenges the farm communities are facing this year. But he said, “Small business is in a tough situation. But small businesses have to stick together.”
He’ll be operating out of places like Sanborn, Tracy and Minneota and said, “We need to get our towns together. It’s how we brand Southwestern Minnesota,” he added.
Speaking frankly about the multi-community business he’s put together, Stephen said, “It’s a beautiful thing when it all comes together.”
With one eye on the future, Stephen said, “I’ll be glad when we ship that first pallet. It’s going to be beautiful.” Back in October, he came to agreement to purchase a meat processing plant in Sanborn.
“We did that first. Since then, it’s been a long process.” Most people thought he’d land in Marshall, but when the community questioned the potential business they felt could cause odor and perhaps other problems, Trachtenberg was quick to pull out.
He called the Minneota Agriculture Community in Southwest Minnesota, “A vacuum. You guys live in it,” he said.
He feels the Agricultural community has not been properly marketed and that the area has a rich potential. Stephen painted a picture with words when describing how he felt about his business — indicating he felt he, and former building owner Owen Schott felt the same way about their vocation, where it was located and the building itself. “Schott and I are alike. This is home, our playground. It’s like an artist’s brush, so to speak,” he said.
He added, “This is who we are here and why I get along with Minnesota.” Stephen comes from a small town— Ellenville, New York.
When he walked into Gislason’s Ace Hardware in Minneota, he fell in love with the place.
“The old wooden floor, it’s fantastic, just like the old hardware stores,” he said.
He loves bowling alleys and when he saw the vacant bowling alley in the basement of the Minneota American Legion Building, he suddenly turned into a, “Kid in a Candy Store.”
His eyes lit up, he got bubbly all over and begin to take photos. Frankly, he fell in love with the place. “I grew up in a small town. Dad worked there (in a hardware store),” Stephen said.
“Mom worked at the school,” he added. The town survived with a “Channel Master” business that eventually was replaced in the community. So small town life such as that in Minneota and Tracy fits his lifestyle, titillates his senses and satisfies his desires to, “Be home once again!”
“When you look back at it, I’m a manufacturer. I like to make stuff,” he said. He cemented his feelings by adding, “I live here — I’m a resident. I grew up in small town America.”
Stephen is a small town boy at heart. He’s done well financially, but it was obvious succeeding at business is only part of what’s driving him to plant his roots in small-town America. “The thing we want to do is create more sense of community. I need to live in a community where I’m appreciated,” he said.
He may just have found that place in Southwest Minnesota. The Minneota group ADOM (Area Development of Minneota) is glad to have him and they’ve welcomed him with open arms. “It’s a very good fit for us and for him,” said ADOM member Brad Minnehan.
CORRECTION: This column talked about basketball powers last week and said North Carolina State was one. It should have been University of North Carolina.
LAUGH A LITTLE: You’ve got to be kidding! Before Google, there were librarians. Here are some queries posed to the poor, suffering staff of public libraries:
• A woman wanted “inspirational material on grass and lawns.”
• “Who built the English Channel?”
• “Music suitable music for a doll wedding to take place between a Shirley Temple doll and a teddy bear.”
• “Can the New York Public Library recommend a good forger?”
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: As my Ole Pappy used to say, “I’m proud of you. But don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back.”
Ole Pappy liked to build self-esteem, but he wanted to make sure it came with humility. Thanks Ole Pappy!