If you know how long HMG has been in business, you know about how long Barb and Steve have been married. After their September 1981 wedding, Barb got involved in the community, the 4-H program, and other projects. Soon she was looking for a way to engage in agricultural communications professionally and HMG’s predecessor company was launched in January 1983 with Barb serving as owner, salesperson, account rep, copywriter, and content driver. The company’s first client? Holstein (Iowa) Coop Elevator.
The Coop was in a growth mode and capitalizing on advertising cost-share funds made available by their feed supplier, Land O’ Lakes. The assistant manager at HCE, one of Barb’s primary contacts, was Randy Broesder. Today Randy is general manager of Farmers Coop Association based in Forest City, Iowa, and remains a customer of HMG.
Looking back, Randy remembers the HMG-created newsletter at HCE being a tool used to reach non-customers. They sent it to all households with a Holstein address to build awareness of the Coop and its offerings. “Barb spent a lot of time with us, probably coming over to see us every-other week,” Randy recalls. That personal service is one of the reasons why Randy continues to do business with HMG today.
While Forest City is farther from Early than Holstein, HMG continues to help Farmers Coop Association tell its story to staff with an employee newsletter and reach customers with a monthly newsletter enclosed in statements. HMG is now also working with Randy and his team to develop social media marketing and digital presence. Other projects HMG does for FCA include letters, invitations, and online content. Monthly calls on FCA, including visits at their locations in Leland, Iowa, and Kiester, Minnesota, help keep the process moving forward. “I’m from the old school and like person-to-person contact,” Randy explains. And HMG is happy to make that happen.
As Randy’s communications needs have grown and changed over the decades, so have the abilities of HMG to meet them. We are honored and proud to call our first customer a customer yet today!
Barb and Steve have always liked to entertain. Randy was invited to Christmas parties at their home in the 1980s and remembers one in particular. He attended and on the way home to Holstein, got a bloody nose that lasted for hours. The next day, he could barely function due to blood loss. Looking back, Randy believes he should have sought medical attention. However, he also remembers the Determans’ hospitality and Barb’s personal service as one of the reasons why he remains a customer today.
We’re happy to welcome Katie back after her maternity leave. We are all looking forward to pictures and stories about Royce who was born November 27 as well as big brother, Otto, age 2. And we joyfully anticipate having Katie’s design skills available to help tell our customers’ stories once again, too.
