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70-year-old St. Ansgar business wins Farm Bureau Entrepreneur AwardIowa A small, family-run Standard Oil station in St. Ansgar has grown into a thriving tractor tire service whose manufacturing innovations are helping Iowa farmers improve productivity. Wold Rim & Wheel Service, which has had roots in the St. Ansgar community since 1938, was recently named the Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month for the month of October. Wold Rim & Wheel manufactures plate centers, replaces broken centers in agricultural wheels and custom builds wheels to meet the needs of a worldwide agricultural market. "Their wide variety of products helps farmers improve their productivity. This company is a real testament to how persistence and innovation can not only meet the needs of customers, but also bring an international customer base to your front door," says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Economic Development Administrator Sandy Ehrig. "We've come a long way from the small service station my grandfather started back in 1938," says Wold Rim & Wheel President Kelvin Wold. "We've kept our production offices here in St. Ansgar, but our business has now grown enough that we need more production room and a warehouse and shipping area so we've expanded; that means we've hired more people, and that's always good for our community." Back in 1958--when R.A. Wold acquired the service station from his father and established Wold Rim & Wheel--the company had one employee. Today they have 42 employees and a small turnover rate. "That's because this is a family operation and we have worked together for decades. Through many years of hard work and commitment by our talented staff, we've accomplished a lot," says R.A. Winners of the Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award are rural businesses that are making a positive impact in their communities. Many past winners have participated in the Renew Rural Iowa program. Renew Rural Iowa is holding a Business Success Seminar January 26 at Decorah's Hotel Winneshiek to help Iowa entrepreneurs uncover opportunities for improving their business, while providing the support and connections necessary to make those opportunities a reality. For more information on this one-day session, go to www.renewruraliowa.com or call 800-254-9670.
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