Martie’s Farm Service Sold — To Customers

Martie’s Farm Service in Elk River, a locally owned and operated family business for 41 years, has been sold.

The business, however, is not going anywhere.

It has been purchased by Brooks Johnson, a longtime customer with a farm near Foley who has loved to dabble in various business ventures, and a business partner, John Betker, who lives in Otsego and has an equally diverse background.

“One of my sons had his first job here,” Johnson said.

Johnson has cows and sheep on his farm, and prior to closing on the sale of Martie’s Feed Service last week he was doing a whitetail habitat business for 15 years and had the Double Bull Archery (turkey and deer blinds) business in Big Lake where he worked side-by-side with Betker. The partners sold the business to Primos Hunting in 2007.

Beyond that he has a lot of little businesses that he believes will dovetail nicely with the farm service business.

Johnson and Betker don’t have plans to make a bunch of changes to the business, except for some additions.

Johnson was a co-founder at Northern Pond Life, taking small ponds (as small as 1/8 acre and 6 feet deep) and guiding landowners through the process of stocking and growing trophy fisheries in tiny pieces of water.

“Eleven-inch bluegill, 20-inch bass, crappie and monster catfish are all real possibilities in small ponds,” Johnson said. “We will be adding pond supplies and how-to (information) at both stores.”

Future plans the pair have include growing a food plot business that has been going for 15 years and which they would like to grow yet this summer.

“So we’ll keep everything we have here at Martie’s and try to add some more stuff,” Johnson said.

That’s music to the ears of Rusty Martie and his sister Barbie Brion. The former co-owners put the business up for sale in October 2021. The dynamics of business and Martie’s family have changed drastically since Faye Martie died tragically on Jan. 9, 2018.

Eighteen months later the Martie siblings lost their brother Paul.

Up until Faye’s death Rusty and Barbie had been shareholders while their parents were majority owners. They were given more shares after her death, and by 2021 they were sole owners.

“Family dynamics had changed and there were no grandkids coming up that we could say, ‘You guys run it,’ like our parents did to us,” Barbie said.

Rusty, who turns 60 in August, said the changing dynamics and their age “took a lot of the gusto out of us.”

“It’s a very physical job,” Barbie said. “We don’t sugarcoat it because it’s a hard job. Two years ago we said let’s put the feelers out there. It could take six months. It could take six years.”

The farm service, pet and lawn supplies stores with locations in Elk River and Monticello and a great reputation for quality and service since 1982 was listed on Loopnet.com.

Proprietary mixes for birds and livestock with a very loyal following, the website said, along with seasonal plants, flowers, and seeds keep the customers coming all spring.

“This business is truly a one-stop-shop for the rancher, hobby farm, and pet lover. Turnkey business, with employees,” it stated.

But it wasn’t the listing that got Johnson interested. It was news that the place almost sold in a conversation with Russell, the father Rusty and Barbie and the widowed husband of Faye.

Russell directed his friend and customer to Barbie, who was caught off guard when he asked how much she would want for the Monticello location.

Customer’s initial inquiry surprised, but became the ‘right fit’

She said the business was a package deal, meaning the buyer would have to buy the land for both — one location with a 2,800-square-foot showroom, a 5,280-square-foot warehouse along with another 8,400-square-foot warehouse situated on 2.2 acres of prime commercial land, and the second location sits just off a major highway and consists of 0.23 acres and a 7,500-square-foot feed store.

Johnson began his due diligence.

“It took me about two months of research to figure out if I was going to buy it,” he said. “We started talking in February and we closed last week.”

Johnson sought out people he knew in the industry and got their advice, then went through the books with his wife.

Barbie was right. For the Monticello business to be successful it needs the feed supplier in Elk River.

“You want something different from the big box stores,” she said. “People thrive on fresh feed locally supplied for farmers.”

The Martie siblings are happy with the buyer they sold to.

“Knowing Brooks’ background and knowing him, it just felt like it was right,” Barbie said. “You get that gut feeling.”

Johnson says a factor in his decision is that his children could someday be employed by the business and when they’re ready to run new locations, starting with his son Arcus.

“He’ll work underneath Johnny and I, and learn a lot fast,” Johnson said.

The offer will stand for his daughter Josie, who’s still in school. His oldest son, Bricker, already has his own farm.

“I always told him if you do something you like you don’t have to work a day in your life,” Johnson said.

Betker has had professional, executive, and ownership positions covering wholesale industrial parts, a mosquito control company, project management, and 27 years in the outdoor industry with a specialty in archery.

“My last role was director of operations for an archery accessory company along with an archery pro shop and shooting range located in Anoka,” Betker said. “I have been a resident of Otsego for over 20 years and enjoy many of the things we offer at Martie’s.

“Gardening with my wife Krissy, lawn care, pet supplies for our dog Scooby, and feed for my chickens.”

Betker also runs a mosquito control company. This coupled with the supplies that Martie’s carries will offer customers a chance to stand being outside to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to be involved in such a known name like Martie’s that has been a staple of the Elk River community for 41 years,” Betker said. “I look forward to growing and expanding our products and services to the community.”

SOURCE: Hometown Source