HUMBOLDT — Murphy Tractor & Equipment, one of John Deere’s largest construction and forestry dealers in North America, is up and running in Humboldt. It’s the company’s 30th location.
The 15,000-square-foot facility, located next to K-224, the spur from U.S. 169 into Humboldt, is on a five-acre parcel owned by Monarch Cement Company, which purchased the land from Humboldt Growth, Inc. (HUGRO). HUGRO bought 30 acres of land along Hawaii Road around five years ago, betting that an opportunity just like this, sooner or later, would come along.
But if Murphy’s presence in Humboldt highlights the importance of taking the long view, Kent Webber, president of Monarch, attests it also points to the power of collaboration.
“This is a perfect example of a county and a city being proactive,” said Webber. “Everyone got in the game from the start, two or three years ago, and everyone’s been diligent in making this happen. It’s been a whole team of people trying to get this done.”
Indeed, a variety of players teamed up to entice Murphy to move to Humboldt. Allen County commissioners provided $335,000 to aid Humboldt in extending utilities to the 30-acre industrial tract. B&W Trailer Hitches, Monarch Cement Company and the county also provided in-kind participation, with Humboldt maintenance workers and B&W resources replacing contracted labor.
The results are impressive. Murphy’s building is gorgeous, with a streamlined, modern exterior and handsome masonry surrounding the front entrance. Inside, it’s more of the same. The shop is state of the art, with five bays (plus a wash bay), cathedral-high ceilings, and bright lighting. No detail seems to have been spared.
This is a perfect example of a county and a city being proactive. Everyone got in the game from the start, two or three years ago, and everyone’s been diligent in making this happen. It’s been a whole team of people trying to get this done.Kent Webber, President of Monarch
All to say that product support manager Terryl Mueller and his crew have all the right tools at their disposal.
Mueller currently leads a team of four, composed of a field technician, service technician and a parts representative. He imagines Murphy will be at six or seven employees total when they’re up to full steam.
Originally from Yates Center, Mueller was hired by Murphy in July to manage this location, transitioning from Community National Bank & Trust of Humboldt. Though it seems to be quite the career change, Mueller doesn’t see it that way.
“I grew up in an ag community,” he said. “That’s my background. My task now is the same as with the bank: working with customers and understanding what they need. It’s our job to keep them up and running so they can maximize what they do well.”
Mueller, who lives in Iola, relishes the opportunity to have a short commute and be close to family and friends. “We lived in Kansas City for a while and had a chance to move back, and we took it. My wife is from Garnett. We really enjoy the area.”
For Mueller, Murphy’s Humboldt location isn’t just convenient. “We have locations in Park City, Springfield, Topeka and KC,” Mueller said. “This made sense with the partnerships and collaboration we’ve had in the area. Humboldt’s a good place to fill that gap to better serve our existing customers and take on some new ones.”
Mueller also credits the community with providing a warm welcome, saying, “Most people are excited to see something new, to see an organization pick Humboldt and Allen County, and that’s been very encouraging.”
Webber shares that sentiment, noting that “we annexed that property into the City of Humboldt so there’d be a benefit for the city. We at Monarch are appreciative of Murphy Tractor for locating their service center here in our little community.”
And as for the remaining 24.5 acres in the industrial park? Webber is open to suggestions. It’s “ready, willing and able” to accommodate additional businesses.
