| OVER 60 Years, Three Generations The corporate structure of Loup Valley Alfalfa also changed in the 1950's. Glo Flacker sold his interest to William Manasil and LeRoy Anderson. In the late fifties, LeRoy Anderson developed health problems and later died, and William Manasil purchased his interest in Loup Valley Alfalfa from Madelon Anderson, LeRoy's widow. John Cronin became the sale representative for the miss and eventually purchased a portion of the stock from William. Young Bill Manasil returned from college in 1963 and began working for his father, learning the family business and in 1974, following the death of William Manasil, took stock ownership of Loup Valley Alfalfa. Loup Valley currently employs seventeen full-time employees. In alfalfa season the mill operates twenty-four hours a day, six days a week; in the feed season (Oct.-April) the mill operates ten hours a day six days a week. The company owns a fleet of six tandem axle delivery trucks, a semi tractor and trailer, two Field Queens, two windrowers, and two field trucks. The plant has storage capacity for 2,500 tons of alfalfa pellets, 400-500 bushels of corn. Twelve different types of pelleted ration are currently manufactured by the plant. Sunflower meal is purchased from North Dakota, cottonseed meal from Oklahoma and Texas, wheat middlings come primarily from the Lincoln and Omaha region and soybean meal from Hastings and southern Nebraska. All the, alfalfa used in the rations is locally grown, primarily in a sixteen mile radius of the plant which keeps the alfalfa fresher and decreases hauling time, helping the plant run smoothly during alfalfa season. Corn is also primarily locally grown. The dehydrator is the original machine that was purchased by the mill owners in the 1950's. Many modifications have been added to the dehydrator to keep the plant operating in compliance with the EPA and the Dept. of Environmental Protection. These modifications keep the air quality in Burwell and th surrounding area cleaner, elimination the dirt and dust produced by the plant in the early stages. The dehydrator is fueled by natural gas, replacing the old crude oil years. When the alfalfa is wet, the dehydrator temperatures may reach as high as 1,600 degrees and the machine operates like a glorified clothes dryer, tumbling the ground alfalfa and drying it at the same time. Loup Valley Alfalfa maintains a large trade area. The trade area extends as far north as the South Dakota/Nebraska state line and as far south as interstate 80, west to Alliance and east to Columbus, NE. As large as the trade is, majority of Loup Valley Alfalfa's products are purchased by local ranchers and livestock owners. Loup Valley Alfalfa is a local business with a long and successful past. Bill Manasil's son, Jon Manasil returned to Burwell with his family June of 1999. When Bill Manasil passed away in 2005 Jon Manasil took over the family business to carry on the Loup Valley Alfalfa name. |
| 1-308-346-4770 |
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Loup Valley Alfalfa came into existence on November 06, 1945, an enterprise created by LeRoy Anderson, Glo Faclder and William Manasil. In the early days of business, the primary
function of the plant was grinding. Stacks of locally grown alfalfa and loading the ground hay onto railroad cars to be shipped across the nation. The ground hay was sacked in large burlap
coffee sacks and the tops of the bags were sewn shut, all by hand labor.
function of the plant was grinding. Stacks of locally grown alfalfa and loading the ground hay onto railroad cars to be shipped across the nation. The ground hay was sacked in large burlap
coffee sacks and the tops of the bags were sewn shut, all by hand labor.
After 2 years of business, the company purchased a dehydrator and began dehydrating the ground alfalfa. The dehydrator was fueled with crude oil and the temperature of the
dehydrator was regulated by the amount of alfalfa fed into the machine. The alfalfa was scooped into the dehydrator by manual labor, using pitchforks and muscle and was still sacked,
sewn and loaded by hand.
dehydrator was regulated by the amount of alfalfa fed into the machine. The alfalfa was scooped into the dehydrator by manual labor, using pitchforks and muscle and was still sacked,
sewn and loaded by hand.
The ranchers liked the ease of feeding the pelleted alfalfa, primarily the large pellets and wafers,
which could be fed to cattle on the ground. They soon began asking of ground corn and meal could be
mixed with the alfalfa, to provide a more complete feed, thus began the pellet ration business for Loup
Valley Alfalfa. In no time, the feed business outgrew the alfalfa business and the emphasis turned to
feed. During this period, another drum was added to the plant and the old drum was dismantled and
moved to Albion. Neil Sloan was the current salesman for Loup Valley Alfalfa and became a partner
with a small interest in the company. Neil managed the plant in Albion and eventually purchased the
Albion plant and sold out his interest in the Burwell mill.
which could be fed to cattle on the ground. They soon began asking of ground corn and meal could be
mixed with the alfalfa, to provide a more complete feed, thus began the pellet ration business for Loup
Valley Alfalfa. In no time, the feed business outgrew the alfalfa business and the emphasis turned to
feed. During this period, another drum was added to the plant and the old drum was dismantled and
moved to Albion. Neil Sloan was the current salesman for Loup Valley Alfalfa and became a partner
with a small interest in the company. Neil managed the plant in Albion and eventually purchased the
Albion plant and sold out his interest in the Burwell mill.
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