Show n mrmm w 4' 4 © A10 Sanpete Messenger Sanpete Messenger-Gunniso- n Wednesday November 17 2004 Valley Edition V The industry nobody wanted brings success to Seven Stales Recycling By members the bank as the “only nancial institution that believed in Geoffrey Pace Staff writer miKMM— me” Kalh Keisel of Seven Sidles Recycling (SSR) calls the lime in 1969 when he and his son Allen had one old pickup each and $45 to their names 1 hey had been working for L & M I railer and wanted something more out of life So within a year they got into the junk business They started out with junk ears Now the business located at 780 S Main services seven states in the recyclable scrap metal business from Grand Junction Colo m die cast to flagstaff Ari in the South to Blydic Calif up to Mammoth Calif and Reno Nev in die west und parts of Idaho in the north As Keisel and his son began then junk business die first oil boycott implemented by the OH C nations affected everyone in the United States but especially those in the oil and metal business There was almost no demand for their product Nolxxly wanted to get into the business und diosc already into it wanted to get out 97()s tl ic Keisels By the Were wondering why they ever got Into selling coal in the first place ‘fhey would have to look for alternatives to survive Keisel recalls !'I got into the trucking and coal business People were telling me ‘Keith you’ll only last a week!' But after almost 35 years it’s all Mill here” IX'spite the recent demise of Keisel re tlie Bank of lphraim "Today we owe nothing to anybody Everything is paid for The business is worth $6 million” Keisel says When asked what comprises some of that amount Keisel stated that he has three private parcels of in separate individual’s names four semis six track hoes five bailers and five car crushers le added ‘Twenty years ago designed and built tire first lidded crusher in the United States” 7 hat lid satisfied the Environmental Protection Agency and a host of odier federal agencies that were scrutinizing similar industries The crushers can be transported onsite anywhere in his des- land region At one ignated time he contracted up to 120 and operator (O & O) rigs to do his transporting But the day of die O & O is about over according to Keisel The price of oil and regulations have scared off many of the independents Now Keisel has 10 employees Not all of them reside Ic in Ephraim or even in the state has trusted fellow workaholics ready to do business at a moment’s notice Keisel says he spends sometimes seven days per week and at times literally 24 hours on the job “We’re unique" Keisel says “We load up and go We do business within a 600 mile radius of or Las Vegas Salt Lake radius of Bakersfield or Los Angeles I’m 75 years old and I’ve VAN DER BRUCE RIET MESSENGER PHOTO Three generations of the Kiesel family In Ephraim have had their hands on steel: (left to right) Kevin Randy Alan and Keith Kevin and Randy are the sons of Alan who Is the son of Keith Alan and Keith started the business more tharj 30 years ago with less than $50 gained my wisdom by (being willing to work hard” le jokes “If you see a turtle sitting on die fence I guarantee you he didn’t get diere alone!” So what does it take to gel diis turtle where he wants to go? How about a supportive wife of 55 years who grew up in the trucking business herself? Kciscl's grandchildren Randy and Kevin also share his work ediic At this point Keisel doesn't know what his posterity wants to do with it all “1 turned my business over to Allen eight years ago Randy and Kevin might want to stay or not” But slay or no the family has an investment in Seven States Recycling NuCor in Plymouth Utah uses 85000 tons of scrap metal of it monthly and they get 15 from SSR Other companies re ceive a sizeable amount from the' business too Keeping Keiscl’s philosophy “We don’t know the word ‘can’t’ because this is a word used by d sluggard too lazy to try!” has spelled success for die industry that' nobody wanted’ Buck 8c Dan’s By Karen Buchanan Staff writer MT PLEASANT-Buck & Dan's Fancy Gifts hosted its official grand oicning at its new 8 manufacturing plant sales office and showroom in the Mt Pleasant Industrial Park on Nov 5 with a crowd of over 200 in attend uicc The company has evolved from a backyard smoked salmon operation in 1999 to serving customers worldwide with over 500 different products Besides selling smoked salmon packed in wooden custom boxes Dan Rasmussen of Mt Pleasant also smokes and sells trout harvested in Utah and Idaho as well as local pheasant Buck & Dan’s also specializes in other gourmet delicacies such as fine candies nuts and condiments The homemade candies are created in Buck & Dan’s plant as well as in the kitchens of local women “We have the only showroom in the county where our customers can sample any food product we sell before they buy it” said Rasumcssen “Every day we will feature a different delicacy for our customers to sample" The business also sells many other gift items including jackets shirts and hats as well as model trucks busses and trains Rasmussen’s wife Jenny is excited about a new line of bath and skin care products that she hopes will soon be included in the inventory Buck & Dan’s serves customers in its showroom as well as through the company’s business The main source of revenue however is providing gift wooden baskets boxes or other containers filled with merchandise as well as other items that represent a company for corporate giving throughout the country Recently Buck & Dan’s supplied 26 (XX) model antique school busses to the Blue Bird School Bus emCompany for giving to their ployees and customers J The ness has created model armored cars and frcightlincr cars for several banks Rasmussen was invited as the only corporate gift supplier to show his products at a recent interstate bankers’ convention Last year he supplied corporate gifts for four banking corporations this year that number has grow n to (X) business his is new Although Rasmussen has prepared smoked salmon for his family and friends for many years One of his friends loved tlie salmon so much he entered a small portion of tlie fish that Rasmussen had given him into a “World’s Best Smoked Salmon” contest in Alaska Amid some stiff competition Rasmussen’s salmon won first prize "You ought to put it on the market” his friends told him That was the beginning of his dream to develop a smoked salmon product that could be marketed as a fine gourmet delicacy Buck and Dan’s Fancy Smoked Salmon had its beginning in a 2200 square foot building in He imRasmussen’s backyard ported fresh salmon from British Columbia and Chile and smoked it in three large $6 (XX) smokers in Since that first competition Alaska Buck & Dan’s smoked salmon has won many oilier awards Rasmussen still smokes all of lis wife Jenny is the the meats laser specialist Floral gift arrangements are created by Kris Mills and with one other employee in tlie plant four salesmen and usually three helpers during the holidays tlie business is growing well beyond its backyard beginnings You can learn more about Buck & Dan’s Fancy Gifts by going to the business website at wwwbuckaiiddjiisfancvpiftscom Rasmussen and wife Jenny of Buck & Dan's show off model of early school part of their company’s growing line of gift products Dan bus“ 2 - Seven States Recycling I Ephraim v- - "I ' fir Utah 84627 wm Now in our 32nd Year! - - I i RO Box 342 780 South Main u vte m t n k "3 r’?' r K - — r We accept all kinds of scrap metal aluminum cans copper and brass (Please no propane tanks batteries or tires) I HU! busi- - POOR COP7 |