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Pollert seeks buyer for G & R Grain and Feed

A fixture in the local agribusiness community is slated to close if a buyer can't be found soon. Last week, Chet Pollert announced to his employees and customers that he intends to retire, and he plans to liquidate the business assets of G & R Grain and Feed over the next couple of months should no one step forward to succeed him as owner.

G & R Grain and Feed was established by longtime New Rockford resident Theodore "Ted" Gathman in 1978. Gathman purchased the facility from Peavey Company, according to his daughter Lisa Thompson, office manager of G & R. Pollert purchased the business from Gathman in 1996. They sell custom-mixed feed, minerals and other supplies for livestock, as well as fertilizer for crops.

Pollert has owned the business for nearly 24 years, and he said at age 65, it's time to move on. "I have made the decision to retire. I didn't want to do that, but while the preventative plant [program] is good for the farmers, it's a killer to anyone in the ag retail business," he said Thursday. He noted that quite a few acres did not get planted this year, reducing the demand for fertilizer and impacting the short-term bottom line.

Although it may seem abrupt to some in the community, Pollert said this action is the culmination of a longer-term pursuit. "I have actually been seeking buyers for two-and-a-half years," Pollert said, highlighting the fact that a "handshake" agreement he had made with a potential buyer was nullified this spring due to COVID-19 and the financial market crisis.

"I didn't take this decision very lightly. I have good employees," Pollert noted, adding that he has offered to take care of his staff. He thinks a couple of them would stay to work for a new owner, should they get that opportunity.

Starting next month, Pollert and his staff will begin the process of selling off the company's remaining inventory. Meanwhile, he hopes someone will step forward and make a quarantine renewal story out of G & R Grain and Feed.

"My main focus is to sell this place. I want it to stay open," he repeated several times throughout the interview. He said contrary to rumor, the business is sound and would generate a comfortable living for an interested buyer. "I am not going broke. My bond is not in jeopardy," he stated. "Hopefully I get a chance that somebody gets interested, and we can make an announcement."

Pollert said he has enjoyed his years in business in New Rockford, "The community of New Rockford has treated me very well, and I've always supported the community."

Meanwhile, Pollert's political career in Bismarck is heating up. A Carrington resident, Pollert has served as District 29's representative to the North Dakota House since 1999. He was elected majority leader in November 2018, one of just three men from rural districts to have led the N.D. House since 1983.

 
 
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