Target Ag Production LLC in Othello, WA, hit an important milestone on Dec. 1, celebrating its 25th anniversary and looking ahead to a great continuation in the onion packing and storage business.
Larry Bauman, one of Target’s founders, and Cody Anderson with L&L Ag Production, Target Ag’s sister company based in Connell, shared some photos and great memories with us, and we’re happy to feature Target Ag this week.
Larry wrote that he and his son, Kerrick, started growing onions in 1988, and by 1995 “saw the need to have our own place to pack and store their crop.” So, he said, in 1996, the father and son, “along with Randy Mullen, Bob Ransom and Wally Frank, started Target Ag Production LLC., with Wally being the site manager.”
Larry continued, “It was a busy year as new storages and the packing area were constructed, and the packing line was installed. Then on Christmas day there was a heavy snowstorm with wind. On New Year’s Eve a heavy rain on the snow caused the new storage buildings to collapse but the packing area survived.”
He said, “It was an interesting start for a new business, but that was 25 years ago.”
Joining the Baumans and others at the anniversary celebration were Wally and Donna Frank who reside in New York, and Larry said the day was “a good time to celebrate our first 25 years.”
Moreover, he said, “We also acknowledged 15 employees who have worked with us for more than 10 years, including Silvino Velazquez, production manager; Jorge Medina, 24 yrs.; Colleen Velazquez, office manager; Mario Morales, consumer pack manager, 17 years; Dean Cochran, storage and technical manager, 23 years; Nancy Fitts, who started in the office in 1996 who moved to Onions Direct LLC office manager in 2003; and Jocelyn Lunden, office manager for L&L Ag Production LLC who has done all accounting for Target Ag Production LLC for 25 yrs.”
Cody added that Wally Frank was “instrumental in getting Target running, along with Kerrick and Larry, and making it the success that it is.” He said that day was spent celebrating both the longevity of the company and the commitment of the employee, explaining “Several have been there since Target’s first few years. Silvino is one of those folks He started out driving forklift and worked his way up to where is now, running the facilities day-today production operations. There are many who have been instrumental in this business, and Target would not be what it is today without them. We look forward to the next 25 years!”
During the gathering Larry, Kerrick, and Wally “shared many memories and the changes to the business these past years and the vision for the future,” and everyone enjoyed a catered lunch and watched as employees were presented with award plaques “given for years of dedicated service.”
Many thanks to Cody Anderson for sharing photos from the event.
